Eligibility: Columbia College: Financial Aid

Eligibility & Verification Information:

What are the basic requirements for aid eligibility?

To be eligible for federal and state financial aid, and institutional academic awards (excluding Honors and Awards Convocation), students must be:

U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens.
Pursuing a degree and enrolling in coursework required for the degree. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal financial aid. If students previously earned an undergraduate degree, they are not eligible for institutional aid.
Making satisfactory academic progress. See Satisfactory Academic Progress for additional information.

In addition to the three requirements listed above, if you would like to participate in the federal aid program, you must also:

Complete the FAFSA. You must update the FAFSA each year. See Important Dates for preferred deadline submissions.
Have a valid social security number.
Show that you are qualified to obtain a postsecondary education by completion of high school (or equivalent).
Register (if you have not done so already) with Selective Service if you're a male between the age of 18 and 25.
Complete the verification process, if required.

We may request that you provide documentation of:

U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen documentation.
Resolution of federal aid default or overpayment.
Selective Service registration or documents related to Selective Service.
Admission to a new program or new degree intent.
Resolution of conflicting information related to your financial aid account or verification

What is considered an eligible citizen or eligible non-citizen?

A student (and parent, for PLUS Loan) must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to receive Title IV federal aid. The general requirements for eligible non-citizens are that they be in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or lawful permanent resident, as evidenced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

What is acceptable documentation of citizenship or eligible non-citizenship?

Category	Acceptable documentation
U.S. citizens (citizens of): The 50 States The District of Columbia Puerto Rico The U.S. Virgin Islands Guam The Northern Marian Islands Born abroad to U.S. parents U.S. Nationals: All U.S. Citizens Natives of American Samoa (not considered a U.S. citizen) Natives of Swain's Island (not considered a U.S. citizen) Natives of American Samoa and Swain's Island are eligible to receive funds from federal programs except the ACG/National SMART grants	Copy of student's birth certificate. Current or expired U.S. Passports. Copy of State Department Forms FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), FS0-545 (Certificate of birth issued by a foreign service post), or DS-1350 (Certification of Report of Birth). Certificate of Citizenship (Forms N-560 or N561). Certificate of Naturalization (Forms N-550 or N-570).
U. S. Permanent residents	Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551 since 1997) or Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 before 1997). Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151) issued prior to June 1978. Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) or the Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94A) with the following endorsement: "Processed for I-551." Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV).
Refugees	Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) with a stamp stating admission.
Victims of human trafficking	Student's certification or eligibility letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For a spouse, child, or parent of a trafficking victim, T-visa (T-2 or T-3), victim's certification letter.
Persons granted asylum	Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) with a stamp stating admissions. Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) with a stamp stating admissions.
Conditional entrants	Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) granted before March 31, 1980, with a stamp indicating that the student has been admitted to the U.S. as a conditional entrant.
Person paroled into the U.S. for at least 1 year	Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) with a stamp indication that the student has been paroled into the United States for at least one year, with a date that has not yet expired.
Cuban-Haitian entrants	Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94 or I-94A) with a stamp indication that the student has been classified as a "Cuban-Haitian Entrant."

What is verification?

Verification is the process of confirming that the information reported by the student and/or parent on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. Each year approximately 30 percent of student applicants nationwide are randomly selected by the Department of Education for verification. Students selected for verification cannot receive federal financial aid until their information is verified.

Why did I get chosen for verification?

Errors on the FAFSA do not necessarily cause a student to be selected for verification. However, drastic changes in information or information that appears to conflict, may do so. If a student or parent estimates their income on the FAFSA, they will be selected for verification. Students from the same household who both attend Columbia College may be selected for verification if their FAFSA information is inconsistent.

What do I do if I am chosen for verification?

You will need to submit additional documentation to the financial aid office in order to continue the financial aid application process. Certain financial information such as your federal tax return transcript and parents' tax return transcript(s) for dependent students will be required. Please note that the request for tax transcripts may be waived if student and/or parent(s) use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA. We may also require documentation of untaxed income, child support, SNAP benefits, food stamps, child support and other requested financial information.

What documents are needed for verification?

The initial request for documentation is the same for all students. All students are required to submit a verification worksheet. Dependent students must also submit the Parent Verification Worksheet. Students and parents may be required to submit tax transcripts. Please note that the request for tax transcripts may be waived if student and parent(s) use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA. Students or parents who were not required to file a federal tax return for the specified year are not required to submit a tax transcript.

An additional request for documents often occurs after the financial aid office reviews the initial submission of documents. Because financial information is student specific, the financial aid office cannot know exactly what is needed until the initial review is made. Additional documents may be requested from students when they meet certain circumstances that are not common to every student. The financial aid office is required by the U.S. Department of Education to resolve any conflicting information. In these situations, explanations and/or additional supporting documents may be requested.

