VERIFICATION

Verification Defined

Verification is a federal process regulated by the Financial Aid Office at Washington Adventist University (WAU) to confirm the accuracy of the information a student or parent provided when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Data is verified by obtaining documentation from students and families, including in some cases, a signed statement or worksheet attesting to the accuracy of the information. Verification ensures the accuracy of data used to establish eligibility for need based federal student aid.

Verification regulations define:

• Which applications must be verified
• Specific FAFSA information to be verified
• Documentation required to verify data elements

The U.S. Department of Education requires that Federal Title IV applicants provide documentation to verify the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA each year. Federal regulations include verification as part of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) program requirements, and it is required for applicants for most FSA programs except for students receiving only a parent or graduate PLUS loan or an unsubsidized Stafford loan. WAU verifies all applications that are accepted to the institution and are selected for verification. Regulations detailing the verification process may be found in:

• Federal Student Aid Handbook Application & Verification Guide Chapter 4: Verification, Updates, and Corrections
• 34 CFR 668.51-61

Institutional Verification

Federal regulations allow financial aid officers to request verification of any data item reported on the FAFSA. During a review of the FAFSA application, WAU may request additional data items that are not required for federal verification. WAU may also request data items for students (and their parents) who were not selected by the federal government. We refer to this as institutional verification.

Verification Selection Criteria

A student submits a FAFSA to the Central Processing System (CPS). Federal verification guidelines require that applicants are selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS) or by the school. At WAU, federal verification is performed on all applicants selected by the CPS and any application that the university has reason to believe is incorrect or has conflicting documentation.

CPS processes the FAFSA and submits the form to WAU. When a student’s FAFSA is selected for verification, their application is flagged in the Financial Aid Office’s processing system.

Deadline for submitting verification Documents: August 15, 2025 for Fall 2025 and Deccember 12, 2025 for Spring 2026

Verification Notification

Typically, a student can expect to receive notification in writing that they were selected for verification within 14 business days after the Financial Aid Office receives the FAFSA from the Federal Processor.

A Missing Document/Tracking Letter is generated by the Financial Aid Office processing system explaining that the student was selected for verification.

Awarding Students Selected for Verification

WAU may award/package new first-year students for financial aid before completing verification; however, the student must have a valid FAFSA in the processing system. New first-year students selected for verification will receive a tentative offer.

Continuing students selected for verification will not be awarded/packaged for financial aid until the Financial Aid Office receives the required verification documents.

As a result of the verification process, changes to the expected family contribution (EFC) and financial aid awards may occur.

Student Notification

Once a student’s verification is completed, the Financial Aid Office will email or mail an updated Offer Notification to the student.

Deadlines and Failures to Submit Documentation

Students selected for verification must submit all required documentation to their self-service portal via https://n-ss1.wau.edu/Student/FinancialAid/Documents, email to finaid@wau.edu, or submitting all documents in person by the date stated on the Missing Document/Tracking Letter.

Federal regulations state that verification documents must be submitted within 120 days after the last date of enrollment for Campus-Based Aid and Direct Loans (including PLUS loans) and before September 16, 2026, or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.

Campus-Based Aid and Direct Loans

If the student doesn’t provide verification documentation within 120 days after the last date or enrollment

The Financial Aid Office will not:

• Disburse more FSEOG funds
• Employ or permit further FWS employment, or
• Originate or disburse any additional Direct Loans, including PLUS Loans

However, if the student provides the documentation after the deadline, Financial Aid Office may, at its discretion, still provide Campus-Based and Direct Loans.

Pell Grant

A Pell Grant applicant selected for verification must complete the process before September 16, 2026, or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.

Disbursements

The Financial Aid Office will not disburse financial aid for students who have not submitted their verification documents and have incomplete and unprocessed verifications.

Late disbursements

Typically, a student is ineligible for aid once they finished the term and is no longer enrolled. However, the student may submit verification documentation and receive a late disbursement after that time if the department processed a Student Aid Report (SAR) with an official EFC while they were still enrolled.

All late disbursements are subject to the post-withdrawal disbursement rules. Visit the Financial Aid Office for details on late disbursements.

