Verification

What is Verification?

Verification is a quality-control method used by the U.S. Department of Education to check the accuracy of the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most students are randomly selected while others are chosen based on errors or inconsistencies on the FAFSA. All schools that disburse Title IV funds are required to participate in the verification process. If selected, the verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded.

Selected for Verification?

If you are selected for verification, you are not alone! About 30% of all FAFSA filers are selected for the verification process. The Department of Education requires schools to collect documentation to check the accuracy of the FAFSA information. Your and/or your parent’s income information (Tax Return) and a Verification Worksheet are the primary set of data we must review.

Please see below for more info:

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is available! Please be sure to use the tool to transfer tax information directly into your FAFSA! The 2022-2023 FAFSA uses 2020 Tax Info and on the 2023-2024 FAFSA you must report the 2021 Tax/Income data. Using DRT gives you a better opportunity for submitting less documents in the event you are selected for Verification by the Federal Government. If you are ineligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or do not choose to use it, you may also submit to Dillard University a Federal Tax RETURN transcript.

How will I know if I am selected for Verification?

When selected for verification the Federal Government student will provide a comment on the Student Aid Report (SAR). This is the document that is produced after you complete the FAFSA. It is important that you review your SAR for accuracy. Additionally, we will notify you by mail and/or your Dillard University e-mail regarding your verification status and you will be able to check your file status on myDU. The list of required documents will be notated. All documents must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships before financial aid can be awarded.

What is being Verified?

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships may be required to verify the following data elements on your FAFSA:

Adjusted Gross Income (parent and student, if the student is dependent)
Taxes Paid (parent and student, if the student is dependent)
Income Earned from Work (for non-tax filers)
Certain Untaxed Income Items (parent and student, if the student is dependent)
Household Size
Number in College (excluding parents for a dependent student)
Child Support Paid
High School Completion, Identity/Statement, IRA, Pension, Education Tax Credits, etc.)
Any other inconsistent or conflicting information

What documents are needed?

To verify these elements, we may ask for the following documents; however, this is not a complete list. Specific documents requested will be based on a family's individual case.

Verification Document(s):

Please click on Documents & Forms to access the Verification Worksheet and other documents for the appropriate year.

A Verification Worksheet: (downloadable from this web site – see Documents and Forms tab to the left of this page)
Federal Tax Return Transcript: The prior year tax information for both parent and student, if the student is dependent. The 2023-2024 academic year's FAFSA and Verification will be based on two years prior, which will be the 2021 income data.
W-2s showing wages (parent and student if the student is dependent) if requested -

If you will not and are not required to file taxes, you must submit all W-2's to verify earnings from work.

Verification of Non-filers from the IRS
Statement of child support paid
Verification of Net Worth
Any other documents related to the student’s specific circumstance regarding the verification selection.

About the Federal Tax Return: There are four options for obtaining a Tax RETURN transcript.

You can get your free transcripts immediately online: Go to IRS.gov to request. Get Transcript tool.
You can also get them by phone: Call 800-829-0922 and follow the prompts.
Using the mobile app: Download the IRS2Go mobile phone app on your smartphone and follow the instructions.
You can receive transcripts by mail or by fax (within five to 10 days from the time IRS receives your request): Complete Form 4506T-EZ and follow the instructions

PLEASE NOTE - Federal Tax Returns:

The IRS recently implemented new security features that redact (remove) a significant amount of personally identifying information from all of their documents. While these added security features protect your personal information and identity, it makes our job more difficult. As such, when submitting any documents from the IRS (tax return transcripts, wage and earnings statements, etc.) to our office, we ask that you list the student’s full name and student ID in the top right corner of the document. Failure to provide this information will increase processing time and may prevent us from processing your document entirely. Additionally, when ordering tax return transcripts, please have them sent to you, NOT Dillard University, so that you can add the student’s name and ID to the transcript before submitting it to our office.

There may be other documents that we are requesting (like a Verification Worksheet) that you will still need to complete and submit. Check myDU to determine if there are other verification documents that are needed.

Please be sure when sending any verification documents to our office that you include the student's name and ID. Otherwise, we will not know for whom we are processing the document.

Priority deadline and submission process: March 1st (for currently enrolled students) and May 1st (for new students) is the priority deadline to submit documentation to ensure documents/files are review and processed prior to the start of the Fall semester. Documents may be submitted as follows:

Mailed:

Dillard University

Financial Aid & Scholarships, - Rosenwald Hall Room 126

2601 Gentilly Blvd

New Orleans, LA 70122

You can scan and email to: financialaid@dillard.edu or email directly to your financial aid counselor (see Meet the Staff listing to the left)

You can securely Fax your documents to: (504) 816-5456

What Happens after I Submit ALL Documents?

The Financial Aid Counselor will review the information you reported on the FAFSA along with the submitted documents for accuracy. This process can take 1-2 weeks depending on the peak of processing.

If additional information is needed: Once the documents are reviewed there is a possibility that additional documents will be needed, if so you will be notified by mail and/or email.
If corrections are needed: Once all documents are received, if changes are required to the FAFSA data, then the adjustments will be made and sent back to the Federal Government for reprocessing. You will be notified that corrections are being made to your Student Aid Report. It generally takes 3-5 days for the corrected data to made and updated to our system. Thereafter, your FAFSA will be re-evaluated to confirm all corrections were updated then your file will be completed and an award will be generated.
If no corrections are needed: Once your file is reviewed and no corrections are needed, then an award will be processed. You should review myDU to confirm the status of your award.

Can my file be selected for Verification after I have been awarded?

Yes, this could happen if a new SAR is generated by the Federal Government or if discrepancies are revealed after you have been awarded. If your FAFSA is selected for verification after you have been awarded, you have 45 days to complete verification. If the process is not complete within the 45-day window, your aid must be canceled which may result in a balance owed to the university.

Important Tips for Completing the Verification Process:

Complete all requested forms in full: Do not leave any questions blank. All questions must have an answer even if it is a "0".
Be sure all required signatures have been provided.
Submitting your FAFSA early and completing verification is required before aid can be awarded.
The FAFSA is available beginning October 1st of the prior calendar year. For example, for the 2023-2024 academic year's FAFSA is available October 1st, 2022.
During peak processing times, please allow extra time for processing your verification documents. To expedite your financial aid, file your FAFSA as early as possible and send all required documents together at one time and include the Student ID on all documents.
Once verification begins, you may be asked to submit additional documentation. If this occurs, a letter or an email will be sent to the student. All requested documents can be viewed on myDU student account.
Remember - Priority Deadline: March 1st of each year. Currently enrolled students must have their FAFSA submitted and processed by the deadline date. The 2023-2024 award year will require currently enrolled students (excluding graduating seniors) to have their FAFSA and verification documents submitted by the deadline date which is before the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

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