What is Federal Verification?
Federal verification is a procedure to check or verify that certain information you reported on the FAFSA is correct.
Who is required to complete federal verification?
The federal government randomly selects students who must complete federal verification from all students who complete the FAFSA. LMU may also select students for verification. If you are selected you will be notified on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that you receive via email or by mail after completing your FAFSA. LMU will also post requirements to your PROWL account to let you know what you need to complete. This information will be available to Undergraduates in MyAid.
You must complete federal verification to receive: All federal financial aid (Pell, FSEOG Grants, Perkins Loan, Work-Study), all Cal Grants or any state funded financial aid, LMU Grant, LMU Need-Based Scholarships or LMU Institutional Loans.
However, federal verification is not required for students who are only eligible for: LMU Tuition Benefits, LMU merit scholarships, Athletic aid, Parent or Graduate PLUS Loans, Unsubsidized Direct Loans, and TEACH grant or LMU WORK.
What is required to complete federal verification?
For 2016-2017 students will be randomly selected by the federal processor to verify specific items from the FAFSA application. The items that you are required to verify will be posted as missing requirements on your financial aid MYLMU accounts.
How do I submit student and parent 2015 federal tax data?
A common item requested for federal verification is student and parent 2015 federal tax data. For detailed information on how to meet this requirement click Submitting Your Tax Data.
When must I complete federal verification Requirements?
When you complete the FAFSA, you will have a message notifying you that you have been selected for federal verification on your Student Aid Report. You receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) online via the email address you provide on your FAFSA. If you do not provide an email address your SAR is mailed to you.
Important! IRS Data Retrieval Process: We recommend that all students selected for verification update their FAFSA data at fafsa.gov with parent and/or student federal tax data using this process. Those filling their 2015 federal tax return electronically can update their FAFSA within 2-3 weeks. However, if you mail a paper tax return you will not be able to update your FAFSA or request a tax transcript for 8-11 weeks. For information on submitting tax data to LMU view Submitting Your Tax Data.
- Freshmen and Transfer Students
- Undergraduate and Post Baccalaureate Students
- Graduate and Professional Students
What if I do not supply the verification documentation?
|
Student Type |
Consequences for NOT Submitting Verification Documents |
|
Entering Freshman or Transfer Student |
Those who have not submitted federal verification requirements by June 3, 2016 will have all federal, state and need-based institutional financial aid canceled. You will then need to make alternate payment arrangements with LMU's Student Accounts Office. |
|
Continuing Undergraduate or Post Baccalaureate Students |
Those who have not submitted federal verification requirements by June 3, 2016 will have all their financial aid application made inactive. NOTE: Continuing Undergraduate students are not provided with a financial aid award until verification has been completed. You will then need to make alternate payment arrangements with LMU's Student Accounts Office. |
|
Entering and Continuing Graduate Students |
Those who have not submitted federal verification requirements by October 1, 2016 will have all their financial aid application made inactive. NOTE: Entering and Continuing Graduate students are not provided with a financial aid award until verification has been completed. You will then need to make alternate payment arrangements with LMU's Student Accounts Office. |
What happens after I submit my required documentation?
After the Financial Aid Office receives all verification documents, we compare that information to the information provided on your FAFSA.
If any discrepancies are found, we will update your FAFSA information in our system with the information provided on your verification documents. Your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) may change and we will determine whether the change to your EFC requires that we revise your financial aid award.
Because we are also required to report your revised information as a correction to your FAFSA, it is important that you do not make further corrections or changes to your FAFSA while verification is pending.
- If we are required to revise your financial aid award, we will do so and post a message to your MYLMU account.
- If financial aid has been disbursed for which you are no longer eligible, these funds will be reversed from your Student Account and a message posted to your MYLMU account.
- If certain funds for which you are no longer eligible have been refunded to you, we will report these funds as an "overpayment" to the Department of Education and you will be responsible for repaying these funds before you can receive further financial aid.
- If no changes occur during our review, we will also post a message to your MYLMU account, notifying you that your federal verification is complete.