Verification Policy
The U.S. Department of Education mandates schools use the verification process to check the accuracy of information provided on the selected applicant’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The verification process is meant to ensure that federal student financial aid is disbursed equitably and according to federal law and program regulation. The U.S. Department of Education selects applications for verification. The College also has the right to select applications to be verified.
Student's Responsibilities
It is the student’s responsibility to provide requested information so that the verification process can be completed by the school’s published deadline, noted below.
IMPORTANT:
- Montgomery County Community College will not disburse federal student financial aid until the verification process is complete.
- Failure to complete the verification process may result in a student not being eligible for federal aid and they will need to explore other options to pay for classes.
Failure to pay for classes by the College's published tuition payment deadlines may result in the student being dropped from registered classes.
Notification of Verification
If your FAFSA application is selected for verification by the U.S Department of Education, you will receive an email from [email protected], or postcard from Inceptia, containing Montgomery County Community College’s unique website link to start the verification process. Verification will also show on the financial aid checklist in Self-Service (link to self-service) and you will receive an email to your Montco email address.
We encourage you to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification from Verification Gateway to ensure you receive your financial aid in time for payments. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of your financial aid.
Verification Processing
We are pleased to announce we have established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process for Montgomery County Community College. Verification Gateway (VG) from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification.
Verification Gateway is the primary communication point for verification information. Students should visit the site often during the verification process for information on outstanding items. The student will know their verification is complete when their financial aid checklist in Self-Service reflects a completed status.
Information Reviewed
Verification may include (but is not limited to) a review of the following data/documentation for a student, a student’s spouse, or parent(s) of a dependent student:
- Number of Household Members
- Number of Household members attending College
Tax Filers (U.S. and foreign):
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
- U.S. Tax Paid
- Untaxed IRA Distributions
- Untaxed Pensions
- Education Credits
- IRA Deductions
- Tax-Exempt Interest
Non Tax Filers:
- Income Earned from Work
In addition to the documentation listed above Inceptia or the College may request:
- Student's proof of identity (valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification)
- Student's Signed Statement of Educational Purpose
- Any documentation needed to resolve conflicting information
- Any documentation needed in a supplemental request
- Any documentation resulting from additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Education
Important Note: In most instances, Inceptia submits FAFSA corrections to the Central Processor (CPS) that it has determined to be inaccurate or incomplete. Occasionally the student will be asked to correct their FAFSA application data by submitting an update. If changes made to the FAFSA impact the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), the new Student Aid Report sent by the CPS as a result of those changes will reflect the new SAI.
For more detailed and comprehensive information please see Inceptia's Verification Policy and Procedures.
Steps to Complete Verification
Follow these steps to complete your verification:
- Access our school’s unique website link in the email from [email protected] or listed below.
- Create your account* and choose preferences for text messages and e-signatures.
- Complete your Task List.
- Confirm your signature and review your information.
- Sign your account.
*IMPORTANT: If you are a dependent student, your parent must also create their own account and complete each of the above steps
Montgomery County Community College Verification Gateway Links and Deadlines
2024-2025 Federal Verification:
Deadline for submitting these documents is 9/12/2025.
2025-2026 Federal Verification:
Deadline for submitting these documents is 9/6/2026
Deadlines
2024-25 Academic Year
A Pell applicant selected for verification must complete the process by the deadline published in the Federal Register or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.
Because corrections to the student's FAFSA may be required to complete verification, all required verification documentation for the 2024-25 academic year must be submitted by September 4, 2025 to meet the correction deadline imposed by the U.S. Department of Education.
Questions about the Verification Process?
The College's Responsibilities
Montco is responsible for checking all other eligibility criteria before disbursing financial aid for the student. The school is also responsible for notifying the student of any changes made to an existing financial aid award package as a result of verification. Students will be made aware of these changes via email notification to their Montco student email and all changes will be reflected in the student's financial aid offer, viewable in Self-Service.
The College is required to notify the U.S. Office of Inspector General if they suspect that a student, employee or other individual has misreported information or altered documentation submitted in order for a student to fraudulently obtain federal funds.