Federal Student Aid Programs Subject to Verification

Students receiving funds from any of the following Title IV aid programs may be subject to verification:

Need-Based Subsidized student financial assistance programs

• Federal Pell Grant Program
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG or SEOG) Program
• Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans Program

Non-Need-Based Unsubsidized student financial assistance programs

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan program
• Direct PLUS Loan program
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

When Verification is Not Required

• Death of the student
• A student is not an aid recipient
• The student is eligible to receive only unsubsidized student financial assistance
• The student will not receive Federal Financial Aid for any reason other than a failure to complete verification. For instance, a student who withdraws from WAU before verification is completed
• Post enrollment (student selected for verification after ceasing to be enrolled at WAU, and who does not intend to re-enroll for the award year)
• The student is selected for V1 verification and is only eligible to receive unsubsidized financial aid. However, verification will be completed for students selected for V4 or V5 verification.

Except in the case of the student’s death or post-enrollment situations where the student does not intend to re-enroll, none of the exemptions preclude the Office of Student Financial Services from resolving conflicting information.

The Financial Aid Office may not verify parent(s) of a dependent student in the following situations unless the Financial Aid Office believes there is an inaccuracy:

• Both of the parents are mentally incapacitated
• Both parents or the custodial parent has died
• Both parents reside in a country other than the United States and cannot be contacted by reasonable means
• Both parents cannot be located because the student does not have and cannot get their contact information

Unless the Financial Aid Office has reason to doubt, SFA will not verify the information of the spouse of an independent student under certain circumstances:

• The spouse died
• The spouse is mentally incapacitated
• The spouse who resides outside of the United States cannot be contacted by reasonable means
• The spouse cannot be located because the student does not have and cannot obtain the spouse’s contact information

Transfer Students

Transfer students selected for verification must complete their verification with the Financial Aid Office regardless of whether they were verified at another institution during the current school year.

Verification Tracking Groups

The 2025-2026 verification items are published in the Federal Register, 34 CFR 668.56. Students selected for verification are placed in one of the following tracking groups to determine which FAFSA information must be verified.

A student may move from Verification Tracking Group V1 or V4 to group V5 based on corrections made to the CPS record or on other information available to the Department of Education.

Documentation

In general, a student must submit and complete the following which will be indicated on their missing document notification checklist:

1. Household size confirmation
2. Income interview questions
3. A 2023 Tax Return Transcript - A tax return transcript can be requested through one of the methods below:
   • The IRS’s Get Transcript Online feature at www.irs.gov
   • Calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946
   • Mailing or faxing the paper Form 4506T-EZ to the IRS.
     • The form can be printed from the IRS website or obtained from the Financial Aid Office
     • Form 4506-T must be used rather than Form 4506T-EZ. Form 4605T can be printed from the IRS website or obtained from the Financial Aid Office
     • Only filers who submit a paper 4506-T or 4506T-EZ can choose to have the transcript mailed to a third party.

Special Situations

1. Filing extensions: Only students and parents granted an extension beyond six months may submit the following for verification:

• A copy of IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return;
• A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for the tax year 2023;
• Confirmation of non-filing from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2024; and
• Copies of all their W-2 forms (or equivalent)

If as student or parent is self-employed, a signed statement with the amounts of their AGI and U.S. income taxes paid is also required.

For military students called for active duty or qualifying National Guard called for service, the student or parent must submit a statement certifying that the student or parent was unable to file a tax return or a request for a filing extension due to being called.

The Financial Aid Office may complete an estimated verification based on the documents provided and may process a student’s financial aid for one semester only. The remaining will process once the final tax return is received.

2. Filers of joint returns who are no longer married: When dependent students’ parents filed a joint return and have separated, divorced, remarried, or widowed, an IRS tax transcript and a copy of each W-2 form for the parent whose tax information is on the FAFSA are required.

Independent students must submit a tax transcript and a copy of each of their W-2 forms if a joint return was filed and the student is separated, divorced, or a widowed.

3. For non-tax filers: A W-2 form for each source of employment income is required. A signed statement giving the sources and amounts of the person’s income earned from work, not on W-2s, is required to certify that the person has not filed and is not required to file a tax return.

Students may sign on a non-filing spouse’s behalf. A copy of the wage and tax statement from each employer for residents and a signed statement identifying all of the person’s income of the Freely Associated States is acceptable. Parents or students residing in a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign country who are not required to file a tax return can provide a signed statement certifying their income.

The Financial Aid Office requires parents, independent students, and spouses to submit a “Verification of Non-Filing Letter” from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2024, confirming that they did not file a 2023 IRS tax return. The form can be obtained by sending IRS Form 4506-T and checking box 7. Dependent students do not have to submit a “Verification of Non-Filing Letter” from the IRS.

