What Can We Do When a Parent Signs the FAFSA, But Refuses To Provide Documents To Complete Verification?

Option 1: Anything you can do to help the parent understand the verification process, the reason for the requirement, how the information is used, and the consequences of refusing to participate, may help convince this parent to proceed after all. Reaching out by phone, or even meeting in person, may be more effective than sending an email or letter. A conversation with this parent could give you an opportunity to identify what specific concern or fear is leading to the reluctance to provide the required documentation.

Option 2: Consider whether the student’s circumstances qualify for any of the exclusions identified in the regulations. If your school’s policies allow, you may be able to proceed with verification, or even bypass the process for the parent. The parent's information can be excluded from verification if the parent meets one of the following conditions:

• Both parents die, or the only parent on the FAFSA (usually the custodial parent) dies;
• Both parents are mentally incapacitated, or the only parent on the FAFSA (usually the custodial parent) is mentally incapacitated;
• Both parents’ contact information is unknown and cannot be obtained by the applicant; or
• Both parents reside in a country other than the U.S. and cannot be contacted by normal means of communication.

For more information about these exclusions, refer to Chapter 4 of the Application and Verification Guide (AVG) in the FSA Handbook. See also AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A, Do We Have to Verify a Student Who Only Wants to Borrow a Parent PLUS Loan?

Option 3: The parents present unusual circumstances and the financial aid administrator decides those circumstances warrant a professional judgment (PJ) adjustment to exclude the parent's income from the expected family contribution (EFC) calculation. See AskRegs Q&A, Are We Required To Complete Verification Before Performing Professional Judgment?

Option 4: The student presents unusual circumstances and the financial aid administrator decides those circumstances warrant a PJ adjustment to perform a dependency override, thereby making the student independent.

Option 5: If the parent refuses to provide the necessary documents, but can provide a signed and dated statement that they have ended all financial support for the student and will not provide financial support in the future, then you may complete the verification process using only the student's information; however, the student would qualify for unsubsidized aid only.  Note: This represents a change from statutory language that was in effect through June 30, 2022. Previously, this option was available only if the dependent student's parents both refused to file the FAFSA and had ended financial support of the student. See  Section 479A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, [20 USC 1087TT].

Finally, If the parent refuses to provide the necessary documents, and if you cannot make use of any verification exclusions, then you cannot complete the verification process. This means the student does not qualify to receive any Title IV aid, and you might even need to retract any Title IV aid already disbursed. For a more detailed description of these consequences, refer to the section entitled “Deadlines and Failure to Submit Documentation” in Chapter 4 of the AVG.

See AskRegs Knowlegebase Q&A: If a Student's Parents Refuse To Provide Support, How Does the Student Complete the FAFSA To Borrow a Direct Unsubsidized Loan? (Award Year: 2023-24)

P&P Builder: NASFAA’s Policies & Procedures (P&P) Builder guides you step-by-step through the creation of a centralized, accessible policies and procedures manual. This is included in the cost of NASFAA Value Plus membership. There is an additional cost for other membership levels.