Verification Questions and Answers

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2011-2012 Verification "Q&A"

What is Verification and how did I get selected?

Verification is the process by which an educational institution confirms the accuracy of the data reported on an individual student's FAFSA. About 30% of all Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA's) are selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS). Western Kentucky University (WKU), through the Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA), may also select applicants for verification to correct any potential conflicts in information. If your application is selected, SFA is required to collect all necessary documentation from you and your parents or spouse, if applicable, per federal guidelines. Information from these documents is then compared to your FAFSA information and corrections to the FAFSA are made when necessary. SFA must verify all applicants selected for verification, including students previously verified by another school.

How will I know if my FAFSA is selcted for Verification?

All WKU students who are selected for verification will be sent a Missing Information Letter (MIL) to their WKU email requesting the federally required verification documents needed to complete the verification of their 2011-2012 FAFSA. If the student has not been assigned a WKU email, the MIL will be sent to the email listed on their FAFSA, or if no email is available, the student will be mailed an MIL.

What documents do I need to submit for Verification?

If you are a DEPENDENT student (answered " No " to all questions in " Step Three " of your FAFSA and had to provide parent information) please submit the following documents:

　　1. 2011-2012 VERIFICATION WORKSHEET for DEPENDENT STUDENTS

　　2. Signed copy of your 2010 federal tax return, if applicable

If you did not file a tax return but earned wages, submit your 2010 W-2(s).

3. Signed copy of your parent(s) 2010 federal tax return, if applicable

If your parent(s) did not file a tax return but earned wages, submit their 2010 W-2(s).
If your parent is remarried, please also include a signed copy your step-parent's 2010 federal tax return, if they filed separate tax returns.
If your parents are divorced or separated and filed a "joint tax return", please submit copies of their W-2(s) and all schedules submitted with their federal tax return.

If you are an INDEPENDENT student (you answered " Yes " to at least one question in " Step Three " of your FAFSA and did not have to provide parent information) please submit the following documents:

　　 1. 2011-2012 VERIFICATION WORKSHEET for INDEPENDENT STUDENTS
　　 2. Signed copy of your 2010 federal tax return, if applicable

If you did not file a tax return but earned wages, submit your 2010 W-2(s).
If your spouse did not file a tax return but earned wages, submit their 2010 W-2(s).
If you were divorced or separated at the time the FAFSA was filed and filed a "joint tax return", submit copies of your and your spouse's W-2(s) and all schedules submitted with your federal tax return.

　　　　　
~If you do not have a copy of the requested 2010 tax return(s) , you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and request a "2010 Tax Return Transcript". This form, signed by the taxpayer, is acceptable in lieu of an actual tax return. Forms 8453 or 8879 (e-file electronic signature pages) are not acceptable.

~After submitting required verification documents to SFA, students should allow up to 4 weeks for hand delivered, faxed, or mailed documents to show as "Complete" on TopNet ("Financial Aid", "Financial Aid Eligibility") due to heavy volume during our peak processing periods, and up to 8 weeks for the entire verification process.

　 Additional forms that may be needed upon request:

　1) 2011-2012 Asset Verification Form

~May be needed if required asset information was not submitted on the 2011-2012 FAFSA for student and/or parent(s)

　 2) 2011-2012 Explanation of Financial Support

~May be needed if no tax return was filed and little or no household income was listed on the 2011-2012 FAFSA or 2011-2012 Verification Worksheet

Please mail or fax the requested documentation to:

Student Financial Assistance

317 Potter Hall

Western Kentucky University

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11018

Bowling Green, KY 42101-1018

FAX: 270-745-0116

How will I know if the documents I submitted have been received?

Go to your Top Net account, then click on "Student Services"," Financial Aid"," Financial Aid Eligibility". Once the requested documents have been received, they will show as "Complete" on TopNet. After submitting required verification documents to SFA, students should allow up to 4 weeks for hand delivered, faxed, or mailed documents to show as "Complete" on TopNet ("Financial Aid", "Financial Aid Eligibility") due to heavy volume during our peak processing periods, and up to 8 weeks for the entire verification process.

I thought I submitted all of the documents needed for Verification, but my TopNet account says "incomplete" or additional information is needed. Why are you requesting more information?

If you did not submit all of the requested documentation or failed to complete or sign the submitted documents or if the counselor verifying your FAFSA needs additional information or documentation, you will be contacted by SFA and be requested to submit the information still needed to complete the verification process. Within 4 weeks, a very specific email will be sent to your WKU email (or the email listed on your FAFSA if a WKU email hasn't been assigned) explaining in detail what is needed. You may also be contacted by phone, if necessary, or mailed a request if no phone or email is available. Please submit the requested information back to our office as soon as possible!!

When is an application sent back for reprocessing and how will I be notified of any changes made to my FAFSA?

If a discrepancy is found during the verification process, all necessary corrections are made to the FAFSA then sent to CPS for reprocessing. Once the corrections have been processed by CPS, you will receive another SAR which will reflect any changes made to your FAFSA as well as any changes to your Expected Family Contribution number (EFC). You will then be awarded financial aid based on the updated EFC.

How long does Verification take?

After submitting all required verification documents to SFA, students should allow up to 4 weeks for hand delivered, faxed, or mailed documents to show as "Complete" on TopNet ("Financial Aid", "Financial Aid Eligibility") due to heavy volume during our peak processing periods. The entire verification process can take up to 8 weeks due to the quality of the verification documents submitted to SFA, the number of discrepancies and/or other student eligibility issues present on the application, and the volume of applications being received by SFA.

Is there anything else I need to know about the verification process?

All verification documents must be received by August 1, 2011 to guarantee a student will be awarded by the fall semester "fees due date", and by January 1, 2012 to guarantee that a student will be awarded by the spring semester "fees due date".

It is the responsibility of all students chosen for verification to submit the required verification documentation as listed below to SFA soon as possible. WKU does not award federal (Title IV) aid until the verification process is complete.

On the rare occasion that a student is selected for verification after being awarded Title IV aid, the student will be subject to all the rules and requirements of verification as those applicants who were selected before being awarded. If the student's federal Title IV aid eligibility changes as a result of corrections made through the verification process, any required return of Title IV funds will be returned to the appropriate accounts through the Office of Billings and Receivables, and the student will owe WKU for any remaining balance that may occur due to funds being returned. CPS will issue the student an updated SAR, reflecting any corrections made to their 2011-2012 FAFSA, and SFA will notify the student, through WKU email of any changes to their Title IV aid. All Title IV aid changes will also be reflected on their TopNet "Account Summary" (billing account information).