FAFSA for married couple - does my new husband need FSA ID if we filed taxes separately?

u still need both incomes on fafsa even if u filed separate. my sister got married last yr and had same issue. pretty sure he needs fsa id too but not 100%.

Yes, your husband will need to create his own FSA ID. When you're married (regardless of how you filed taxes), FAFSA requires both spouses' information to calculate your SAI (Student Aid Index). You'll need to link both tax returns using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which requires separate FSA IDs. The good news is that creating an FSA ID only takes about 10 minutes, and linking tax returns is usually straightforward when using the IRS tool. Make sure both of you have your Social Security numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers ready when creating the accounts.

Congrats on the marriage!! But yeah, married = both incomes count on FAFSA. My husband and I learned that the hard way last year, and my Pell Grant amount dropped significantly. Be prepared for that possibility if your combined income is higher.

I went through this EXACT situation last year! Yes, your husband needs his own FSA ID, and yes, you both need to link your tax returns even though you filed separately. Here's what we did: 1. My husband created his FSA ID (took about 15 mins) 2. I added him as my spouse on my FAFSA 3. He had to sign into the FAFSA using his FSA ID to authorize the IRS data retrieval 4. Both our tax returns got linked It was honestly pretty straightforward once we got his FSA ID set up. Just make sure you have all his info (SSN, DOB, exact name as it appears on his taxes).

The FAFSA system is DESIGNED to punish people who get married while in college. It's complete BS. They count your spouse's income but don't account for their expenses or debts. The whole system needs to be overhauled. I lost my entire Pell Grant after getting married even though our ACTUAL disposable income didn't change at all. Good luck.

Trying to reach FAFSA by phone to ask questions like this is almost impossible these days. I spent 3 hours on hold last week and never got through. If you need to speak with an actual person about these specific marriage questions, try using Claimyr.com - it's a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration when I had similar FAFSA questions. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Way better than waiting on hold forever!

To directly answer your question: Yes, your husband needs his own FSA ID, and yes, you must include his income information even with separate tax filings. Here's why: 1. The 2025-2026 FAFSA considers your marital status as of the date you submit the application 2. When married, both spouses' financial information is required regardless of tax filing status 3. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool requires separate FSA IDs to access separate tax returns I recommend completing this process soon, as many institutional aid programs have priority deadlines. After submission, contact your university's financial aid office to discuss any special circumstances that might warrant professional judgment adjustments to your aid package.

my cousins wife works in financial aid office and she says alot of married students qualify for additional loan amounts even if they dont get grants anymore. so even if ur pell goes down u might get access to more loans if u need them