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Verification Changes for 2013-2014

Session 6 . Verification Changes for 2013-2014. Carney McCullough and Ginger Klock | Nov. 2012 U.S. Department of Education 2012 Fall Conference. Agenda. 2012-2013 Overview Hot topics 2013-2014 New verification items and documentation Verification text vs. verification worksheets

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Verification Changes for 2013-2014

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  1. Session 6 Verification Changes for 2013-2014 Carney McCullough and Ginger Klock | Nov. 2012 U.S. Department of Education 2012 Fall Conference

  2. Agenda 2012-2013 • Overview • Hot topics 2013-2014 • New verification items and documentation • Verification text vs. verification worksheets • Verification tracking groups and flags • Verification selection

  3. Information on Verification • Program Integrity Final Rules • Published on October 29, 2010 • Replaces the five verification items for all selected applicants with a targeted selection from items included in an annual Federal Register notice published by the Secretary • Institution may select additional applicants or verify additional items for an applicant

  4. Verification for 2012-2013

  5. 2012-2013 Verification Items • All applicants— • Household size • Number in college • SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps)—if receipt indicated on ISIR • Child support paid—if amount indicated on ISIR

  6. 2012-2013 Verification Items • Tax filers— • Adjusted gross income • U.S. income tax paid • Education credits • Specific untaxed income items • Untaxed IRA distributions • Untaxed Pensions • IRA deductions • Tax Exempt Interest • Non-tax filers • Income earned from work

  7. Income Information for Tax Filers • IRS Data Retrieval • IRS Tax Return Transcript • April 16, 2012—Electronic Announcement • Until July 15, 2012, may accept signed copy of relevant 2011 tax return • August 21, 2012—Electronic Announcement • Limited circumstances when a signed copy of relevant 2011 tax return is acceptable

  8. November 2, 2012 Electronic Announcement For remainder of 2012-2013 award year In instances where the tax filer attempted to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and was unsuccessful • Signed copy of relevant 2011 IRS tax return AND • Communication (signed by tax filer) from IRS stating request was unsuccessful • Letter from IRS • Screen shot print AND • Completed and signed IRS Form 4506 T-EZ or 4506 T listing institution as third party

  9. November 2, 2012 Electronic Announcement • If there is no reasonable doubt about the accuracy of the paper tax return, maintain copy in student’s file and no further action is required • If there is reason to believe the paper tax return is inaccurate, must send IRS Form 4506 T-EZ or 4506 T to IRS and wait for response before verification can be completed

  10. Amended tax returns If the institution is aware that an amended tax return was filed, to complete verification, the applicant must submit— • Signed copy of the relevant tax return or IRS Tax Return Transcript AND • Signed copy of the 1040X that was filed with the IRS

  11. Identity Theft To complete verification for victims of identity theft— • Signed copy of IRS income tax return AND • One of the following— • IRS Form 14039, “Identity Theft Affidavit” • Signed, dated statement indicating victim of identity theft and IRS is investigating • Copy of the police report filed by the tax filer

  12. Verification for 2013-2014

  13. 2013-2014 Verification Verification items— • Retained all items subject to verification in 2012-2013 • Added two new items— • High school completion status • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose

  14. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of high school completion status: high school diploma— • High school diploma; or • Final high school transcript that shows the date the high school diploma was awarded  Note:  If a copy of an applicant’s high school diploma or final high school transcript is unavailable, the institution may accept alternative documentation.

  15. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of high school completion status: recognized equivalent of a high school diploma— • General Educational Development (GED) Certificate; • State certificate received by a student after the student has passed a State-authorized examination that the State recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma; • Academic transcript of a student who has successfully completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree; or

  16. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of high school completion status: recognized equivalent of a high school diploma— • For a person who is seeking enrollment in an educational program that leads to at least an associate degree or its equivalent and has not completed high school but has excelled academically in high school, documentation from the high school that the student excelled academically in high school and documentation from the postsecondary institution that the student has met the formalized, written policies of the postsecondary institution for admitting such students

