During the verification process, our office collects documentation to compare to the information input on the FAFSA. If there is information that does not match, the financial aid office will submit a correction to the U.S. Department of Education.

It may take 5-10 business days to complete the verification process once we have received all of your requested documentation. Please keep in mind that this process may take longer during peak processing times.

Your financial aid offer can potentially change due to the corrections made during the verification process. If your financial aid offer does change you will be notified that a correction was processed and you can review the new financial aid offer on your account.

The documents required will vary for each student. Forms and requests will be listed in your MySam account.

To see what needs to be submitted:

1. Log into your MySam account
2. Find the Financial Aid Requirements box
3. Click on the Financial Aid Requirements link

Note: Make sure you are looking at the correct academic year once in your account.

• Easy: Transfers info with the click of a button
• Fast: Instantly retrieves your information
• Accurate: Correctly fills in data fields
• Reduces amount of documents needing to be submitted to our office

If for any reason you cannot use IRS Data Retrieval, you can request a tax return transcript using Get Transcript at irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript.

Please ensure you request the correct document. The Tax Return Transcript should look like the example on the right.

Other documents could be requested due to federal requirements during the verification process or after verification has been completed. Remember to always check your MySam account for the status of your financial aid account and to view any requested documents.

You may be required to submit additional documentation even though you have not been selected for verification. These documents may include but are not limited to;

• Citizenship/eligible non-citizen status
• Veteran status
• High school completion
• Documentation of independent student status

If requested, please submit the documents immediately to avoid delaying your financial aid. You can access your MySam account by

1. Logging into your MySam account
2. Finding the Financial Aid Requirements box
3. Clicking on the Financial Aid Requirements link

Scholarships & Financial Aid accepts documents for students submitted via e-mail, fax, postal mail, or in-person.

E-Mail: FADocuments@shsu.edu

Fax: (936) 294-3668

Mailing Address
Box 2328
Huntsville, TX 77341

You must complete verification before your financial aid will apply to your billing account. Your financial aid will not award and/or disburse, if you fail to submit all required documentation

Please respond immediately to any requests from our department.

You will receive a deadline to complete verification, if you were selected for verification after you received financial aid. Your financial aid will be cancelled and you may be required to repay previously awarded aid, if you do not complete verification by your given deadline.

The Department of Education determines a student’s aid eligibility each academic year, using the student and parent’s reported income from 2 years prior. However, there are special circumstances we can consider to recalculate student eligibility using income from another tax year. The following circumstances may be considered if they apply to you, your spouse, or one or more of your parents:

• Involuntary Unemployment (proof of unemployment is required)
• Income will be significantly lower in a following tax year (involuntary reduction of income)
• Loss of income such as alimony payments, child support, social security benefits, and/or pensions/annuities/worker’s compensation
• Note: Self-employment or business income must be documented; therefore, the request may not be considered until after the current year tax return is filed.
• Deduction of one-time payment which is included in AGI; funds cannot be used for every day expenses
• Paid unusually high medical/dental expenses (in excess of 10% AGI; must be reported on Schedule A of tax return)

To be considered you must already have an aid offer for the aid year being reviewed.

If your situation qualifies make an appointment with a financial aid counselor!

Make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss this special circumstance.

Make an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss this special circumstance.

Dependency Override requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Only students who are estranged from their parents due to extenuating or unusual circumstances (example: abuse, family alcoholism, drugs, etc.) with documentation by an objective third party (example: high school counselor, coach, teacher, social services, police, clergy, etc.) may qualify.

A student is NOT independent because:

• parent(s) refuse to contribute to the student’s education;
• parent(s) are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification;
• parent(s) do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes;
• students’ demonstration of total self-sufficiency

If your situation qualifies make an appointment with a financial aid counselor!