2026-2027 FSA Handbook Application and Verification Guide Available
Summary
The Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid announced the availability of the 2026-2027 Application and Verification Guide, the first volume of the updated Federal Student Aid Handbook. This guide supports financial aid administrators and counselors with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, verification procedures, and corrections. The handbook is published digitally on the FSA Knowledge Center.
What changed
The Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid released Dear Colleague Letter ANN-26-04 announcing the publication of the 2026-2027 Application and Verification Guide, the initial volume of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. This volume covers the beginning stages of the financial aid process, including FAFSA submission, verification of information, and making corrections to applicant-reported data. The handbook consists of nine numbered volumes plus appendices, all published digitally on the Knowledge Center.
Financial aid administrators and counselors at schools participating in Title IV federal student aid programs should access and review the Application and Verification Guide to ensure compliance with current procedures for the 2026-2027 award year. Questions about the handbook can be submitted through the FSA Partner Connect Help Center by selecting "FSA Handbook" as the topic. Future volume releases and errata will be announced through additional Training Announcements (ANN-type Dear Colleague Letters).
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Publication Date April 02, 2026 DCL ID ANN-26-04 Subject 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook – Application and Verification Guide Now Available Summary This letter announces the availability of the Application and Verification Guide of the 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook.
Dear Colleague:
We are pleased to announce the availability of the 2026–2027 Application and Verification Guide, the initial volume of the 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook.
The Application and Verification Guide is intended for financial aid administrators and counselors who assist applicants with the beginning of the financial aid process—submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ®) form, verifying information, and making corrections and other updates to the information the applicant reported on the FAFSA form.
In addition to the Application and Verification Guide, the Federal Student Aid Handbook consists of nine numbered volumes and appendices. We publish the Federal Student Aid Handbook digitally on the Knowledge Center. Each time we publish a volume, appendix, or errata, we will inform the community through a Training Announcement (Dear Colleague Letter type “ANN”) on the Knowledge Center.
Note: We now use the ANN type of Dear Colleague Letter to announce the publication of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, to align it better with our other training resources.
Contact Information
You can send questions and suggestions about the Federal Student Aid Handbook using the Customer Support form in the FSA Partner Connect Help Center. To submit a question, please complete the form and select “FSA Handbook” as the topic.
Sincerely,
Federal Student Aid
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