Income Verification - SUPP90/91/96SP/97ST
Hey Folks, I have recently discovered that the documentation requirements have changed particularly for the $0 income scenarios, whether it's 'has a SIN and not filing taxes' or for those who live abroad. Or maybe things haven't changed and have always been this way, but nowhere is it documented. I have always instructed students to provide reasoning in their affidavits, but most ignore me, or for those that never connected with me wouldn't have been notified otherwise.
I've been seeing a lot of these reviews denied and have been reviewing the IR's. This prompted me to ask FAOInquiry and I was given the exact same scripted response that a student was given that they shared with me and what went as an 'IR'. Therefore, I'm assuming the PA's are working off of a different script than what they had previously.
MCU requires the following when providing the affidavit (for a 23-24 app):
where they resided in 2022
the total gross income (before deductions) received for 2022
the currency that this income was received in
the reason why official tax documentation or documentation from the employer cannot be provided. Arbitrary reasons to not provide the documentation requested is not grounds to accept an affidavit in lieu of the acceptable documentation listed above.
Neither the form nor the manual indicate this (the reason stated in the affidavit). After being given this response, I was going to ask if it can be better documented for 24-25, but of course the form is already out, and we all know MCU will not V2 a form after its initial release.
Therefore, when students are asking, please work this into your comms on how to document it. Lately, 100% of these have been denied when the reason is not stated for providing proof of $0 income from a foreign country (aka the foreign equivalent to an NOA showing $0).
Hi Jeremy - I brought this issue forward to MCU last year as well and was told they would look into it. Obviously this is not on their priority list and as a result, many students will find themselves in huge grant overpayment as a result. Our office will need to make sure that all documentation is submitted and this puts a strain on our time now. Clearer instructions would solve this issue but...oh well!