4. For filers of non-IRS tax returns: A transcript obtained from a government of a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign nation that includes all of the tax filer’s income and tax information required to be verified for the tax year 2023 is acceptable.

The Financial Aid Office will use the income and tax information that corresponds with the IRS tax return and convert the money into U.S. dollars. If a free transcript is not available, the Financial Aid Office will accept a copy of the signed tax return. The document must be signed by the filer(s).

5. Filers of amended returns: Students or parents who file an amended return (IRS Form 1040X) can use the IRS DRT. The filer must submit any changes to a non-dollar item and any changes to a single monetary item of $25 or more. A signed copy of the 1040X form and

• An IRS DRT information on an ISIR record with all the information from the original tax return, or
• An IRS tax return transcript (which does not have to be signed), or
• Any other IRS transcript that includes all the income and tax information required to be verified, or a copy of the tax return

6. Victims of identity theft: Victims of identity theft who cannot get a return transcript or use the DRT can submit a Tax Return Database View (TRDBV) transcript and a signed and dated statement. The TRDBV and statement must indicate that student or parent was a victim of tax-related identity theft and the IRS is aware of it. To receive a TRDBV, a student or parent can contact the IRS’s Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 800-908-4490 or by visiting the identity theft website at www.irs.gov.

If a TRDBV transcript cannot be obtained, a student or parent may submit another official IRS transcript or equivalent IRS document if it includes all of the income and tax information required to be verified.

Automatic Zero SAI

A dependent student with an automatic zero SAI who is placed in Verification Tracking Group V1 or V5 must verify his parents’ AGI if they were tax filers and their income earned from work if they were non-tax filers. The student must also verify high school completion status and identity and sign a statement of educational purpose if in Group V5.

An independent student must verify:

• AGI (including the spouse’s AGI) if they were tax filers
• Income earned from work if they were non-tax filers
• High school completion status and identity and sign a statement of educational purpose if in group V5, and
• The number of household members

A student eligible for an automatic zero SAI who is placed in Verification Tracking Group V4 must verify high school completion status and identity and sign a statement of educational purpose.

Using a Tax Return to Complete Verification

When the return transcript is not available, a signed tax return for verification will be accepted. For students or parents who have a tax professional prepare their return, the Financial Aid Office will take a tax return that has the name and PTIN of the preparers or has their SSN or EIN and has been signed, stamped, typed, or printed with their name and address.

If a student or parent did not retain a copy of their 2023 tax information and it cannot be located by the IRS or the relevant government agency, a signed statement indicating that a copy of their tax information, as well as documentation from the taxing authority showing that information cannot be located, is acceptable. Also, Form W-2 for each source of employment income received for 2023 or, if self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and taxes paid.

For a student or parent who filed an income tax return with a government of a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign central government, a copy of a wage and tax statement or a signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and taxes paid for 2023 will be accepted.

Verification Worksheet

Each student selected for verification must complete and submit a household size verification and income interview the Financial Aid Office, which verifies, household size, number in college, and income data information.

Verification of household size in the following situations is not required:

• For a dependent student, the household size reported is two with a single, divorced, separated, or widowed parent or is three with parents who are married or are unmarried and living together
• For an independent student, the number reported is two if the student is married or one if the student is single, divorced, separated, or widowed

The household size reported must align with the information reported on the FAFSA.

For the number in college, the name, age, and name of the college for each person in the household, excluding the parents of a dependent student, who is enrolled at least half time in a degree or certificate program at an eligible college.

High School Completion

Students must provide one of the following documents to confirm their high school completion status at the beginning of the 2025-2026 year:

• A copy of a high school diploma
• A copy of a final, official high school transcript that shows the date when the diploma was awarded
• A copy of the “secondary school leaving certificate” or similar document from the proper government agency for students who completed secondary school in a foreign country.
• A copy of a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or GED transcript that indicates the student passed the exam
• Certification of a passing score on a test that the student’s state authorizes and recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
• Including tests such as the High School Equivalency Test or the Test Assessing Secondary Completion indicating a passing score or that the student’s state considers the test results acceptable
• An academic transcript that indicates the student completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree at any participating school

Collecting proof of high school status for graduate students is not required since admission into our graduate programs requires the completion of four years of undergraduate coursework.

For homeschooled students, a copy of a secondary school completion credential for homeschool if state law requires homeschooled students to get that credential is required. If it is not required, a transcript or the equivalent signed by the parent or guardian that lists the secondary school courses the student completed and documents the successful completion of secondary school education in a homeschool setting is acceptable.