  17. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of high school completion status: homeschooled— • Transcript or the equivalent, signed by the parent or guardian, that lists the secondary school courses completed by the applicant and documents the successful completion of a secondary school education; or • A secondary school completion credential for home school (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent) provided for under State law

  18. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of identity/statement of educational purpose— • Appear in person and present to an institutionally authorized individual-- • A valid government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, non-driver’s license, or passport); and • A signed statement of educational purpose

  19. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of identity/statement of educational purpose (cont.)— • Must maintain, an annotated copy of the identification submitted by the applicant that includes— • The date documentation was received; and • The name of the institutionally-authorized individual that obtained the documentation

  20. 2013-2014 Verification Documentation of identity/statement of educational purpose (cont.)— • If unable to appear in person, must provide the institution— • A copy of a valid government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, non-driver’s license, or passport); and • An original notarized statement of educational purpose signed by the applicant

  21. Verification Text for 2013-2014 • No sample verification worksheets • Electronic Announcement posted on November 1, 2012 • Sample text and format for individual data elements • Institutions are able to develop a customized worksheet for individual students or groups of students

  22. New for 2013-2014 • FAFSA information to be verified by the applicant • Includes the same verification items that were in place for 2012-2013 for tax filers and non-tax filers • SNAP and Child Support Paid selection criteria process • Two additional verification selection items: • High School Completion Status • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose

  23. Verification for 2013-2014 • Verification selection process • The CPS will continue to set a Verification Flag on the applicant’s ISIR to indicate that the FAFSA was selected for verification • New for 2013-2014: Verification Tracking Groups • The CPS is adding a process that will place each applicant selected for verification into one of five Verification Tracking Groups • The applicant’s ISIR will use the Verification Tracking Flag field to indicate the applicant’s Verification Tracking Group: V1, V2, V3, V4, or V5

  24. Verification for 2013-2014 • New Label for 2013-2014: Verification Selection Change Flag • Identifies a transaction that is selected for verification, if the transaction being corrected was not selected for verification previously

  25. Verification for 2013-2014 Verification Tracking Flag Groups:

  26. Verification Tracking Flag -- V1 for Filers Group V1– Standard Verification, Tax filers • Selected based on standard verification criteria -- like 12/13, standard verification items: • Tax Filers Adjusted Gross Income • U.S. Income Tax Paid • Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions • Untaxed Portions of Pensions • IRA Deductions and Payments • Tax Exempt Interest Income • Education Credits • Number of Household Members • Number in College • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food Stamps) • Child Support Paid

  27. Verification Tracking Flag -- V1 for Non-Filers Group V1– Standard Verification, Non-filers • Selected based on standard verification criteria • Like 12/13, standard verification items: • Income Earned from Work • Number of Household Members • Number in College • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food Stamps) • Child Support Paid

  28. Verification Tracking Flag – V2 Group V2 – SNAP Verification Group • Not selected based on standard verification criteria, but • Student/Parent indicated that someone in the household was receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food Stamps) • This was the only thing that made them hit an Auto-Zero EFC

  29. Verification Tracking Flag – V3 Group V3 – Child-Support Paid Group • Not selected based on standard verification criteria, but • Students who were selected because the student (or spouse), the student’s parent, or both reported Child Support Paid

  30. Verification Tracking Flag – V4 • Group V4 – Custom Verification Group • Not selected based on standard verification criteria, but • Applicants selected using the identity verification criteria will verify the following data: • High School Completion Status • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food Stamps) • Child Support Paid

  31. Verification Tracking Flag – V5 • Group V5 – Aggregate Verification Group • Selected based on standard verification criteria, and • Selected using the identity verification criteria • High School Completion Status • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose • For Tax Filers • Same as Group V1 • For Tax Non-tax Filers • Same as Group V1 • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Food Stamps) • Child Support Paid

  32. IRS Data Retrieval Tool • Applicants selected for verification – V1-Standard Verification • Who transfer their income tax return information unchanged using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval Tool – • When initially completing the FAFSA using FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) • When making corrections on FOTW • Are considered to have verified the FAFSA IRS information • Adjusted Gross Income, taxes paid, and the applicable untaxed income items and education credits • Unless changes were made to the transferred informationor institution has reason to believe that the information transferred is inaccurate • School only needs to verify # in HH and # in College

