FAFSA verification forms for multiple college students - do parents need to sign?

Those are most likely verification forms that DO need to be signed and returned. When FAFSA selects you for verification (which happens randomly or sometimes due to discrepancies), they require additional documentation to confirm your information is accurate. With two dependents in college, your application might have been flagged for verification of multiple student status. You should definitely sign and return these forms ASAP - verification can delay disbursement of aid packages by weeks if not completed promptly.

got the same thing last yr... just another hoop to jump through lol

I've helped many families through this process. Those verification forms absolutely need to be signed and returned - they're not just for your records. When you have multiple dependents in college, your Expected Family Contribution (now called Student Aid Index or SAI) calculation becomes more complex, which can trigger verification more frequently. Make sure you: 1. Sign all required signature fields (both you and your students if indicated) 2. Include any requested documentation (W-2s, tax transcripts, etc.) 3. Return to the correct address (sometimes it's not the main FSA address) 4. Keep copies of everything you send 5. Consider sending with tracking if the deadline is close Verification is actually pretty common - about 30% of FAFSA filers get selected each year.

i think its just paperwork they send to scare ppl. i never signed mine last year and my kid still got his pell grant 🤷‍♀️

The FAFSA verification process is incredibly frustrating! I was in your exact situation last year with my twins in college. Those forms DEFINITELY need to be signed and returned - they're not informational. I kept getting disconnected when calling the Federal Student Aid number to ask questions about the forms. After wasting hours on hold, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human. They have a service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. The agent explained exactly which forms needed signatures and which supporting documents to include. Turns out I almost submitted incomplete paperwork which would have caused even more delays.

This verification BS is JUST ANOTHER WAY the government makes it HARDER for families to get financial aid!!! I had to go through this nightmare THREE YEARS IN A ROW with my kids. Each time they "randomly" selected us for verification. Random my a**!! They target families with multiple students because they know we need more aid! The whole system is designed to make you give up!!!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, if you send the forms back by the deadline next week, you should be fine. Verification can take 2-4 weeks to process once they receive your documents, but meeting the deadline is the most important part. Missing the deadline is what causes serious delays or potential loss of aid eligibility. Make sure you're sending the forms to the correct address - sometimes verification forms go to the schools directly rather than back to Federal Student Aid. Check the return instructions carefully.

Something else to check - make sure the forms you received are actually federal verification forms and not the CSS Profile verification. Some private schools require both FAFSA and CSS Profile, and they each have their own verification processes. The paperwork looks similar but goes to completely different places.

In response to your question about expecting verification next year: Verification selection is partly random and partly based on certain triggers in your application. Having multiple students in college doesn't automatically trigger verification every year, but it does increase the chances. Some tips to reduce verification chances next year: 1. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when filing FAFSA 2. Double-check all figures before submitting 3. File as early as possible 4. Avoid leaving optional fields blank 5. Be consistent with information across all applications However, even with perfect applications, about 30% get selected randomly each year, so there's always a chance you'll need to go through this again.