FAFSA reporting for newlyweds - do we include just one income for prior-prior year?

Yeah when you fill out FAFSA, it's based on your CURRENT marital status, not what it was during the tax year they're asking about. So if your married when you submit, you gotta include both incomes even tho you weren't together back then. Kinda sucks but that's how they do it.

The previous commenter is correct. FAFSA uses your marital status as of the date you submit the application, not during the tax year they're requesting information from. So if you're married when you submit in October, you'll need to report both incomes from 2023, even though you weren't married then. This is specifically addressed in the FAFSA instructions: if your marital status changes after the tax year but before submitting FAFSA, you must report based on your status when submitting. Your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation will include both incomes.

I WAS IN THE EXACT SAME BOAT LAST YEAR!!! Got married in August and had to submit FAFSA in October. It SUCKS but they made us combine both incomes from 2 years before even tho we weren't even dating then!!! My husband's financial aid got cut by like $7000 for his final semester because of this stupid rule. The financial aid office basically told us tough luck. Complete BS if you ask me.

congatrs on getting married!! my cousin had this happen and they just waited til after graduation to get legally married. they still had the ceremony and everything but didn't file the paperwork til after fafsa stuff was done. not sure if that works for everyone tho

You can request a professional judgment review (sometimes called a special circumstances appeal) from your fiancé's financial aid office after you submit the FAFSA. Explain that your marriage is new and your income wasn't contributing to his support during the tax year in question. While the standard FAFSA rules do require reporting both incomes if you're married at submission time, financial aid offices have discretion to adjust the SAI calculation in cases where the standard formula doesn't accurately represent the student's financial situation. Bring documentation of your marriage date and be prepared to explain why your income shouldn't count toward his ability to pay for school. Different schools handle these differently, but it's worth trying.

You'll need to submit the FAFSA first according to the standard rules (reporting both incomes), then immediately request the professional judgment review. Success rates vary by institution - some schools are more flexible than others. Documentation is key - bring your marriage certificate showing the recent date, any separate financial accounts or housing arrangements from 2023, and a clear explanation of why your income shouldn't be considered for his education expenses for that year. Be professional and focus on the timing issue rather than just saying it's unfair.

When I called FSA about a similar issue (different circumstances but also about marriage timing), I was on hold for like 3 hours and then got disconnected twice. Finally got through using Claimyr.com which got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ showing how it works. The agent confirmed what others are saying - your marital status at time of filing is what matters, but they also told me specific language to use when requesting the professional judgment review at my school which helped.

Yeah it worked for me. Better than wasting hours on hold. The FSA agent I spoke with was actually super helpful once I finally got through.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! This is definitely a tricky situation with FAFSA. In addition to what others have suggested, you might want to calculate the potential impact before panicking. The FAFSA's Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation is complex, but your income won't necessarily cause a dollar-for-dollar reduction in aid. Factors like your fiancé being a dependent or independent student, whether you have children or other dependents, and your household size all affect how much your income impacts the final SAI. Also consider that some aid programs have their own criteria beyond just the FAFSA calculation. If your wedding is next week and FAFSA opens in October, you're probably better off proceeding with your plans and then pursuing the professional judgment review others mentioned rather than changing your life plans for financial aid.

Yes, being an independent student helps in your situation! For independent students, the SAI calculation treats spousal income differently than it would for dependent students with parental income. You can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator (https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/) to run scenarios. Enter his information as an independent married student with both incomes to see the potential impact. Also, many aid programs like Pell Grants have their own thresholds. If his EFC/SAI is still within certain ranges, the change in aid might be less dramatic than you fear. Institutional aid (aid from the college itself) varies widely in how it's awarded - some schools have more flexibility than others.

Just wanted to add that timing matters for the professional judgment review too. Don't wait until the last minute - submit your FAFSA as soon as it opens in October, then immediately contact the financial aid office about a professional judgment review. Some schools have limited funds for adjustments and it's first-come, first-served. Also, keep copies of everything you submit and follow up if you don't hear back within a reasonable time. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with financial aid offices sometimes. Good luck with your wedding and hope everything works out with the aid situation!