Hi. Please help to understand if I can claim as independent on FAFSA if I get married. If so, does it mean that my parents’ income will no longer be taken into account for FAFSA? Thank you.
As far as I know, if you are married, you are independent for FAFSA. You would report your and spouse’s income.
If your parents pay bills that are in your name, I think you might have to report that on the FAFSA.
Also I am not sure if you would have to report the value of a 529 that your parents hold for you.
It is not recommended to do something for financial aid purposes, that you wouldn’t normally do.
Maximum federal aid for a $0 EFC is a $5,900 Pell grant and $5,500 or slightly higher student loan (depending on year in college).
As stated above, the most you gain from being married is a ~$5k/year Pell grant. It costs much more than that to support a household. You can gain roughly the same amount by getting a job.
Can your parents qualify for the AOTC?
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/american-opportunity-tax-credit-questions-and-answers
That and earnings for a job might help with college costs.
By being younger you will have less income protection because you have many more years to retirement. This means s lower income and assets can raise your EFC. You you and your spouse really are have no or a really low income you will get flagged for verification. As mentioned upstream any monies paid in your behalf becomes taxable income on your financial aid forms.
While getting married will make you independent for federal aid, it will not necessarily make you independent for ** institutional ** aid. This is especially true at those deep picket schools that meet 100% demonstrated need They already have policies in place where
- If you start as a dependent student,you finish as a dependent student even if you have a life event that now makes you independent (exception being the unfortunate death of both parents.
2.for incoming students in order for you to be independent for institutional aid you must be 26 or prove 5 years of self-sufficiency getting absolutely nothing from your parents and not being filed on their taxes.
Read your school’s financial aid section carefully and call for clarification.
Unless the plan was to get married anyway before or during college don’t do it with the thought of getting more aid, because the more aid won’t be much.
And being independent for financial aid purposes does NOT mean you will get a LOT more need based aid. Plus…you will have to demonstrate how you were self supporting in subsequent years. Will you be able to do that? Or are you counting on your parents to pay your bills?
It often can make it worse. It is NOT a reason to get married. Trust me.
I had a higher EFC married than I did as a dependent because there’s no auto 0 and you’re expected to contribute more of your income.
YMMV of course