Aid Verification Will Return to Normal for 2022-23
The Department of Education will not be targeting its federal aid verification process for the 2022-23 award year, ending a temporary change put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate challenges students face in accessing financial aid. The verification process
—which requires a subset of federal student aid applicants to submit additional documentation verifying information on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid
—will continue as it was prior to the pandemic, according to a
Federal Register notice announcing information to be verified for the 2022-23 award year. The usual process often adds additional burdens for students, especially those who are low income or students of color. The announcement was met with opposition by stakeholders, who noted that the verification process often leads to lower FAFSA completions and college enrollment. (
Inside Higher Ed - Sept. 1, 2021)