College-bound students may be receiving notices after filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to verify their information with the U.S. Department of Education.
“Verification is an important process to ensure students qualify for and receive the correct amount of federal aid,” said KHEAA Executive Director Jo Carole Ellis. “If selected, don’t delay on completing the process, as you won’t be able to receive any aid until it is.”
After filing your FAFSA, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary. Check this over carefully and make sure to correct any mistakes you see, and also check to see if you have been selected for verification.
The federal government requires many students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to verify the information included on the FAFSA. In many cases, their parents will also have to provide information. Students requiring verification are chosen by the U.S. Department of Education.
Colleges may do the verification themselves, or they may contract with an agency to handle the process. KHEAA provides verification services to over 30 schools, including 17 in Kentucky.
Students and parents need to take the process seriously. Students chosen for verification must complete the process before they can receive their financial aid. As soon as they are contacted, they should provide any information that is required. Putting it off will only lead to frustration if the process isn’t finished when classes are ready to start.
KHEAA is the state agency that administers the merit-based Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) program, as well as need-based grants and other programs to help students pay their higher education expenses. Kentucky Lottery funds pay for many of those programs. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit kheaa.com; write KHEAA at P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602; or call 800-928-8926.
In addition, KHEAA administers the KY Saves 529 program, which allows families to save for college. For more information, visit www.kysaves.com/home.html.
KHEAA’s sister agency, the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation (KHESLC), is the Kentucky not-for-profit agency committed to offering students/borrowers with the lowest possible cost assistance in achieving their higher education dreams by offering the Advantage Education Loan program. For more information, visit www.advantageeducationloan.com/.