Common additional documentation requests:

Child support paid/received.
50% Support Form. This form must be completed for any person listed in the household on the verification worksheet over the age of 24 who is not your spouse.
Student/Parent Assets Form. The parent/student asset information is requested when cash, business and investment information is missing from the asset section of the FAFSA. You may choose to change your information by going to www.fafsa.gov and making a correction to your FAFSA or by submitting the Assets Form to the Financial Aid Office. Students making corrections to the asset section of the FAFSA should notify us at financialaid@ccis.edu of the corrections (attention to verification staff).
Food Stamp benefits documentation (SNAP).
W-2s.
Income for Non-Tax Filer Form. This form is required if FAFSA or verification worksheet indicates that the individual was not required to file taxes and income is greater than zero.
Copy of federal W-2s. This form is required if FAFSA or verification worksheet indicates that individual was not required to file taxes and income is greater than zero.

Other additional documents that may be requested to resolve conflicting information:

Income documents, i.e., W-2s, 1099s, Schedule C, etc.
Documentation of combat pay received that was included in adjusted gross income on federal tax returns.
Marital status documents, i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decree, documentation of separation.
Education and non-education veteran benefits documentation.
IRS Tax Account Transcript to show amended information.
Documentation of non-filing status.
Documentation of at least half-time enrollment status in a degree seeking program for a dependent at another institution.
Support Form (available in CougarTrack).

*When submitting additional documentation please provide student name, student ID and phrase "requested information" on the document. Failure to provide documents in a timely manner can result in delay of eligibility review.

How will I be contacted for additional documents?

We will contact you via Cougar Mail if additional documents are needed.

Verification Form questions:

Who should I list in the household section of the Independent or Parent Verification Worksheet?

Yourself; and
Your spouse; and
Your children, even if they don't live with you, if you provide more than half of their support from July 1 through June 30; or
Other people if they now live with you, you provide more than half of their support and you will continue to provide more than half their support between July 1 through June 30 (do not include foster children).

Why am I being asked for a verification signature page?

The verification signature page indicates that all information you submitted on the verification worksheet is true to the best of your knowledge. Please note: if you send in multiple copies of your independent or dependent verification worksheet, we must have a new signature page for the most recent worksheet submitted.

I don't have the tax forms needed for verification. Where can I get copies?

You can request a tax return transcript free of charge from the Internal Revenue Service. The transcript can be ordered at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.html or by calling (800) 908-9946. You should receive the forms within five to ten business days after submitting the request. Please make sure that you request a tax return transcript. If you filed an amended tax return, we will need both the tax return transcript and the tax account transcript.

*Note: Depending on the tax form filed (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) the numbers of pages included in the transcript will vary. Be careful to ensure that you include all pages when submitting your transcript to the financial aid office.

Why do you need information about my filing status on my federal tax return?

Federal regulations require that the financial aid office verify tax filing status for all students and parents of dependent students who are selected for verification. Students or parents filing as Head of Household must be able to document eligibility to use this filing status.

I am a married, independent student who filed as Head of Household on my federal tax return. What information do you need from me?

If our records indicate that you filed your FAFSA as married but you or your spouse filed your tax return as head of household, please answer the below questions so we can resolve the conflicting information between your FAFSA and tax filing status and continue processing your file. For more information, you can visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/ita and it will walk you through the below questions for the tax year you are filing:

Were you a U.S. citizen on the last day of the calendar year?
Was your spouse a U.S. citizen on the last day of the calendar year?
What was your marital status on the last day of the calendar year? Single, legally separated, married, widowed?
*Note: "Legally separated" for this purpose means legally separated under a divorce or separate maintenance decree.
Did your spouse live in your home at any time during the last six months of the calendar year (including temporary absences)?
*Note: A person is considered to have lived with you during periods of time when one or both of you is temporarily absent due to special circumstances such as:
- Illness
- Education
- Business
- Vacation, or
- Military service
*Note: It must be reasonable to assume that the absent person will return to the home after the temporary absence.
Did you pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the tax year?
Did a "qualifying person" live with you in the home for more than half the year (except for temporary absences, such as school)?

How can I show documentation of income?

If you were requested to provide documentation of income, send a copy of your W-2(s) from your employer. You can also request a wage and income transcript free of charge from the Internal Revenue Service. The transcript can be ordered by calling (800) 829-1040. You should receive the forms within ten business days after submitting the request. You can also submit a wage summary that can be provided by your tax preparer if you used a tax preparation service or contact your employer for a copy of your W-2 form (see below).

What is the Support Form?

The Support Form provides Columbia College with support information about a person that you have listed on your verification worksheet. In order to claim a person on your verification worksheet, you will need to show that you support them more than 50%. This form will help you determine if you support that person more than 50%.

What is the Income for Non-Tax Filer Form?

If selected for verification, the financial aid office is required to document income earned from work. Students, spouses or parents who do not file taxes but have income will be required to submit W-2s and the Income for Non-Tax Filer Form.

