Going Back To School While Married

[tropicsgoddess]

I'm going to get married next year in the summer but after the wedding I'll be able to go back to school. The reason being because it'll make me meet the 1 year residency in the state of New York to get in-state tuition ( I moved up there in mid-May). Is it easier or not to get financial aid if your married and if I do fill in the financial aid applications and/or FAFSA, would I have to list my spouse to be's income?

[Kheldarson]

I think you might have to...particularly if you're planning on filing joint taxes. I'm planning on asking my financial office that next semester since that'll be when I have to make the changes/reapply for financial aid. But since the FAFSA is based on taxes, I'd assume that if you file jointly, you'd have to list your spouse. Not sure if you file separately.

[Chanlin]

Quoted from the 2011-2012 FAFSA application.

If you are married at the time you submit the FAFSA, even if you were not married in 2010, both your and your spouse's income, assets and exemptions must be reported. If you and your spouse filed (or will file) separate tax returns for 2010, be sure to include the combined information from both returns on the FAFSA.

Found at this link:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/pu...012/ques3.html

I would check with whatever school you plan to attend and see what sort of scholarships there are that you might qualify for as well I got one from my uni for $1,000 per year just for being over 25

[trailerparkmedic]

Yes, you have to list your spouse's income. The only benefit to being married is that even if you're under 25, you'll be considered an independent student.

Also, just an FYI, 99% of schools require you to fill out a FASFA before they'll look at you for school specific aid.

Another random FYI--if something significant happens between filing taxes and filling out your FASFA, tell the financial aid. I was able to file some sort of extra paperwork when my husband was laid off and I was eligible for a bit more aid.

[tropicsgoddess]

More than likely I think we would file jointly but that won't be till next tax season since the wedding won't be until July 2012 and also I'll be able to meet the 1 year requirement of being a New York state resident to get the in-state tuition then (according to the academic calendar I can apply around August). So this tax season we'll be filing separately. I'm over 25 so I know I'll automatically be labeled as an independent.