FAFSA Verification

Verification is the process the Department of Education uses to verify information on the FAFSA is accurate and complete. This process is required to assure that all aid is awarded to students according to federal, state, and institutional regulations. If selected, the verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded.

You can be selected for verification at any time during the academic year so it is critical that you check your Eagle email on a regular basis for important updates, requirements and deadlines from our office.

During verification, the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) compares information from the student’s FAFSA with all other required verification documents. If needed, the OFA will correct a student’s FAFSA and submit them to the federal processor. Therefore, it is very important during or after verification that a student (or parent, spouse) NOT make any changes to the FAFSA as this will only delay the awarding and disbursing of Federal or need-based aid (Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Work-Study, certain scholarships, etc.)

Students are selected for verification for one of the following reasons:

1. The Central Processing System found inconsistencies and/or potential errors in the student’s FAFSA
2. Random selection
3. School selection

Students who have been selected for verification will receive an email to their Eagle email account with instructions and a link to their verification portal. Do not submit any documents unless we request that you do so.

A list of documents needed will appear in your verification portal as “attention required”. The documents required will vary based on each student. Specific items to be submitted may include federal tax transcripts or proof of non-filing, W-2s, household size and number of household members in college. 

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is a function in the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) where students or parents who filed an IRS tax return have the option of directly transferring required tax data from the IRS database directly into the student’s FAFSA.

If a student/parent is eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, we highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:

• It’s the fastest, easiest, and most secure way to provide tax data.
• It’s the best way of ensuring the FAFSA has accurate tax information.
• It may reduce the chances of being selected for the verification process.

All verification documents should be submitted via the student’s verification portal. If you are having difficulty submitting the requested documents, send an email to verification@fgcu.edu.

Once all the documents are complete, the Office of Financial Aid will review the information and compare it with the information reported on the FAFSA.  This can take 5-10 business days depending upon the volume of all student paperwork being submitted. If the review of information raises additional questions for which clarification is needed, additional documents may be required. 

The status of your verification can be monitored in your student verification portal. Emails will also be sent to your eagle email account if there are incomplete items, additional requirements added or corrections made to your FAFSA.

When your verification is complete your portal will display.

               

Students should continue to check their Eagle email account for important information regarding their financial aid status. Students can also monitor their status by logging into their verification portal.  

Our office is required to update your FAFSA application with accurate information and send it back to the Department of Education (ED) for processing. We make these changes electronically, and you will be notified by ED when a change has been made to your FAFSA. The correction could change the expected family contribution (EFC), which may cause a change in the final financial aid award.

Failure to submit verification documentation will result in ineligibility to receive either federal or state financial aid until all verification documentation is received.

In rare cases, a student who has already been awarded federal financial aid may be selected for verification after financial aid has disbursed. Failure to comply with the verification requirements will result in your aid being canceled and any future aid not disbursing to your student account. If financial aid had already disbursed to your student account, your financial aid will also be canceled which may result in a balance on your University student account.

Verification document submissions are accepted throughout the aid year. However, it is in your best interest to submit your documents as soon as possible. We will not offer you financial aid until the verification process has been completed.

Financial aid applicants for the 2021-2022 award year, selected for verification, must complete the process by the deadline of September 17, 2022 (subject to change by the Department of Education) or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.

Financial aid applicants for the 2022-2023 award year, selected for verification, must complete the process by the deadline of September 16, 2023 (subject to change by the Department of Education) or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.

In compliance with FL Statute 119.071(5), The Office of Financial Aid at Florida Gulf Coast University may collect social security numbers for the following reasons:

 

For use in administering federal and state programs/loans, including verification of eligibility. These programs include, but are not limited to:

• Financial Aid and other related loan programs;
• Scholarship Programs, including Bright Futures.