Verification

Federal Verification is a review process in which the University of Delaware, as required by the U.S. Department of Education, must verify the accuracy of the information provided on a student's FAFSA. FAFSA applications are randomly selected by the Federal processor for verification.

Federal programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study and the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program have strict eligibility requirements. University and state funding awarded based on need may also be affected.

Initial financial aid awards are based on the most current information we have on file for you at that time. If the tax and household information differs from the information reported on the student’s FAFSA, financial aid could be increased, decreased or canceled altogether.

All verification documents should be forwarded to the Office of Student Financial Services soon as possible after they are requested. Failure to do so may result in reduction and/or cancellation of any need-based Federal-,State-, or University-funded financial aid. Students will be notified via email if any other documents are needed.

Schools are required to verify:

• Household size (number of people in your household)
• Number enrolled in college (number of household members attending a post-secondary educational institution at least half time)
• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or income earned from work if income is below minimum required for income tax filing
• U.S. Income Tax Paid for the base year
• Child Support Paid for the base year (2012-2013 requirement only)
• Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP benefits for base and prior year (2012-2013 requirement only)
• Certain Untaxed Income and Benefits for the base year, such as:
  • Child support received
  • Interest on tax free bonds
  • Other untaxed income from the U.S. income tax return (excluding schedules)

Dependent students are required to submit

• 2012 - 2013 Federal Verification Worksheet
• Student's 2011 IRS documentation (if filed)
• Parents' 2011 IRS documentation (if filed)

Independent students are required to submit

• 2012 - 2013 Federal Verification Worksheet
• Student's 2011 IRS documentation (if filed)
• Spouse's 2011 IRS documentation (if filed separately)

IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) - This option is recommended by the University of Delaware and provides you with the fastest, easiest and most secure way to verify your tax data.

IRS Tax Return Transcript - Use if you have updated your IRS data on your SAR after using the IRS DRT. There are three ways to request an IRS tax return transcript:

• by calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946
• by completing the IRS online request
• by filing IRS Form 4056-EZ (for Return Transcript only)

Applicants selected for the federal verification process will be strongly encouraged to use the IRS DRT. Those who refuse will have to send an IRS tax return transcript to the University which may result in a processing delay.

Please do not send us your tax transcripts unless you have been selected for Federal Verification and you are unable to use the IRS DRT.

If you have amended your tax return, you must submit both an IRS Tax Return Transcript (which will provide the original information) and an IRS Tax Account Transcript (which will provide the updated information). You must use IRS Form 4506-T to request these, carefully following the instructions on the form. Documents should be sent within 30 days of request receipt. Do not use IRS Form 4056-EZ.

• Email scanned documents to finaid-verif@udel.edu (pdf format preferred)
• Fax documentation to (302) 831-3041
• Mail to:

Student Financial Services
Newark, DE 19716
Attn: Document Processing

Yes. Once we make a request for documents, we allow 3 weeks for the documents to be received and recorded in our office. We will send reminders to the e-mail address on file until such time as all requests have been met.

If you leave school (drop below half-time, graduate, transfer, etc.) you have 60 days from the last day of attendance to have verification completed and any aid disbursed to your account. This deadline is set by federal law and no exceptions can be made by the school.

After the third reminder, we reserve the right to revoke your federal aid and issue those funds to another student. If you re-enter verification by submitting the requested documents, Pell Grants and Direct Student loans would be restored. Your other aid may not be available if those funds have been awarded to other students.

Once we finalize your Verification Review we will send an email confirmation and you will also be notified by the Department of Education if there has been a change made to your FAFSA, also usually done via e-mail. You can at any time access your FAFSA through www.fafsa.ed.gov and review your data. Changes are usually marked by a pound sign (“#”) at each question affected.

You would forfeit your federal aid. Any outstanding University charges would become your responsibility. Therefore, we encourage you to respond to documentation requests in a timely manner so that we can successfully review your FAFSA and deliver your aid to your student account as quickly as possible.

Thousands of students successfully complete verification every year, and you can, too! If you have any questions, or need some guidance, we are here to help.

Please use our web inquiry form to allow us to assist you with any questions at www.udel.edu/SFShelp and use Verification Audit review as the topic or call us at 302-831-2126 to speak with an SFS Advisor. We wish you all the best in your academic endeavors, and we don't want financial aid worries to affect your progress. Please help us meet these federal requirements as quickly as possible so that your experience here at the University will be trouble-free.