The Verification Process and Resolving Non-Federal Database Match Issues:

In an effort to limit fraud and abuse of the financial aid programs, the federal government requires that colleges and universities confirm, on a select population of students, the accuracy of information that appears on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA). Each year, they require that the records of 30% of the student population be "verified." This confirmation is performed in a process called "verification," and the federal government itself randomly selects the students. The University also has the right to select students for this process as well.

Since the federal government's processor receives the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA information, it sharers it with several other federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, etc. If the information sent does not match the database of these other agencies, students will have to resolve these discrepancies and are required to do so before financial aid may be awarded. These discrepancies are known as "comment code issues," and students must also resolve this before being allowed to receive federal financial aid.

The federal regulations involved in the “verification” or comment code process requires that the Office of Student Financial Services collect documentation in the form of proof of income (generally through copies of federal income tax returns, confirmation of non-taxable income, family size, etc.).  There is a Verification Supplement which students must complete and which collects some of the information required.  This form is submitted with the income documentation.  Information on comment code issues must also be submitted and may include proof of social security numbers, date of birth, etc.

The federal government is the first to notify a student that he/she has been selected for "verification" or an issue has been identified with a non-federal database match. For "verification" an asterisk (*) appears next to the EFC number on the upper right corner of the first page of the Student Aid Report (SAR) which is sent to the student as a result of the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA. In the text of Part I of the SAR, there is a notification that the student was selected for "verification" and should contact their financial aid office. Comment code issues are also outlined in this section of the SAR.

The Office of Student Financial Services may send a reminder to the student as well, in a "Missing Information Letter" which lists all the documents a student must submit in order to complete the "verification" process and/or resolve comment code issues.

For Long Island University students, the Verification Supplement is provided on this website (see “Brochures, Forms, and Other Links”).  There is also A Guide for Submitting Additional Documentation or Information that contains a wealth of information on the type of documentation required for both “verification” and for comment code issues.

Upon review of the Verification Supplement and accompanying income documentation, or the information provided to resolve a non-database match issue, the Office of Student Financial Services will determine if the information is correct, and whether or not the student may be awarded financial aid. A financial aid award notice will be generated for the student whose information is correct.

If information must be changed and the student must make corrections to the FAFSA, they may do so by using their Federal Student Aid PIN,and may make corrections on-line at www.fafsa.gov.  Financial aid counselors are available to assist students in making corrections.  These students must wait for the corrected information to come in from the federal government in the form of a new SAR.  The new SAR has a different transaction number (higher than the previous one), and the University will take action on the SAR with the highest transaction number on file.  Sometimes, when changes are made, different edit checks are performed by the federal government, which may require that the student provide additional information, previously not requested.

Upon receiving the final, accurate electronic information on the new SAR, the Office of Student Financial Services will review it, and if all corrections have been made, will proceed to offer the student financial aid. Unless "verification" or the comment code issues are satisfactorily completed for a selected student, he/she is unable to receive federal Title IV financial aid. This includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, Federal Perkins Student Loans, Federal Work Study/America Reads, Health Professions Student Loans, and Federal Direct Loans. In order to gain eligibility for financial aid, the "verification" process or comment code issue must be completed and resolved, and must be done in a timely manner. The deadline for doing so is within one month of the end of the term or academic year for which the student is applying for financial aid.