Federal Verification

Verification is a federal regulation that requires the Office of Financial Aid to collect documents that confirm the accuracy of the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Since the 2013-14 academic year, the U.S. Department of Education has implemented a customized approach to verification. This means that you may only be required to provide documentation for specific data elements. Therefore, the documentation required may vary from student to student. Here are some commonly asked questions about verification.

Why was I selected for verification?

Students are selected randomly by the Department. However, there are other reasons that lead to some students having a higher likelihood of being selected. Two examples are if there is conflicting information within your FAFSA or if your FAFSA is incomplete. The purpose of verification is not to penalize students, but rather to ensure that accurate information is reported and errors are corrected so that federal aid is awarded appropriately.If you have previously been selected for verification, you may find that you will be required to submit the same information as in prior years.

I received my financial aid decision but later learned that my FAFSA record was selected for verification. What does this mean?

If you are notified that you have been selected for verification after you receive your financial aid award letter, verification must be completed before the Office of Financial Aid can disburse federal funds and/or allow you to participate in the Federal Work-Study program.If you have additional questions concerning the verification process, please contact the Office of Financial Aid. You may also visit us on campus in the Walker Museum, Room 309, 1115 E. 58th Street. You may upload completed documents through your My.UChicago portal.Please submit your documentation in a timely fashion. The Office of Financial Aid cannot begin processing your financial aid application, including Summer Work-Study and Summer Aid applications, until all required verification documents are received. It typically takes 48-72 hours for submitted documents to show up as “Received” in your UChicago portal.

I am a recently admitted student. How do I know if I have been selected for verification, and what information will I be expected to provide?

The Office of Financial Aid will contact you via email after May 1st with detailed instructions on the specific documentation you will be required to provide. Because required documentation may vary from student to student, the Office of Financial Aid will provide you with a customized verification worksheet depending on the data fields the Department has selected to be reviewed. You will complete your worksheets through the Financial Aid Portal of your myUChicago account.Please submit your documentation in a timely fashion. The Office of Financial Aid cannot begin processing your financial aid application, including Summer Work-Study and Summer Aid applications, until all required verification documents are received. It typically takes 48-72 hours for submitted documents to show up as “Received” in your UChicago portal.

I am an independent student, and my FAFSA record was selected for verification. The worksheets provided on this website are only for dependent students. Where can I find the appropriate worksheet for me?

The Office of Financial Aid will send you an email message that provides you with instructions and your verification worksheet. If you have trouble locating this email, please contact the office at 773-702-8666.