Verification

for undergraduate students

What is verification?

Verification is a process where the College double-checks the information you submitted on your financial aid application materials. The FAFSA processing center or the College can select students for verification.

How do I know if I’ve been selected?

• After filing your FAFSA, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be emailed or mailed to you. Review your SAR carefully - if you were selected for verification it may be indicated on the report.
• If your financial aid award notification from Lewis & Clark indicates that verification is required, you’ve been selected.
• We may send you letters and/or emails telling you to complete verification.

What information do I need to submit?

SPECIAL ALERT:  As of April 16, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education announced that signed copies of 2011 federal tax returns may be accepted for verification purposes. This recent change was implemented in response to unexpected difficulties in obtaining Tax Return Transcripts and/or using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in a timely manner and is only in effect until July 15, 2012.

If you completed your 2012-13 financial aid applications with parental information:

• 2012-13 Dependent Verification Worksheet
• Signed copy of your parents’ 2011 federal tax return*
• Your parents’ 2011 W-2 form(s), Schedule C, and/or Schedule K-1
• Signed copy of your 2011 federal tax return, if applicable*
• Your 2011 W-2 form(s), if applicable

If you completed your 2012-13 financial aid applications without parental information:

• 2012-13 Independent Verification Worksheet
• Signed copy of your 2011 federal tax return*
• Your 2011 W-2 form(s), Schedule C, and/or Schedule K-1
• Your spouse’s 2011 W-2 forms (if married)

*Tax return NOT required if you used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to populate income information on your FAFSA.

When do I complete verification?

Incoming students: All required documents should be submitted as soon as they are available, but no later than April 15.

Continuing students: All required documents should be submitted as soon as they are available, but no later than May 1.

Verification changes

We are required to make corrections to inaccurate information discovered through the verification process and to use the verified information in determining a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Corrections to a student’s aid application may cause a change in eligibility and result in a revised award notification.

What happens if I don’t complete verification in a timely manner?

Offers of financial aid will not be finalized nor will any funds disburse to your student account if verification is required but incomplete. Failure to complete verification may also result in the cancellation of your financial aid.