Verification is the process in which the U.S. Department of Education requires students to confirm certain information from their regarding their identity, income information, or both. Since 51ԹϺ administers federal financial aid, we are responsible for verifying applications selected by the U.S. Department of Education and enforcing federal regulations associated with verification.
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will contact students directly through the if any documents are required for verification. If you are selected, submit all of the required documents as soon as possible to ensure the timely packaging of financial aid. In most cases, your financial aid will not be disbursed to your account until you complete verification.
FAQs
How do I know if I am selected for the verification process, and if I am, where do I start?
To determine if you were selected for verification, log into My51ԹϺ and click on the “Student Center- Classic” tile. Once you are in the student center, check the To-Do List for “Verification Required 23-24”. If this checklist item is on your To-Do List, click on it, and then follow the link to the Rebel Success Hub. In the Rebel Success Hub, click on the “Submit Forms and Documents” drop-down menu and select “Financial Aid Verification Home.” You should be presented with a text box titled “FA Verification - Start Screen” that has instructions regarding the verification process. After reading the instructions, you may click “Next” to start the verification process.
How long does the verification process take?
The time it takes the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to process verification depends on many factors, including the receipt of all required documentation and whether multiple reviews are needed. Be sure to frequently check your My51ԹϺ To-Do List, your Rebelmail, and the Rebel Success Hub for updates or additional documentation requests to ensure timely processing.
What documentation is required to complete verification?
The documents required to complete verification depend on each student’s particular situation and the information they are required to confirm. For this reason, we recommend only submitting the specific documentation requested by our office on the Rebel Success Hub. However, there are some general documents you may want to have ready.
If you and/or your parent(s) filed taxes or worked in 2021, it is important to maintain physical or digital copies of tax or income documents in the event we request them.
To order your tax or income transcripts, please refer to the .
Additionally, if you are selected to verify your identity, you will need to provide an unexpired valid government-issued photo identification such as, but not limited to, a driver's license, non-driver's identification card, other State-issued identification, or U.S. passport in person to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
What qualifies as a signed tax return?
To qualify as a signed tax return the document must either be:
- Hand-signed/Wet Signature
- Stylus Signed
- Have an image of the student/parent’s signature
AND
The signature must be on the line on the tax return designated for the signature of the tax filer:
OR
Include the tax preparer’s stamped, typed, signed, or printed name and Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
If your tax return includes neither the signature of at least one of the tax filers nor the preparer’s certification, it does not qualify as a signed tax return.
What happens if I don't complete verification?
It depends on the verification type. For students selected for identity verification, they cannot receive any form of federal financial aid until the documentation is received and accepted. If you are only selected for income-based verification, and do not complete the process, you may still receive non-need based federal financial aid such as the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Parent PLUS, or TEACH Grant. In either case, incomplete verification can impact your eligibility for institutional aid, and prevent you from being considered for need-based federal aid such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Subsidized, and Federal Work Study.