Federal Verification Policies
Each year, about thirty percent of students’ financial aid applications (FAFSAs) nationwide are chosen for “verification.” The verification process compares information reported on your FAFSA with supporting documentation supplied by the student and parent. In addition to verification, the Financial Services Office staff reserves the right to select any applicant for verification that the College believes may have errors on their application. Conflicting information submitted by the student may trigger verification. Students selected for verification cannot receive a financial aid award until the verification process is completed.
Notification and Verification Deadlines
The U.S. Department of Education initially notifies applicants via the processed FAFSA of their selection for verification. The Financial Services Office will notify students of their selection for verification through a letter sent to the student’s primary address and college email. In this letter, students are instructed to check their myCayuga account under financial aid requirements to determine what documents they are required to submit. All verification documents are accessible to students on our website.
A student chosen for the federal verification is only considered to have completed the financial aid application process once the verification process has been successfully completed. Students should realize that Cayuga Community College will package, credit, or disburse any federal financial aid funds once the student has completed the verification process. Students should submit all documents as soon as possible. It normally takes two weeks to complete the verification process. It can take up to three weeks at the beginning of the semester due to the large volume of documents received.
To ensure students receive all eligible aid, they must complete the verification process while in attendance. The College cannot guarantee financial aid funds to students who complete their verification process after they withdraw or have been withdrawn by the college.
Applicants selected for verification may be asked to verify:
- Federal adjusted gross income and U.S. Taxes Paid
- Household size
- Number of household members enrolled at least half-time
- Child Support Received or Paid
- Untaxed Income and Benefits
- Education Credits
- Income from Work
- High School Completion
- Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose
- Proof of Citizenship
- Selective Service Registration
- Independent Student Status (if under the age of 24)
Review of Verification Documents
Once all verification information is submitted, the application data will be compared to the information reported on the FAFSA. If all reported data elements are accurate, the verification status on your myCayuga would be satisfied. You will proceed to the financial aid packaging process, and an award letter will be sent to your primary address. If discrepancies are found, the Financial Services Office will correct your FAFSA and transmit the information to the FAFSA Processing System. Upon receipt of your corrected FAFSA, your verification status will be satisfied, and the packaging and awarding process will begin. Applicants whose verification results in discrepancies will receive an updated Student Submission Summary from the Federal Student Aid, reflecting those data elements corrected and the recalculated Student Aid Index (SAI).
Reporting Fraud
In cases where intent to commit fraud to obtain federal funds is suspected, Cayuga Community College is required to refer the case to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General for review and resolution, and no further processing of financial aid will occur until the case is resolved.
