What to do if Your FAFSA is Selected for Verification as a College Student

In this article

• What is FAFSA Verification?
• I Got Selected For FAFSA Verification. Am I In Trouble?
• How To Complete FAFSA Verification
• How Long Do I Have To Fix A Verification Flag?
• Who Should I Talk To If I Need Help?

If your FAFSA was selected for verification, don’t panic! We share what you need to know if this happens to you and what to do next.

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What is FAFSA Verification?

Verification is the process that The Office of Federal Student Aid and your college(s) use to confirm that the information you reported on your FAFSA was accurate. Verification happens after a student submits their FAFSA. You will know you were selected for verification if:

• It’s noted directly on your FAFSA Submission Summary, or 
• Your college(s) reach out telling you to verify parts or all of the information you reported on your FAFSA

The five most common pieces of information you’ll be asked to verify are: 

1. Tax and financial information
2. Household size and/or proof that someone else from your household is enrolled in college
3. Proof of college enrollment
4. Amount of court-appointed child support received (if applicable)
5. High school completion or identity

In April 2026, The Office of Federal Student Aid introduced a new method to verify identity. This type of verification will only affect a small portion of students and will happen most commonly during FAFSA completion, instead of after.

This change is meant to prevent scammers from stealing federal financial aid funds. However, we’ll share what will happen in the very small chance you’re affected. 

You’ll know you’re selected for identity verification when you complete or renew your FAFSA. You’ll be asked to take a real-time picture of your ID and won’t be allowed to select a photo of it from your library. Once your identity is confirmed, you’re good to continue completing the FAFSA. If you don’t confirm your identity then, you’ll be required to do it later with your college. If you don’t take any action, you won’t be eligible for federal financial aid. 

Source: NCAN

I Got Selected For FAFSA Verification. Am I In Trouble?

Being selected for verification doesn’t mean you’re suspected of doing something wrong. Verification is a step toward ensuring you’re reporting the most accurate information on your FAFSA to receive the most financial aid possible. 

There are a variety of reasons someone’s FAFSA could be selected for verification, including:

• To fix an error
• Random selection
• Applying to a college that verifies all students 
• To protect against fraud and theft 

How To Complete FAFSA Verification

When making corrections or updates to your FAFSA, you will need to sign in using your StudentAid.gov account. Your parents (or other contributors, if applicable) cannot sign in and make changes for you.

The Office of Federal Student Aid and your college will give you instructions on the documents you’ll need to submit. Usually, you’ll be asked to submit one or more of the following: 

• A verification worksheet
• Tax information (IRS Tax Return Transcript can be requested through the IRS website) 
• A verification of a non-filing letter from the IRS if you are an independent student who did not file a federal tax return

If you’re selected for verification, your school must give you the following information with plenty of time:

• A clear explanation of the verification process
• A list of documents you need to submit
• Verification deadline and the consequences of not meeting it

How Long Do I Have To Fix A Verification Flag?

It varies. Be sure to keep track of deadlines, since a college won’t be able to offer you financial aid if you miss any. If you are struggling to find requested information and might miss the deadline, contact your school’s financial aid office ahead of time to request an extension. Keep in mind that an extension may not be guaranteed, but it’s still worth it to ask anyway. If not, you must submit documentation by the deadline stated. 

After the financial aid office reviews the documents you submitted and verification is complete, be sure to check your financial aid package to see if there are any changes as a result of verification. The most important tip here is to be proactive! As soon as you see that you need to provide additional information, be sure to talk to the contributors to your FAFSA. 

Who Should I Talk To If I Need Help?

If you’re a high school senior, talk to your college counselor. If you’re in college, contact someone in your school’s financial aid office. All students, no matter whether they’re in high school or college, can also contact someone at The Office of Federal Student Aid.

Do you have any questions about completing the FAFSA? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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