Financial Aid: EFC

<p>I'm planning to file taxes separately from my husband in hope that it will give me better financial aid. My Estimated Family Contribution if filing separately is 0 but I'm also missing out on $1200 of American Opportunity Credit. But when I filed jointly my Pell Grant was only $600. Do you think it's worth filing separately?</p>

<p>How much is your Pell Grant when you filed by yourself?</p>

<p>This is a question you should ask the Financial Aid Office for a sure answer.</p>

<p>I thought they ask for your spouse’s financial information regardless of whether you file together or separately… When my school asks me to verify what I entered in FAFSA, they ask about my spouse’s information as well (not married though). You should definitely ask the FAO. If you are allowed to just enter your information only, then filing separately is MUCH more worth it because pell grant is a maximum of $5,500 if your EFC is 0. So $5,500 > $1,800 ($600 + $1,200).</p>