Csusm Verify My Fafsa (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you fail FAFSA verification? ›

What happens if I do not complete verification? If a student who is selected for verification does not complete the verification process, then any federal and/or need-based aid (Pell grant, SEOG, Work-Study, Federal Direct loans, certain Scholarships, and institutional aid) will NOT be awarded or disbursed.

Verification is a federal financial aid process that ensures the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is correct. If you've been selected for FAFSA verification, don't worry—it doesn't mean you've made a mistake.

Verification is the process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. If you're selected for verification, your school will request additional documentation that supports the information you reported.

About 17% of FAFSA forms were selected for verification during the first three quarters of the 2021-2022 cycle, according to a 2021 NCAN/National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators report. The U.S. Department of Education set goals to decrease overall verification rates in recent years.

A: The best way to avoid being selected for verification is to complete your FAFSA using the IRS Data retrieval tool, if possible. IRS data retrieval isn't an option for every applicant, but this one step will significantly reduce the likelihood of your application being selected.

Some of the most common FAFSA errors are: Leaving blank fields: Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection. Enter a '0' or 'not applicable' instead of leaving a blank. Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields: Always round to the nearest dollar.

Once all required documents are submitted for verification, the process should take about two to four weeks, depending on the college and the time of year. Your college will notify you when your financial aid package is ready.

But if you are still chosen, it was likely either random, or because your school asked to have your information verified. It doesn't necessarily mean you've done anything wrong. Verification is used to ensure your Student Aid Index, or SAI, and any federal financial aid you get will best match your circ*mstances.

Starting in the first half of March, applicants may check the status of their 2024–25 FAFSA form on StudentAid.gov. To check the status, applicants should do the following: Log in using their account username and password (FSAID). Navigate to their account Dashboard.

We recognize this status is confusing to many parents and students. What does "in review" mean? It essentially means that you have done everything you need to do. Colleges may request additional information from you once they receive your FAFSA data and get a chance to review it.

What does FAFSA not look at? ›

(Note, however, that you may be able to qualify for a discount on computer equipment once you enroll in college.) Cars, computers, furniture, books, boats, appliances, clothing, and other personal property are not reported as assets on the FAFSA.

Once your FAFSA form is processed, your Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) is sent to the colleges or career schools you listed on your FAFSA form. Those colleges and career schools are responsible for creating your aid offer and disbursing your financial aid.

With targeted verification, the federal processor will use a risk model to identify FAFSA data elements that are prone to error, which appear anomalous or which seem inconsistent. Only those FAFSA data elements flagged by the federal processor will be subjected to verification.

Most students selected for verification have been randomly selected by the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Processor. However, there are other potential reasons for being selected for verification: The submitted FAFSA application had incomplete data.

Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school. Defaulting on a student loan.

If you miss deadlines, always contact your school's financial aid office to see what options are still available for you. Some states and schools continue to award aid to FAFSA latecomers, but your chances get much slimmer, and the aid is often lower. You may still be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

Failing one class does not mean you'll automatically lose access to federal financial aid. But these funds do have academic eligibility requirements, as outlined in your school's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) guidelines.

Within 1-3 business days after submitting the required identity verification form and documents, The Office of Federal Student Aid will send an email confirming that your identity has been verified.

If you miss the deadline to submit your information, it will delay the disbursem*nt of your financial aid. In some cases, you might even lose your aid. Respond as quickly as you can!