Additional Requirements and Verification Documentation
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) or Financial Aid Services may require students to submit additional documents to confirm the information submitted on the FAFSA. In addition, ED or Financial Aid Services may, at any time, select certain financial aid applications for a review process called verification. Students whose applications require additional documentation must submit all required documents to Financial Aid Services in order to complete the review of their application for financial aid. Financial aid will not be offered or disbursed until all required documentation has been received and reviewed.
Students should submit documents as soon as possible, but no later than the student's last date of attendance. In accordance with federal regulations, HCC will accept certain verification documents such as IRS tax documents up to 90 days after the student's last date of attendance but no later than August 1, 2025. This extended deadline does not apply to most documents and information required to complete the student's financial aid application. In general, federal regulations require that documents must be received by the student's last date of attendance or the student will not be entitled to any financial aid.
Once the student's file is complete, HCC will review the file. If corrections to the FAFSA are required, these corrections will be electronically submitted by the college, and the student will be notified of the corrections by ED.
Sometimes students are selected for verification after they receive their financial aid offer or their funds have been disbursed for the semester. In such an event, no further financial aid will be offered or disbursed until verification is complete. Failure to turn in documents will result in a cancellation of aid. Students will then owe disbursed funds back to the ED or HCC. If verification causes a change to the student’s offer for the academic year, the student may be required to repay the aid that was disbursed.