  33. New for 2013-2014--Not Selected • If the applicant would have been selected based on standard verification criteria and • Tax return data for the student and parent(s) for a dependent record or for the independent student • Retrieved from the IRS and not changed on the FAFSA, • Responses to Household Size and Number in College questions seems logical • Record will not be selected for verification • Logical answers include the following: DependentStudents IndependentStudents

  34. Verification for 2013-2014 • Verification selection remains the same • Initial selection • May occur on the original transaction or subsequent correction transaction if the record was not previously selected • Subsequent Transactions After Selection • Transactions processed after selection will continue to be flagged as selected • Subsequent Transactions After Non-Selection • Records will be subjected to selection again based on correction behavior

  35. Communicating with Schools Y V3 Auto Zero EFC Flag XXX Rejected Status Change Flag X Duplicate SSN Flag XXX EFC Change Flag XXXXXXXX Verification Selection Change Flag y Address Only Correction X SNT Flag XXX Special Circumstance Flag X SAR C Change Flag X Y 2013-2014 999999999 Transaction is now selected for verification when the transaction being corrected was not selected Selected for Verification Child Support Paid Verification Group

  36. Communication with Students Current SAR comments: • Dependent Student (170) • Your FAFSA has been selected for a review process called verification. Your school has the authority to request copies of certain financial documents from you and your parent(s). • Independent Student (171) • Your FAFSA has been selected for a review process called verification. Your school has the authority to request copies of certain financial documents from you (and your spouse).

  37. Questions

  38. Contact Information Carney McCullough Director, Policy Development Group Office of Postsecondary Education Phone: 202-502-7639 E-mail: Carney.McCullough@ed.gov Ginger Klock Supervisor, Application Processing Division Federal Student Aid Phone: 202-377-3239 E-mail: ginger.klock@ed.gov

  39. Verification Resources • 6/18/10 NPRM (Pages 34825 – 34834) • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR061810ProgramInterityIssuesNPRM.html • 10/29/10 Final Rule (Pages 66902 – 66913 and 66954 – 66958) • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR102910Final.html • Federal Register Notice of Information To Be Verified for the 2012–2013 Award Year • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR071311FAFSAInformation.html

  40. Verification Resources • GEN-11-13 and GEN-11-03 • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1113.htmlhttp://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1103.html • Q&A on Program Integrity website: • http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html • Sample 2012-2013 Verification Worksheets • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/020312SampleVerificationWorksheets1213.html

  41. Verification Resources • FAFSA-IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/031612FAFSA1213VerificationIRSTaxReturnMatrix.html • 2012-2013 Application and Verification Guide • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1213AVG.pdf • GEN-12-07—Acceptable Documentation for Income and Taxes • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/GEN1207.pdf

  42. Verification Resources • 2012-2013 Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) Technical Reference • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/edetechref/ 010612EDETechRef1213Jan12Update.html • 2012-2013 ISIR Guide • http://ifap.ed.gov/isirguide/attachments/1213ISIRGuideDec2011.pdf • Electronic Announcement on Acceptable Documentation Update for 2012-2013 Award Year Verification • http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/110212AwardYrVerAcceptDocs.html

  43. Verification Resources • Electronic Announcement on Acceptable Documentation for Verification of 2011 IRS Information • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/072012Acceptable Documentation4Verification2011IRSInfo.html • Electronic Announcement on Limited Circumstances When a Signed Copy of a Tax Return or Other Documentation is Acceptable for Completing Verification • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/082112LimitedCircumstances WhenSignedCopyofTaxReturnisAcceptable.html

  44. 2013-2014 Verification Resources • Federal Register notice published 7/12/2012 • Dear Colleague Letter GEN-12-11 • http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1211.html • Electronic Announcement on Plans for 2013-2014 Verification Worksheets • http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/110112Plansfor1314VerificationWorksheets.html • For related operational details, please attend: • Session 26 – FAFSA and Application Processing Update

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