Why do I need to provide documentation of Food Stamps (SNAP)?

The financial aid office is required to verify that a student or member of a household is a recipient of food stamps as part of the verification process. We can accept a letter from the county agency which handles the case or a copy of account history showing that you received food stamp benefits in 2010 and/or 2011. You may be able to view your EBT account online: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/online-states.htm.

Why do I need to provide an Assets Form?

This form is required if you are not eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ income tax form. This information is asked for on the FAFSA. If this information has been left blank, you will need to fill out the Reporting Assets Form and return it to Columbia College.

Am I an independent or dependent student?

According to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you must meet certain criteria to be considered an independent student, even if your parents are not providing financial support for you. To help determine if you are a dependent student, complete the Department of Education's Dependency Status Worksheet.

If you are a dependent student and want to request a review of your dependency status by the financial aid office, please complete and return the Request for Dependency Override Form located in the forms section. It is not uncommon for a student's dependency status to change as a result of the verification process. If your status changes from independent to dependent, you must provide your parental information or request a Dependency Override.

Why do I need to provide documentation that I am an Orphan/Ward of the Court?

You are being asked for this information if you answered "yes" to the Orphan/Ward of the Court question on the FAFSA. If you are in legal guardianship as determined by a court, you are automatically an independent student. Like the term "legally emancipated," this is a formal legal judgment by a court of law.

Why do I need to provide documentation that I am emancipated?

You are being asked for this information if you answered "yes" to the emancipated minor question on the FAFSA. If you are a legally emancipated minor with documentation of the court judgment, you are automatically an independent student. "Emancipated minor" is a formal legal status that must be declared by a court of law. Simply moving out of your parents' household does not count. A judge must legally declare you emancipated before you reach the age of majority in your state. The court order must still be in effect at the time you file your FAFSA.

Why do I need to provide documentation that I am homeless and what documents can be provided?

"Homeless" is strictly defined as lacking fixed, regular, adequate housing. This includes living in shelters, hotels, cars or "couch-surfing" anywhere you can. "Unaccompanied" means that you're not in the physical custody or care of a parent or guardian. This status only applies to students under the age of 21. If you answer yes to any of questions about homelessness on the FAFSA, you will need to provide documentation of your status.

The determination of homelessness can be made by one of three legal entities:

A high school or school district liaison.
A director of an accredited HUD homeless shelter:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers funding for homeless shelters and services under Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act. These funds are distributed to communities through a competitive grant process. For more information, see: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/index.cfm
A director of a runaway/transitional living program or homeless youth basic shelter.
A director of a runaway or homeless shelter can make the determination that you are self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, which means you're living on your own, paying your own way, and are at risk of homelessness.

What documents do you need for my unborn child that I will be supporting this upcoming year?

We can accept documentation from your doctor stating when your due date is or documentation of birth, such as a birth certificate.

Why are you asking for child support documents?

This documentation is requested when a student (or spouse or parent) lists on verification worksheet or the FAFSA that they are paying child support.

Types of documentation that may be submitted:

Custody Agreement that shows amount to be paid or received.
Documentation from Division of Family Services.
If there is a verbal agreement for payment of child support and there is no legal documentation, the student can provide a letter written by the individual paying the support (if student is receiving) or by individual receiving the support (if student is paying). The letter should be signed. We recommend that the letter be notarized.
We can also accept canceled checks or money order receipts for the whole year.

What is considered as documentation of child support?

Child Support Paid:

Dependent student: Documentation of child support your parent(s) paid includes: a copy of the portion of your custody agreement with the monthly amount, a printout or letter from social services or any department/agency that administers the payments; bank statements showing all payments from January 1 to December 31 (please circle amounts on document in black ink); or a signed letter from the person receiving the support and the total amount paid during the calendar year that corresponds to the tax year used to complete the FAFSA.
Independent student: Documentation of child support received includes: a copy of the portion of your custody agreement with the monthly amount; a printout or letter from social services or any dept/agency that administers the payments; bank statements showing all payments from January 1 to December 31, or a signed letter from the person receiving the support and the total amount you paid during the calendar year that corresponds to the tax year used to complete the FAFSA.

How do I show documentation of my marital status?

This documentation is requested most frequently when the information on federal taxes, FAFSA, and/or Verification Worksheet Form does not match.

If student is married, documentation of marriage certificate.
If student is divorced, documentation of divorce decree.
If student is separated, documentation of separate residences, such as copies of individual leases for each spouse.
We will also review documentation of separate utilities. The documentation dates must be from the same utility and time frame and have the individuals' names on it.

Helpful Hints about Marital Status

A student cannot change his or her marital status on the FAFSA after the date the student filed. If your marital status has changed since filing your FAFSA and your FAFSA financial data no longer accurately reflects your ability to pay for your education, please contact us at financialaid@ccis.edu.