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Updating Marital Status on the FAFSA Application: What BYU-I Students Need to Know

Why Update Your Marital Status?

  • When you get married, you can change from Dependent to Independent on FAFSA
  • Independent students often qualify for better aid because
    • Parent income information is not needed for Independent students
  • BYU-Idaho allows married students to petition for this change, but not all Universities do
A married couple smiling at each other in a green field with trees

Who Can Update?

For 2024-2025 Academic Year:

  • You must be married by December 31, 2024.
  • Update your 2024-2025 FAFSA by May 31, 2025.

Important Reminders

  • You are not required to update your FAFSA  after getting married
    • Only update if it benefits your financial aid award
  • Please do not update your FAFSA until you are married
  • WARNING: Updating your FAFSA may cause delays in processing your financial aid, so please plan accordingly – it can take up to four weeks to process a marital status update, especially at the beginning of a semester. 

Steps to Update

Step 1: Check Your Current Aid Eligibility

  1. Log in to studentaid.gov
  2. Go to "My Aid" > "2024-2025 FAFSA Application"
  3. View FAFSA Submission Summary
  4. Find your SAI (Student Aid Index) in the Eligibility Overview

Note:

  • If your SAI is 0, or negative, you’re already getting maximum Pell Grant
  • Updating to Married Independent status may increase loan offers

Step 2: Estimate New Aid Eligibility

Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator

  1. Enter your new information - marital status, family size, income, and assets
  2. Compare estimated SAI and aid offers with current SAI and aid offers
  3. If new information is significantly better, proceed to step 3

Step 3: Update your FAFSA

Log in and “make corrections” to your 2024-2025 FAFSA

  • Change "Student Demographics" to "I am married" and enter the month you were married.

Step 4: Continue through the Error

Because not all schools allow marital status updates, an error prompt will show asking if the student was married prior to the original date the FAFSA was completed. YES is the correct answer.

This error will help you complete the process, so hit CONTINUE!

  1. Update your "Dependency Status" to” yes” you were married on the day you submitted the FAFSA
  2. Adjust the household size and number in college
  3. Invite your spouse to contribute and share tax information
  4. Use your current name on your social security card
    1. Do not use the married name on the FAFSA unless you changed your Social Security Card 8+ weeks ago.

Another Error prompt will display – hit CONTINUE again

Step 5: Submit Updated FAFSA

  1. Sign and submit the updated FAFSA
  2. Ensure your spouse completes their portion
  3. Wait 3 -5 days for BYU-Idaho to receive the update

Step 6: Complete Documents

  1. A Marital Status Update Request document will be added to your Financial Aid portal
    1. Complete and upload as quickly as possible
  2. After review, you may be required to submit more documents, which will be listed in your financial aid portal

Important Reminders

  • If both you and your spouse are students, complete these steps for both FAFSAs
  • Remember to regularly check your financial aid portal and submit any requested documents as soon as possible.
  • It can take up to four weeks to process a marital status update, especially if submitted close to the start of a semester.

BYU-Idaho FAFSA Help: Contact Financial Aid Office

Need assistance? Contact the BYU-Idaho Financial Aid Office:

  • Email: financialaid@byui.edu
  • Visit: Kimball 196
  • Livechat: ask to speak with a financial aid specialist using the chat bubble on any BYU-Idaho webpage