Verification Policy

If selected for verification, Savannah State University will send the student an email with instructions on how to access their verification requirements. Once the student’s account is created through the university’s verification portal, they can view their outstanding requirements and upload the necessary documents to satisfy those requirements.

Unless otherwise directed, students are advised not to make changes to their FAFSA during verification. If corrections are necessary, SSU will make the required adjustments and submit them electronically to the federal processor. The federal processor will then notify the student of the corrections made by the university. If there are changes to the Financial Aid award as a result, a new Financial Aid award letter will be sent to the student.

It is important to note that deliberately falsifying information on the FAFSA form to obtain federal financial aid inappropriately is a federal crime. Any instances of deliberate tampering with FAFSA information will be referred to the Office of Inspector General as required by the institution’s Program Participation Agreement.

Examples of documents that may be requested from students include the Verification Webform, an official IRS Tax Return Transcript, and/or a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040. Additional documents may also be required, such as Federal W2’s and Schedules from the Tax Return Transcript. Students will be notified of the required documents via email.

It is crucial for students to complete verification as soon as possible. Federal aid will not be disbursed to their tuition account until their file is verified.

Students are classified by ED into verification groups.  Items verified are determined by this classification. The documents listed below are examples of what may be requested during the FAFSA verification process.

• IRS Tax Return Transcript
• IRS Wage and Income Transcript
• IRS Form 1040 (U.S. Income Tax Return)
• IRS Form 1040 Schedules 1, 2 and 3
• IRS Form 1040 Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business)
• IRS Form 1040Z (Amended U.S. Income Tax Return)
• IRS Form 8863 (Education Tax Credits)

The Department of Education requires universities to verify that some or all of the following information on the FAFSA is correct:

• Family size
• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
• U.S. Income Tax paid
• Untaxed portions of IRA distributions
• Untaxed portions of pensions
• IRA deductions and payments
• Tax exempt interest income
• Income earned from work
• Education Tax Credits
• Foreign income excluded from federal taxation
• Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose

Students may also be asked to verify additional information if conflicting information is found in the categories above.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) establishes a deadline after which the Verification process can no longer be completed for the applicable academic year. Students and parents must submit to the SSU Office of Financial Aid (OFA) all documentation necessary to complete the Verification process by the earlier of either:

• The 120th calendar day following the student’s last date of attendance at SSU for the Award Year selected for Verification; or
• The deadline published annually in the Federal Register by ED:
  • For the 2024-25 Award Year, all documentation must be submitted by September 1, 2025

A student’s failure to provide all requested documentation prior to the Annual Verification Deadline (earlier of the two dates listed above) will result in the student not being awarded any Federal Student Aid (FSA) for the Award Year.