FAFSA Verification
After you file your FAFSA
After we receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information from the federal processor, we may need additional documentation from you to verify your eligibility, income, household, Veterans Affairs education benefits or dependency status. We may also collect documentation for a quality assurance study. If we need additional information, you will be notified via your WMU email. Be sure you accurately answer every question, and if something doesn’t apply to you, simply put “N/A” or “0” as the answer.
Check goWMU and your WMU email often. A delay in providing the information may result in a delay of your aid payment or the reduction or loss of your offers. Be sure to complete and sign all documents requested as soon as possible.
Once we receive your FAFSA and any requested additional application documents, we will determine your eligibility for financial aid programs. Any discrepancies will be corrected on your FAFSA and you will receive a revised FAFSA Submission Summary. If you have been offered aid, you will receive a revised offer letter via email if the updated information affects your offer eligibility.
Federal agency verification
Some of the information on your FAFSA will be checked with federal agencies to determine if your application meets the basic student eligibility criteria. You may need to submit additional application documents to verify:
- Social Security number and citizenship status with the Social Security Administration.
- Selective Service registration with the Selective Service System.
- Eligible noncitizen status with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Veteran status with the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.
- Federal student loan status with the National Student Loan Data System.
Security
Please help us protect your private information during the verification process.
- Do not send us original documents.
- Make copies to send, and keep your originals.
- Black out all Social Security numbers, leaving only the last four digits visible. This should be done only on documents requested for verification, such as tax return transcripts. We can no longer accept copies of tax returns for verification or appeals. If you send us a copy of a tax return, it will be shredded for your protection.
Identify theft
In instances when the tax filer has been the victim of identity theft, we will accept a signed copy of the paper IRS income tax return that was filed with the IRS and either:
- A signed and dated IRS Form 14039 “Identify Theft Affidavit.”
- Signed and dated statement by the tax filer indicating that they are a victim of identity theft, the IRS is investigating the matter and the tax filer submitted Form 14039 to the IRS but did not keep a copy of it or he or she was not required to file the form.
- A copy of a police report if it was filed related to the IRS identity theft.
