If a student is selected for verification, he or she must update the number of family members (household size) and number of college students in the household, unless those items changed as a result of a change in the student's marital status. If an applicant is not selected for verification, household size and number in postsecondary education cannot be updated.

Can You Be Selected for Verification Later Rather Than Sooner?
When a student files a FAFSA, it creates a "snapshot" of the financial situation of the student's family as of the date the application was signed. However, errors may occur if a student files the wrong information on an application or if there are errors in data entry at the processor.

If a student's SAR or ISIR data is incorrect, it must be corrected or updated. Please note that corrections to a student's Social Security number must always be reported back to the U.S. Department of Education's processor for data match purposes. Such corrections can cause a FAFSA to be selected for verification after the University has already packaged your aid.

Changes That Are Not Permitted
The student may not update income or asset information to reflect changes to his or her family's financial situation if those changes took place after the FAFSA was filed. For example, if the same student's family sold some stock after the student filed a FAFSA and spent the money on a on non-reported asset such as a car, the student may not update her information to show a change in the family's assets. However, a student must update dependency status if it changes after filing (unless it changed because of a change in the student's marital status). Dependency status must be updated regardless of whether the student was selected for verification.

Required Verification Documents
Signed photocopies of the applicant's and/or parent(s)' U.S. income tax return (IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) are required. However, not all applicants or their parents file an income tax return or keep a copy of the return they did file. Therefore, an IRS tax return transcript or an exact copy of the tax return can be obtained from the IRS to take the place of a signed photocopy of the 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. Order a tax transcript by calling 800/829-1040. To receive an exact copy (cost $25), call the same number and request an IRS form 4506. Form 4506 is also available in the USI Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Other routinely required items cannot be verified from the tax return, and will require separate statements or documents. A verification worksheet is used to verify tax filing status, untaxed income, special exclusions to income, family size, and number in college. The University provides this form to all applicants selected for verification.

Anything Else That Needs to be Checked?
A comment on the SAR may also require that other information which is not on the income tax return be verified. For example, verification of selective service registration status may be required by comments on the SAR, when the Secretary has identified conflicting information. Other items may require further documentation such as citizenship, prior defaults on student loans, and the most frequent conflict of information, the student's name in the Social Security Administration database.

Consequences of Failure to Provide Documentation
If an applicant fails to provide the requested documentation within a reasonable time period established by the University, the University may not disburse any federal or state student aid to the applicant. If a student is awarded aid on the basis of a non-selected application, and then is selected for verification on a subsequent application but refuses to provide documentation, any Federal Pell Grant or campus-based aid (except Federal Work Study employment) already disbursed must be repaid by the student.