Getting Married in 2008? When should you file your FAFSA...
 
Once you file your FAFSA for 2008-2009, the federal regulations for financial aid to not permit you to update your marital status after you get married. Thus, if you have not yet filed your FAFSA, you will need to decide whether to submit it before or after you get married.
   

Here are some factors to consider.
These factors have the biggest impact on dependent students. There is no right answer, it will be up to you to decide when to file your FAFSA. At the bottom, an EFC calculator has been provided in case you wish to compare before and after calculations.

Submit FAFSA early & while single

Submit FAFSA after marriage
+ If you are a dependent student, you will need to include your parent(s) 2007 income information
+ The earlier you apply, the better your chances that you will have your financial aid in place to pay your fall 2008 fees and to purchase your books before classes begin
+ If your aid is in place before the fee payment deadline, you will avoid paying late fees
+ If you are already considered an independent student for reasons other than marital status, you only include your 2007 income information on the FAFSA.
 		 + Dependent students will be considered independent for financial aid purposes
+ Your financial aid eligibility will be determined only on the 2007 income for you and your spouse (even though you filed separately)
+ As an independent student, you will have access to additional Direct Student Loans
+ If you get married between March 15 & June 15, and file your FAFSA immediately after you are married, your odds of having your financial aid in place before the Fall 2008 fee payment deadline is about 75%. In this case, you will need to be VERY attentive to BroncoWeb To Dos and respond quickly
+ The later you apply, the more likely it will be that you will need to start fall semester without your financial aid in place.
 

 

1.15.2008