Financial Aid Verification Procedures

About 30% of all students that complete a FAFSA are selected for verification by the Department of Education. The verification process requires schools to collect documentation to check the accuracy of the FAFSA information. If selected, the verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded.

When selected for verification, the student will be notified through their UNG e-mail. The student will be directed to the Financial Aid tab within their Banner account to review a list of the requirements that must be completed before any financial aid can be awarded.

After submitting your FAFSA you will receive FAFSA Submission Summary, which is a summary of the data you provided on the FAFSA. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) has been calculated and this number determines the amount and types of aid you may receive. Review the FAFSA Submission Summary and correct any errors you notice by logging back into your account.

If you are selected for verification, you will receive an email from our office will outlining your next steps. To expedite processing, requested documentation or related materials will be due within 10 business days of notification. Failure to submit requested documentation within this timeframe will delay processing of your award.

1. Log in to Banner and select the Student view
2. Select the four-square icon in the upper left corner
3. Select "Banner"
4. Select "Student"
5. Select "Financial Aid"
6. The "Home" tab will show unsatisfied requirements.
7. Select the link and it will take you to the requirement.

If you choose not to submit verification documents, we will be unable to complete your application and determine your eligibility for federal financial aid.

Verification may take up to four weeks to be processed during our peak times. UNG Financial Aid Counselors will review your information and submit corrections, if needed. After corrections are processed, you will receive an updated FAFSA Submission Summary. Any changes to your SAI reflected on the new FAFSA Submission Summary may affect your Title IV federal aid eligibility. A notification of your aid eligibility will be sent to your UNG email address directing you to review your Banner Web student account. Check these accounts frequently for updates.

Until the verification process is complete, no need-based federal funds may be disbursed. These funds include the Pell Grant, FSEOG, Work-Study and Direct Subsidized Loan. If you are eligible for both subsidized and unsubsidized Title IV aid, you may not avoid verification by accepting only unsubsidized aid; you must complete verification to receive any Title IV aid.

The UNG Financial Aid Office must receive your official FAFSA before or during the semester you are attending the institution. It is imperative that we receive any requested additional documentation as soon as you are notified. Once all requirements are complete, FSEOG, Work-Study and Loans can only be awarded while you are enrolled, i.e. before the end of the semester. If requested verification documentation is submitted after the semester ends, you may no longer be eligible for these funds. A late disbursement of the Pell Grant is possible, but it can only apply to successfully completed courses.

Notice: Verification procedures and deadlines are governed by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended and Subpart E of 34CFR Part 608.”Verification of Student Aid Application Information”, published in the Federal Register dated March 14, 1986 and August 15, 1986.

A school must refer to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) any credible information indicating that an applicant for federal student aid may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with his or her application. Common misconduct includes false claims of independent student status, false claims of citizenship, use of false identities, forgery of signatures of certifications, and false statements of income. Fraud is the intent to deceive as opposed to a mistake. Through direct contact with the student, Financial Aid Counselors will make every effort to resolve conflicting information before referring a student to the OIG.

If a student who is selected for verification does not complete the verification process, then any Federal and/or need-based aid (Pell grant, SEOG, Work-Study, Federal Direct loans, certain Scholarships, and institutional aid) will NOT be awarded or disbursed.

UNG policy states: The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to deactivate student records from financial aid processing due to a lack of response to a Verification request. Students and/or parents must reply to a Verification request within 60 calendar days of the date the request was sent to them, or by the Monday prior to the last day of classes (not final exams) if there were not 60 days left in the award period at the time the request was sent. For example, the end of the award period is the end of the spring semester for students enrolled in the fall and spring semesters and seeking aid for those semesters.

If you have questions regarding verification, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 706-864-1412 or finaid@ung.edu

When verifying the accuracy of a student’s Verification form, both the student and parent must sign the same way (either E-sign the document or both physically sign the form). If a parent is unable to E-sign the form, the student must cancel the request, and opt out of E-sign. They will be able to print the form, and both parent and student can physically sign it.

If the student is unable to answer “yes” to any of the dependency questions listed on the FAFSA, students must provide parental information on the FAFSA and the Verification Household form.

Dependency Status Questions FAFSA Form

Verification processing time is generally three to four weeks during peak season and two to three weeks during non-peak season. Therefore, students should start the process as soon as possible.

• A Tax Return Transcript or A signed copy of the original tax return that was filed with the IRS plus
• The signed 1040X (if applicable) or the IRS Record of Account Transcript

If a student/parent is required to amend their taxes and chooses not to, then any Federal and/or need-based aid (Pell grant, SEOG, Work-Study, Federal Direct loans, certain Scholarships, and institutional aid) will NOT be awarded or disbursed.