The process by which an educational institution confirms accuracy of the data reported on an individual student's FAFSA is called verification. The FAFSA federal processor selects the applications for which the data submitted must be verified.

The federal processor applies a series of edit checks, which are prescribed by federal financial aid regulations, to each FAFSA. The edit checks cause some applications to be selected for verification. In addition, the federal processor randomly selects for verification a small percentage of all financial aid applications.

NOTICE: If your application is selected for verification, you must complete the verification process before your eligibility for financial aid can be determined, and therefore, before financial aid can be awarded to you.

What You Must Do If Your FAFSA Is Selected for Verification

If the federal processor selects your FAFSA verification, you must (1) complete and submit a verification worksheet, and (2) submit income information.

If you are a dependent student, you and one of your parents must complete a Dependent Verification Worksheet . In addition, you and your parents must submit copies of your federal income tax returns. If you and/or your parents did not and are not required to file a file federal income return, you and/or your parents, as appropriate, should check the box on the verification worksheet beside the statement indicating non-tax-filer status.

If you are an independent student, you must complete an Independent Verification Worksheet. In addition, you and your spouse, if you are married, must submit a copy of your federal income tax return(s). If you and/or your spouse did not and are not required to file a file federal income return, you and/or your spouse, as appropriate, should check the box on the verification worksheet beside the statement that indicates non-tax-filer status.

Required Tax Documents for the 2006-2007 FAFSA

If you/your parent(s)/your spouse, as appropriate, filed 2007 federal income tax form(s), provide the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) with a signed copy of your/their tax return that was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) —IRS form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. If you/your parent(s)/your spouse, as appropriate, did not keep a copy of the tax return, request a copy from the IRS.

Each 2007 federal income return submitted to OSFA must include a copy of each tax schedule, if any, that was sent to the IRS with it.

Each 2007 federal income return submitted to OSFA must include a copy of each W-2 form and/or Form 1099, if any, that was sent to the IRS with it.

CAUTION: If all appropriate tax schedules and W-2 form(s) and/or Form(s) 1099, as appropriate, are not attached to the copy/copies of the 2007 federal income tax returns submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid, OSFA may request them from you. The request will cause a delay in the determination of your eligibility for financial aid.

How to Avoid Verification Processing Delays

To help diminish the possibility of verification processing delays, please do the following:

1. Submit photocopies of all documents at the same time, and keep photocopies for your records. Mail the documents to:

Wayne State University
Office of Student Financial Aid
The Welcome Center
P.O. Box 2340
Detroit, MI 48202-0340

Fax number: (313) 577-6648

Note: Due to the potential for virus infections, OSFA does not open e-mail messages that contain attachments.

2. Print your name and 9-digit WSU ID number on each document that you submit to OSFA.

3. Respond to each section of the Verification Worksheet, including Worksheets A, B, and C. If a section or part of a section does not apply to you/your parent(s)/your spouse, write “N/A” (not applicable) or “-0-,” as appropriate. Do not leave sections blank.

What Happens After Verification Is Completed

Verification will either confirm the accuracy of the data reported on your FAFSA or indicate differences between the data reported on your FAFSA and the tax documents/income information that you submit with your Verification Worksheet. If the accuracy of the data reported on your FAFSA is confirmed, the Office of Student Financial Aid can determine your eligibility for financial aid. OSFA will notify you of your financial aid eligibility status.

If verification indicates there are differences between the data reported on your FAFSA and the tax documents/income information that you submit with your Verification Worksheet, OSFA may make corrections to the data on your FAFSA and electronically transmit the corrected data to the federal processor. OSFA will notify you on WSU Pipeline if corrections are made to the data on your FAFSA.

You can monitor your FAFSA verification status on WSU Pipeline. The status cannot be provided via e-mail. OSFA’s e-mail is not encrypted. The security of messages transmitted via e-mail cannot be guaranteed. Messages may be intercepted, monitored, delayed, lost, or altered. Therefore, OSFA does not communicate sensitive or confidential information in e-mail messages.

The Verification Deadline

For the 2008-2009 school year, submit all documents within 14 days of receipt of the verification notice or by May 31, 2008,
whichever date is earlier. The last date to submit documents is 30 days after your last date of enrollment. If you do not
complete the verification process, you forfeit federal student aid eligibility.