2020–2021 Standard Verification Worksheet
V1-Independent Student
Your 2020–2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was selected for review in a process called
“Verification”. The Financial Aid Office at your college must compare information from your FAFSA with information
you provide on this worksheet and with any other required documents. If there are differences, your Financial Aid
Office may require additional documentation and your FAFSA information may need to be corrected. You will not
receive federal financial aid until all verification requirements are met and the necessary corrections made.
What You Should Do
1. If you (or your spouse, if you are married) are tax filers, obtain a 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript for
yourself and/or your spouse. Request an IRS Tax Return Transcript online at
www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-
Transcript or by phone at 1-800-908-9946. Make sure you select an IRS Tax Return Transcript and NOT the IRS
Tax Account Transcript. Be sure to specify tax year 2018 when making your request. In place of the
transcript, the Financial Aid Office can accept a complete signed copy of a preparer’s 2018 Federal Income
Tax Return (Form 1040 with all schedules) that was submitted to the IRS. Important Note: If you used
the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your 2018 income data into your FAFSA, you may not have to submit the
IRS Tax Return Transcript.
2. If you (or your spouse) had income earned from work in 2018, but did not and were not required to file a tax
return, you both must provide a 2018 Verification of Non-Filing Letter dated on or after October 1, 2019,
and all W-2 forms for tax year 2018 issued to you by your employers. Request a Verification of Non-Filing
Letter at www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
or by phone at 1-800-908-9946.
3. Complete Sections A-C of this worksheet – you must sign the Section D certification on page 2 of the worksheet.
4. Submit the completed worksheet, tax return transcript(s) and any other required documents to the Financial Aid
Office at your college.
A. Student’s Information
Student’s Last Name First Name M.I. Student’s Social Security Number
Student’s Street Address (include apt. no.) Student’s CUNYfirst ID / Empl ID
City, State, Zip Code Student’s Date of Birth
Student’s Phone Number (include area code) Student’s Email Address
B. Student’s Household Information
List the people you will support between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Include:
• Yourself and your spouse (if you are married)
• Your other children if you (or your spouse) provide more than half of their support, even if they don’t live
with you.
• Other people if they now live with you and you now provide more than half of their support and will
continue to provide more than half of their support through June 30, 2021.
Write the name of the college below for any household member who will be enrolled at least half time in a degree,
diploma, or certificate program at an eligible postsecondary educational institution any time between July 1, 2020
and June 30, 2021.
If more space is needed, attach a separate page with student’s name and the last 4 digits of student’s SSN at the top.
Full Name
Example: Jane Smith
Age
18
Relationship
Sister
College
State University
Will be Enrolled at
Least Half Time
Yes
Self
2020-21 Standard Verification Worksheet V1-Independent Student Page 1 of 2