I got married yesterday. I submitted my FAFSA application (2018-2019) a few months ago. I haven’t lived with my parents for 2 years/nor do they support me but I still need to put their information on my application since I’m not 24 yet and I don’t have any kids. However, since I just got married, can I update my FAFSA application? My parents make around $100,000 combined a year. My husband and I only make about $28,000 combined a year. I know I will be able to receive aid with my low income. But since I just got married (March 2018) and I believe the application asked for information from 2016 or 2017, should I even bother redoing the application? Will it even matter that I’m married now and have a low income or will they only look at my parents income? Thank you in advance.
Nope, you file your marital status on the day that you file the FAFSA.When you filed, you were a dependent student. They will not let you update. So this year your aid will be based on your parents income and assets in 2016.
Remember depending on your school, when it comes to institutional aid, many schools have policies that if you start as a dependent student, you finish as a dependent student even if you have a life event (marriage, children) that now make you independent.
When you do your 2019-2020 FAFSA, you will be married. On that one, you will include all income for your spouse, and you from 2017.
The marital status is as of the date of filing your FAFSA…so far 2018-2019, you weren’t married.
But read what @sybbie719 posted…and then check YOUR college. It’s possible that you will remain a dependent for financial aid purposes because that is how you were as a freshman. Check YOUR school for this info.
You can go and talk to your financial aid department about your change in status. Maybe they will have something to offer you.
When you file your next FAFSA you will be independent for federal aid because you are married. You may not necessarily be eligible for institutional need based aid. They may still require your parents income and sssets.
You can also apply for a change in circumstances with your FA office. Ask them.
Yes, ^^^. Apply for a change in circumstances.
Does your college guarantee to meet full need for all accepted students? If not…you might not actually see an increase in your need based institutional financial aid…at all…even being married. But if professional judgement is allowed, you might see a portion of the Pell Grant.
Call/email your financial aid office and see if you can file for ‘change in circumstances’ due to getting married