Does financial aid for Pell Grant (FAFSA) verify with the government?

To answer your question they can check on anything they want, and for 1/3 of the applications EACH YEAR they will check.

Now, as far as food stamps and WIC, it is actually in your favor to answer these questions 'yes' if you do in fact receive them as this will qualify you for the simplified needs test. This means you will be defaulted to an EFC of 0 no matter how much your parents might earn, or the student might earn.

I think there is some validity to the original post. I applied for FAFSA and received 5,500 in a pell grant. The cost per semester was about $1,200. Literally. The books I bought off of Chegg and did not spend more than $80 per semester on books. Supplies? Didn't ever use them. I had one notebook that lasted me throughout my Associates degree and I had a 3.7 GPA. I had just under 3 grand I received each year in a refund and spend it on whatever I wanted. I went to my first strip club with that money. I went to Universal Studios. I bought a used car. Bottom line: You CAN abuse the system and it happens all the time. If you go to a cheap college as I did and claim your parents don't pay for anything then the grant is as good as yours; this may have changed since I did it four years ago however.

You know, I dont really know, but if it were me and I was receiving food stamps, I wouldnt take the chance of falsifying the application. You're dealing with the government with Pell grants, so seems likely they would have inside information regarding such things. You might be facing stiff penalties or worse and a demand to repay it. Doesnt sound worth the risk to me. On the other hand, if you stand to gain a lot through a Pell grant, maybe it would be worth foregoing the food stamps for the grant so you wouldnt have to lie and take a chance..might be something to think about...Just MTCW...