There are times when the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) may require students and parents to verify the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application.
Verification requires the comparison of information reported on the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Application with information reported on U.S. Federal Income Tax Return(s), tax schedules, and related asset information. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 9A:9-2.7, upon request parents and students (and/or spouses, if applicable), must provide a federal “Income Tax Transcript” or, if income does not meet the minimum threshold required to file taxes a “Wage and Income transcript”, for verification purposes.
If no tax returns were filed for the year requested or tax returns filed had no positive income, documented proof of taxable and/or untaxed income received through a U.S. federal or state agency is required. This documentation can include but is not limited to an IRS tax and wage transcript, unemployment, child support, alimony, welfare payments, Social Security benefits, SSI, or at least one benefit from any of the following federal programs: SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, WIC, housing assistance, etc., must be submitted in order to determine state grant eligibility. Verification of non-filing status may also be requested.
A dependent student whose parents are non-filers, receiving no social services and whose income or support cannot be verified through documents as defined above, is not eligible to receive state aid.
An independent student who is a non-filer, receiving no social services and whose income or support cannot be verified through documents as defined above, is not eligible to receive state aid.
If documentation is not received to verify income or resolve discrepancies, aid will not be granted.
Reminder: When the parent(s) lives outside of New Jersey and verification of parental income and assets cannot be completed because the parents do not file a U.S. Federal Income Tax return or have documented proof of taxable and/or untaxed income received through a U.S. federal or state agency, such as an IRS tax and wage transcript, unemployment, child support, alimony, welfare payments, Social Security benefits, or at least one benefit from any of the following federal programs: Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, TANF, WIC, etc., or receive documented state or federal aid refund , the student cannot be considered for State financial aid. Please note that this includes students whose parents filed a foreign tax return or whose parents were not required to file a foreign tax return and employees of the United Nations whose earnings are exempt from filing U.S. Federal Income Taxes.
