You have received your Verification Worksheet in the mail, but you may have a number of questions about the process ahead of you. This site will provide you with some answers as well as some resources to help you complete the income portion of the verification process.

Many families associate FAFSA verification with a Federal tax audit, but the process need not be nearly so daunting – you do have Wittenberg’s financial aid staff on your side, after all!  Each family’s situation is different, but the individualized attention that you will get from us will ensure that the process is as painless as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to complete this paperwork? 
If it was up to us, we probably wouldn’t verify every FAFSA that is selected…sadly, it isn’t up to us.  FAFSAs are chosen to be verified for a number of reasons.  A student’s FAFSA may be flagged for verification due to an error made while filling out the form, or your FAFSA may just be one of the lucky ones randomly chosen to complete the process.  Regardless of the reason, approximately one in three FAFSAs is chosen and federal aid cannot be awarded to those students by any school until the process is complete.

What happens if I don’t turn in my Verification Worksheet and documentation? 
In short, you won’t receive any federal or state financial aid.  Once a student is selected for verification, the school is required (by Federal Law) to obtain complete verification paperwork before awarding any state or federal aid including Pell Grants, FSEO Grants, Ohio College Opportunity Grants, Perkins Loans, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans, and/or Parent PLUS Loans.

In order to keep things clear and accurate, we also will not apply any need-based institutional funding such as Wittenberg Loans and Wittenberg Grants until you have completed verification.

I am an upper-class student who was selected for verification but I don’t have a 2013-2014 financial aid award letter yet – why not? 
Upper-class students will not receive a financial aid award package for the 2013-2014 academic year until they are finished with their verification paperwork.  This cuts down on award confusion and  makes financial planning easier for you and your family.  Just get your verification done as soon as possible and once it is completed you will receive your award letter in the mail.

I am an incoming freshman and I already did this for another school – do I have to do it for Wittenberg too? 
If you were accepted to many schools, you will probably get a lot of Verification Worksheets in the mail.  Each school’s worksheet may look slightly different, but each should ask for essentially the same information, so make multiple copies of your documentation!  You should complete verification for all schools that you are considering attending because financial aid offers and award letters may change if the verification process reveals that changes need to be made to your FAFSA.

Will Verification change the Financial Aid I was offered? 
Possibly.  If the information on your FAFSA is 100% accurate, the verification process won’t uncover any errors that could change your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) and therefore your financial aid award package.  However, if there are mistakes on your FAFSA that are uncovered during verification, we will correct your information which may change your EFC and therefore your financial aid award package.  You will receive a finalized financial aid award letter once verification is complete.

Sometimes changes reveal that a student is eligible for less grant-aid, but sometimes they reveal that the student is eligible for more!  Either way you can rest assured that by the end of the verification process, the verified information on your FAFSA will be 100% correct so you will receive all aid for which you are eligible.

What information must be verified? 
The answer is different for each student, but most families will be asked to verify their 2012 tax information as well as other tidbits of household information.  As long as you address each part of your Verification Worksheet, you will be just fine.

What is acceptable documentation?  
Your Verification Worksheet outlines documentation requirements for each piece of information that needs to be verified, but please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions if you are unsure of how to complete each item.

How do I use the Data Retrieval Tool? 
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the 2013-2014 FAFSA is the fastest way for tax-filers to verify financial information and complete verification.  Our 2013-2014 IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions can be found here. 

If you are a tax-filer but you are unwilling or unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will need to order an IRS Tax Return Transcript to complete the income portion of the Verification Worksheet.  If you did not file a 2012 tax return but you did earn some income from working, remember to give us a copy of your 2012 W2s!

How do I order an IRS Tax Return Transcript?  
IRS Tax Return Transcripts must be ordered directly from the IRS.  You can do this by walking in to your local IRS Office (call ahead to make sure your office offers this service), by calling the automated Transcript Ordering Line at 1.800.908.9946, or by ordering online at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript.

To order at a Local IRS Office:

• Visit http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 to locate your local IRS Office.
• Call the listed phone number and ask if they can print 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcripts on request for individuals who visit the office.
• If they are able, wait until your 2012 Federal Tax Return has been processed then visit the office during business hours and have them print a 2012 Tax Return Transcript for you.  If they are unable, use the online or phone system services.

To order over the phone:

• Call the IRS Transcript Ordering Line at 1.800.908.9946.
• Enter the Social Security Number for the tax filer for whom you need a Tax Return Transcript.
• Enter the street address number for the address under which you filed.  For example, if you live at 2468 West Main Street, enter “2-4-6-8”.
• Press “2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
• Press “2-0-1-2” to request your 2012 Tax Return Transcript.
• Check your mail!  Your Tax Return Transcript should arrive within 5 to 10 days to the address under which you filed your 2012 Federal Tax Return.

To order online:

• Visit http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript.
• Read over the instructions, then click “Order a Transcript”.
• Enter the Social Security Number and Date of Birth for the tax filer for whom you need a Tax Return Transcript.
• Enter the Street Address and ZIP Code for the address under which the 2012 Federal Tax Return was filed.  For example, if the address on the return is 2468 West Main Street Springfield, OH 45501, you should enter “2468 West Main Street” and “45501”.  It is very important that you enter the address exactly as it appears at the top of the 2012 Federal Tax Return.
• Select “Return Transcript” for Type of Transcript and “2012” for Tax Year.
• Check your mail!  Your Tax Return Transcript should arrive within 5 to 10 days to the address under which you filed your 2012 Federal Tax Return.

I think I have turned everything in, but I haven’t heard anything from the Financial Aid Office – can I assume that Verification is complete? 
Not necessarily. We do our best to keep in contact with you about missing documentation, but it doesn’t hurt to call or email to make sure that we have received everything we need. Once verification is complete, we will send the student an updated financial aid award letter in the mail.

I’m having some trouble – who can I contact for help? 
If you have any questions don’t ever hesitate to call or email our office – we’re here to guide you through the process and help you build a plan to finance your education here at Wittenberg.