Verification

Why are certain students selected for verification?

A student's financial aid application (FAFSA) can be selected for the verification process in one of three ways:

•  The U.S. Dept. of Education (DOE) selects about 30% of Montclair's aid population.   In any given academic year, this represents over 2,000 selected FAFSAs.   DOE, not MSU's Student Financial Aid (SFA) establishes the criteria and selects the financial aid applicants.   Although selected by DOE the verification takes place in Montclair's SFA Office.

•  The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) will select student's applications for state verification.   This process is separate from the DOE process.   All document requests will come directly from HESAA and should be returned directly to HESAA.   It is possible for a student to be selected by both DOE and HESAA.

•  In certain cases (less than 1%) Montclair's SFA will select a student's file for verification.   The SFA will select applications in order to resolve issues related to   conflicting information.  

What documents are required to complete the verification process?

Generally the required documents are:

•  A student's Federal Income Tax Return (all schedules and W-2 forms) for the appropriate year or a Statement of Income if no tax return was filed;

•  A Verification Worksheet;

•  For Dependent students a copy of the Parent's Federal Income Tax Return (all schedules and W-2 forms) for the appropriate year or a Statement of Income;

•  In cases where the student or parent(s) have "assets" not accounted for on the FAFSA, the Parent/Student Asset verification form will also be required. (cont.)

In addition to the documents listed above the SFA may require a more detailed explanation of the students/family's income, investment value, or statement of monthly income vs. monthly household expenses.

How is a student notified they are selected for verification?

New students receive a letter notifying them of the required documents.   Continuing students receive an email notification via their MSU email address.   The email message directs the student to review the requested documents on the WESS web site.

Generally how long does the verification process take?

The verification process can take 4 to 6 weeks depending on the time of the year.   Generally the time frame for completing the verification process will take the longest from the late spring through early October.

If additional documentation is necessary after the initial review is completed, then the processing time will be extended until the additional documents are received and reviewed.

Why are additional documents requested?

Generally there are two reasons:

•  Incomplete documents;

•  The original documents reveal information that was not indicated on the FAFSA and requires further clarification.

Will the verification process affect my financial aid awards?

Significant differences in the information reported on the FAFSA vs. the actual tax return or household size documentation may result in a change in one or more of the financial aid awards.   A student is notified of any changes by an email message to their MSU email account.   The email message notifies the student to review their aid on WESS.

Will I get selected every year I apply for aid?

If the information on the FAFSA meets the DOE's selection criteria in a subsequent year the student's FAFSA data will again require verification in the new academic year.

Why was I selected this year and not in previous years?

Every academic year is considered independently from the previous year.   The fact that a student's file was selected or not selected in the previous year has no bearing on why a student was selected in the current academic year.

Why is the State asking for documentation?

HESAA's verification criteria and processes are completely separate from the Federal process.   Although Montclair's SFA might be able to assist a state selected student with the completion of state verification, ultimately the documentation must be submitted to HESAA prior to their deadlines to complete the student's state award.   A student's FAFSA might be selected by both DOE and HESAA and therefore require submission of the same documentation to both MSU and HESAA.

Why does MSU select a file for verification?

If the SFA has information on a student or parent's income or household which conflicts with a revised FAFSA, then it is a Federal regulation to resolve the conflict between the old and new FAFSA data before the student's financial aid processing can continue.   MSU resolves the discrepant information by institutionally selecting the student's FAFSA for verification.