If a student is unable to document high school completion is unavailable and no information is available from another source such as the school district or state department of education, or the parent or guardian who homeschooled the student is deceased, the Financial Aid Office may accept alternative documentation.

Alternate documentation includes military DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that indicates that the student is a high school graduate or equivalent. The Financial Aid Office cannot accept a student’s self-certification except in rare instances for refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking.

Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

Students must appear in person at the Financial Aid Office when presenting a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification (ID) such as a passport or a driver’s license or other state-issued ID to confirm their identity.

Students must also sign a statement of educational purpose given by the Financial Aid Office that certifies who they are and that the federal student aid they may receive will only be used for educational purposes and for the cost of attending the school for the 2025-2026 year.

Student who are unable to appear in person at the Financial Aid Office must have their signed statement of educational purpose notarized. The student must submit to the Financial Aid Office a copy of their ID and certified document from the notary stating that the student appeared before the notary and presented the same government-issued photo ID confirming their identity.

Submitting Documents

Students are required to to submit all documents through their self-service portal via https://n-ss1.wau.edu/Student/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fStudent, email to finaid@wau.edu, or submitting all documents in person

If there is trouble submitting the required documents, students can contact WAU’s Financial Aid Office.

INFORMATION | Washington Adventist University
Financial Aid Office
7600 Flower Avenue, Suite 351
Takoma Park, MD 20912 | 301-891-4005 | e-Fax: 301-560-5364

Updating FAFSA Information

After the FAFSA is signed, only certain items can be updated under the following conditions:

• Applicants whose dependency status changes except when the update is due to a change in the student’s marital status
• All applicants selected by the Department of Education or a school for verification of household size or number in college must update the numbers to be correct as of the date of verification unless the update is due to a change in the student’s marital status.

The Financial Aid Office, at its discretion and on a case-by-case basis, may make updates under condition 1 or 2. Updates can be made even if there is a change in the student’s marital status if the office decides it is necessary to address an inequity or to reflect more accurately the applicant’s ability to pay.

If the Financial Aid Office changes the status of a student to unmarried and makes them dependent, the FAFSA must be updated with their parents’ information. However, the Financial Aid Office cannot update the marital status of an already independent student whose dependency status has not changed because of marriage or divorce and who was not selected for verification.

Parent Remarrying After Submitting The FAFSA

If a dependent student’s parent remarries between application and verification, the student must update household size to include the new stepparent. However, the student would not count the new stepparent’s income and assets. It is important to note; professional judgment can be used to include the stepparent’s income or to otherwise account for the change.

Correcting Error

For students who are selected for verification and receive subsidized aid, the Financial Aid Office submits all verification changes through the Central Processing System (CPS) Online.

Submitting Corrections and Updates

Corrections and updates can be submitted by:

• The student on the SAR or the Web using FAFSA.gov
• The Financial Aid Office using FAA Access to CPS Online or the Electronic Data Exchange (EDE)

Students who received a paper SAR can make corrections or updates on it, and sign and return it to the FAFSA processor at the address given at the end of the SAR. A parent must also sign if the student is dependent, and parent data was changed unless the only corrections are to the institution or housing codes, the address, or telephone number.

Students who applied electronically through a school or received an email link to SAR information on the web but who would like to make corrections with a paper SAR, can have one mailed to them by calling 1-800-433-3243.

Interim Disbursements

The Financial Aid Office does not make Interim disbursements of federal aid while awaiting a corrected Student Aid Report (SAR) due to verification.

Completed Verification

Verification is complete when all documents required are submitted to the Financial Aid Office, a valid ISIR or SAR (one on which all the information is corrected, accurate and complete).

Professional Judgment

The Financial Aid Office completes verification for a selected student before exercising professional judgment to adjust any values that are used to calculate the SAI.

Procedure for Referring Student to the Office of Inspector General

WAU refers all suspicions of misreported information or altered documentation to fraudulently obtain federal funds to the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

INSPECTOR GENERAL’S HOTLINE

Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1500

1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733)

Hours: M, W 9-11 a.m. ; T, Th 1-3 p.m.

File complaints online | https://oig.ed.gov/oig-hotline

Regional Offices | National Hotline Washington, DC | 202-245-6911

WAU ASSISTANCE
Financial Aid Office
301-891-4005 | finaid@wau.edu