Overview of Document Authentication
Document Authentication is a product designed to be integrated into the ScreeningWorks PRO applicant file as a means to verify the authenticity of paystubs or other income-related documents. Some highlights of the Document Authentication feature include:
Applicants receive an email invitation to the email address provided at the time of screening
Applicants have the option to upload a copy of their paystub or bank statement
Information is displayed within the Document Authentication tab, and a downloadable PDF copy of the information is attached (if applicable).
What the Applicants See
Applicants receive an email invitation to complete the Document Authentication process.
In the email, they click the “here” link to begin the process.
Applicants are then asked to populate any required information before proceeding to the document upload portion of the workflow.
On the Proof of Income step, applicants can either click Click to upload or drag and drop their most recent pay stubs.
On the Supporting Documents step, they can upload their most recent bank statements using the same method.
Note: All documents uploaded should be the original PDF retrieved from the payroll institution or financial institution.
The file name is displayed below the upload box when the file has finished uploading.
The applicant can repeat these processes, as needed, to upload all the necessary documents.
Click Next to proceed after each step.
The applicant is prompted to review their personal information and recently uploaded documents.
Note: The applicant must agree to the terms of service before selecting Submit.
After clicking Submit, the applicant sees a confirmation message indicating the document was successfully submitted.
What you see
If your property uses Document Authentication for income verification, the system checks the results of previously completed verification services to decide whether to launch Document Authentication. If those earlier results lead to a rejection, the system does not launch Document Authentication.
If the application is accepted or conditionally accepted, the system automatically sends a Document Authentication invitation to the applicant(s). The application remains pending until the applicant(s) complete the process.
Document Authentication In Progress
Until the applicant completes the Document Authentication invitation, the Action Panel displays the status Applicant Action Required, and the Reason field shows Invite Sent.
At this time, users with the appropriate permissions can resend or cancel the invitation by selecting the desired Action and then clicking Save.
Document Authentication Results
After the applicant completes the Document Authentication invitation, results typically take about 15 minutes to process. Regardless of the outcome, the property must complete its review through the Action Panel. The property can then select from several options:
Resend | Sends the applicant a new Document Authentication invitation. |
Confirmed as Accurate | Confirms that the returned information is accepted by the property. |
Manually Verified | Indicates that internal procedures were followed to further verify income. |
Application Cancelled | Indicates the applicant has chosen not to proceed or is unable to provide the required documentation. |
Not Verified | After reviewing a clean document, the property determines the income has not been sufficiently verified, possibly due to a name mismatch, document age, or other factors. |
Note: The options available in the Action dropdown depend on the result returned.
Clean Documents
When documents are verified as authentic, they return with a Reason of Clean Document and a Result of Clean. The property must complete the review using the Action Panel to confirm they have reviewed the document details. This ensures the personal information matches the applicant and that the income meets the property’s requirements.
The property can click the View Report ( 
) icon to see a copy of the submitted document.
Edited Documents
When documents are identified as tampered with, they return with a Reason of Edited Document and a Result of Edited.
The property must complete the review in the Action Panel to move the application out of pending status.
Undetermined Documents
If the system cannot verify the authenticity of a document, it displays the Reason and Result as Undetermined.
The property must review the document and select the appropriate action using the Action Panel.
Note: The information above is also available in the applicant’s file under the Document Authentication tab.
Once the property completes the Action Panel, the Application Landing Page and Applicant File update automatically.
Reviewing Attachments
Documents uploaded through Document Authentication are available both in the Action Panel and in the Document Authentication tab of the applicant file.
When viewing from the Action Panel, click the 
icon to open the document.
When viewing from the Report column in the Document Authentication tab, click the 
to open the document.
The file downloads and opens in a new tab for the property’s review. The first page of the report summarizes the applicant’s personal information and includes counts for the following document statuses:
Uploaded | Total number of documents uploaded by the applicant. |
Clean | Documents that passed Document Authentication without signs of tampering, resulting in a status of "Clean." |
Edited | Documents flagged as tampered, resulting in a status of "Edited." |
Insufficient Documentation | Documents where there was insufficient evidence to determine authenticity, resulting in a status of "Undetermined." |
Fraud Detection Results
The cover page for each upload identifies the instance of the pay stub or bank statement submitted and summarizes the overall findings for that document.
The example above shows that the referenced attachment is the first uploaded pay stub and that its result is “Edited.”
Document Authentication Applicant Action Report
The Document Authentication Applicant Action Report shows a breakdown of applicants, their Document Authentication statuses, and the actions taken to complete the workflow.
Along with property and applicant name information, the Document Authentication Applicant Action Report contains columns breaking down the following:
Document Authentication Status | The status or result of the Document Authentication at the time the action was taken. |
User Action Taken | The selection made when a user completes the Action Panel. |
Final Status | The overall status of the Document Authentication service (complete or pending). |
Action Date | The date and time when the selection was processed by the Action Panel. |
Action By | The user who processed the selection from the Action Panel. |
Remark | The text input provided by the user who completed the Action Panel. |
Use the filter to narrow results by property, Document Authentication Status, user action taken, final status, applicant name, applicant ID, or score.
Document Authentication Applicant Action Report Verification Statuses
Reason | Definition |
Clean Document | No evidence of tampering was identified. |
Edited Document | Evidence of tampering was identified. |
Error | An error occurred in the attempt to send the email invitation. |
Expired | The email invitation has expired. |
Invite Sent | The email invitation has been sent and is in progress. |
Processing | The email invitation has been completed by the applicant and is |
Undetermined Document | There was no sufficient evidence to determine if the document was or was not tampered with. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does the applicant receive the Document Authentication invite email?
The applicant receives the Document Authentication email within moments of the service being launched.
What if the applicant didn’t provide an email address at the time of screening, or their email address was incorrect?
The Action Panel has a “Resend” option that can be used to populate the correct email address information and relaunch the invitation.
How long does it take for the Document Authentication service to complete?
Once an applicant has finished uploading and submitting their documents, the information is returned in an average of 15 minutes.
Can alternative documents such as offer letters, tax returns, or international documents be uploaded?
These types of alternative documents cannot be processed for Document Authentication.
Are specific sections of documents called out in the PDF if tampering was detected?
No, specific sections are not called out by the system. The service simply informs if signs of tampering are detected throughout the document.
What is the expiration timeframe for email invitations?
The expiration timeframe is 72 hours.