Verification

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) created the Verification process to confirm the accuracy of information provided on the FAFSA.  By federal regulation, the post-secondary institution in which the student is enrolled is responsible for conducting the verification process on behalf of ED.

The Financial Aid Office (FAO) cannot award GCC students selected for verification any financial aid until the verification process is completed and the Financial Aid Office has transmitted to and subsequently received any necessary FAFSA corrections from ED.

When a FAFSA is selected for the verification process, the Financial Aid Office will notify the student via their GCC email address.

Verification Process

The GCC FAO utilizes the Dynamic Forms Secure Portal for students and parents to upload required documentation (such as tax documentation) to complete the FAFSA application process. If selected for the verification process, students will find additional instructions via a notification sent to the student's GCC email address.

Verification processing can take up to 2 weeks once all supporting documentation is received. Please note that verification processing does not begin until all required documentation has been received. Therefore, students should begin the verification process as early as possible to prevent processing delays.

Annual Verification Deadline

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) establishes a deadline after which the verification process can no longer be completed for the applicable academic year. Students and parents must submit to the GCC the Financial Aid Office all documentation necessary to complete the Verification process by the earlier of either:

• • • The 120th calendar day following the student’s last date of attendance at GCC for the award year selected for verification; or
    • The deadline published annually in the Federal Register by ED:
      • For the 2023-24 Award Year, all documentation must be submitted by August 30, 2024
      • For the 2024-25 Award Year, all documentation must be submitted by August 29, 2025

Consequences of Missing the Verification Deadline

A student’s failure to provide all requested documentation prior to the annual verification deadline (earlier of the two dates listed above) will result in the student not being awarded any Federal Student Aid (FSA) for the award year.