First-time FAFSA parent confused about dependent verification for son's education degree

welcome to the group! yeah verification is super annoying, they basically randomly select ppl to prove they didn't lie. happened to me too. you'll need to upload tax docs. the SAI is usually higher than most families expect, its how they calculate need. good luck!

Don't worry, verification is a normal part of the process. About 30% of FAFSA applicants are selected randomly for verification each year. To complete it, you'll need to submit copies of your tax returns, W-2 forms, and possibly a verification worksheet that your son's school will provide. Regarding the high SAI (Student Aid Index), that's calculated based on your income, assets, family size, and other factors. For education majors specifically, look into the TEACH Grant which provides up to $4,000 per year for students planning to become teachers in high-need fields at schools serving low-income students. Your son might qualify since social studies is often considered a high-need subject area in many districts. Also check with the specific college's education department - many have departmental scholarships for education majors that aren't part of the standard financial aid package.

My daughter just finished her education degree last year and I remember how confusing it was at first! Don't panic about the verification - it's annoying but normal. For the high SAI, remember that doesn't mean you'll pay that full amount. Different schools will use that number differently when putting together aid packages. My daughter ended up getting significant institutional scholarships that weren't even part of her initial FAFSA calculation. Also, many schools offer special scholarships for education majors who commit to teaching in underserved areas after graduation. Has your son considered the TEACH Grant program?

One really important thing to keep in mind about verification - DO NOT MAKE CHANGES to your FAFSA information unless specifically instructed to by the financial aid office. Many parents get selected for verification and panic, then go in and try to "fix" numbers they think might be wrong, which can actually create more problems and delays. For the documents they'll need, usually it's: 1. Signed copies of your 2023 tax return 2. W-2 forms from 2023 3. The verification worksheet from the school 4. Possibly documentation of any untaxed income If you've created an FSA ID for yourself as a parent, you can also use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your tax information, which can help speed things up. And yes, education majors do have special funding options! The TEACH Grant is great but does convert to a loan if the service requirement isn't met. State-specific programs like Minority Teaching Fellows or Teacher Loan Forgiveness can also help depending on your location.

This system is DESIGNED to be confusing!!! My son got selected for verification 2 years in a row even though nothing changed in our finances. It's just another barrier they put up to make it harder for families to get aid. And don't get me started on the SAI calculation - we make decent money on paper but live in a high cost area and they don't factor that in AT ALL. The whole process is rigged to make middle class families pay more than they can afford while schools build fancy dorms and fitness centers!!! 😡

I had ENDLESS problems trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about verification last year. Kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. Finally, I discovered this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual FSA agent in about 10 minutes. Saved me so much time and stress! They have a demo video of how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and their website is claimyr.com if you're interested. I used it twice during our verification nightmare and it was so worth it to actually talk to a real person who could help.

Yes! The FSA agent I reached through Claimyr explained exactly what was needed for verification and even told me about some common mistakes to avoid. They also confirmed receipt of documents we'd already submitted that weren't showing up in the system yet. Definitely saved us from submitting duplicate paperwork and further delays.

To answer your question about the TEACH Grant potentially converting to a loan: Yes, if your son doesn't complete the required four years of teaching service within eight years of graduating, the grant converts to an unsubsidized Direct Loan with interest accrued from the date the grant was disbursed. However, since he's already planning to become a social studies teacher, it may be a good fit. Just make sure he understands the commitment. The qualifying schools are those serving low-income students, which you can find on the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory at studentaid.gov. As for verification - even if you used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, many schools still require submission of the verification worksheet and sometimes additional documentation. But using the tool definitely helps streamline the process. For state-specific programs, check both your state's higher education agency and department of education websites. Many states have loan forgiveness or scholarship programs specifically for education majors committed to teaching in that state after graduation.

My daughter is in her second year for elementary education and we found out that many individual colleges have their own scholarships for education majors that aren't part of FAFSA. Some require separate applications, so check with both the financial aid office AND the education department at his college. We missed a $2500 scholarship the first year because we didn't know we needed to apply separately!

Yes, the education department was actually MORE helpful than financial aid! The department secretary knew all the education-specific scholarships and even reminded us about application deadlines. Financial aid knows the general stuff, but the academic departments often have their own pots of money they can award.

One more thing about verification - if your son is attending college this fall (2025-2026 academic year), you should prioritize completing the verification process ASAP. Many colleges have priority deadlines for financial aid, and while verification won't make him ineligible, it could delay his aid package and potentially impact the institutional aid he receives. If you run into issues with the verification process, don't hesitate to contact the school's financial aid office directly. They're usually more responsive than the Federal Student Aid helpline and can provide guidance specific to their institution's requirements. And for Illinois specifically, look into the Golden Apple Scholars program if your son is interested in teaching in high-need schools in Illinois. It provides up to $23,000 in tuition assistance plus stipends and mentoring.

btw the verification stuff is annoying but usually takes like 2-3 weeks to process once you submit everything. just make sure u send EXACTLY what they ask for. my roommate had to resubmit twice bc he sent the wrong tax form lol