Verification

Some students are chosen randomly while others are chosen due to discrepant information provided on the FAFSA. Some students are selected after they have received an award letter. It is not unusual for a student to go through the process several years in a row.

All students are notified electronically via their Buffalo State email address

These notifications will instruct students to review their Banner Eligibility Requirements.  Students should refer to the Check Requirements Using Banner guide for assistance.

Please do not submit verification documents to the Financial Aid Office unless instructed to do so.

2024-2025 (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025)

Dependent Students

1. Completed 2024-2025 Verification Worksheet
2. Student's 2022 signed federal 1040 form, or federal tax transcript
   1. Include Schedules 1, C, E, form 8863 if filed
   2. If the student worked but did not (and was not required to) file taxes, submit any W-2 statements from 2022
3. Parents' 2022 signed federal 1040 federal form, or federal tax transcript
   1. Include Schedules 1, C, E, form 8863 if filed
   2. If the parent(s) worked but did not (and was not required to) file taxes, submit any W-2 statements from 2022
4. Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Parents or students that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is.

Independent Students

1. Completed 2024-2025 Verification Worksheet
2. Student's 2022 signed federal 1040 form, or federal tax transcript
   1. Include Schedules 1, C, E, form 8863 if filed
   2. If the student worked but did not (and was not required to) file taxes, submit any W-2 statements from 2022
3. Spouse's (if married) 2022 signed federal 1040 form or federal tax transcript
   1. Include Schedules 1, C, E, form 8863 if filed
   2. If the spouse worked but did not (and was not required to) file taxes, submit any W-2 statements from 2022
4. Other Income Explanation (if applicable): Students and/or spouses that have income listed on their tax return as "Other Income" must submit a statement or documentation explaining what the source of the income is (e.g.: is it income from work?). For example, gambling winnings or debt cancellations are often included under "Other Income"; the Financial Aid Office needs to be able to distinguish what type of income this is.

• A copy of an unexpired IRS approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension;
• A signed statement listing the sources of any income from the requested tax year and the amount of income from each source;
• A copy of a W-2 or equivalent document for each source of employment income received for the tax year; and
• If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s AGI and U.S. income tax paid for the tax year.

A small number of financial aid applicants will be required to complete the Statement of Educational Purpose Form. The US Department of Education selects which students must complete the statement and colleges and universities cannot disburse aid until the statement is received. 

The Statement of Educational Purpose certifies the student's identity and attests that the student will only use federal student aid for educational purposes and for the cost of attending college during the specified academic year. Students will be notified by the Financial Aid Office if they must complete the Statement of Educational Purpose. They may access the form through their Banner account. The form must be notarized or completed in person at the Financial Aid Office.  Students must present a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification such as a passport or driver's license.

The deadline to submit verification documents is dependent on the type of federal student aid the student is eligible to receive. If the deadline is not met, the student becomes ineligible for that particular aid program. This is a federal requirement and cannot be appealed.

Once all the required documentation is received, an advisor will review the information and submit corrections to the federal processor as needed. In some cases, after the documentation is reviewed, additional documents are needed. Monitor your Buffalo State email and Banner account for updates. Once the corrected FAFSA is received by Buffalo State, federal aid can be offered and/or disbursed to the student. During peak times (semester start-up), processing time can take several weeks to have aid offered. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA by March 1 to allow ample processing time for the following upcoming semesters. During non-peak times, students who have submitted all documentation are typically reviewed within one to two weeks and aid is offered accordingly.

No, verification must be completed first. The only exception is if a student is selected after federal aid has been paid to their account; those funds will not be sent back to ED unless completion of verification necessitates it or the student fails to submit the required documents. 

If you were selected because there was a clear error on your FAFSA, completing it more accurately in a subsequent year may prevent you from being selected again. There is no way to avoid being randomly selected.