Family Size Petitions

If you submit the FAFSA and then subsequently have a baby during the academic year, you may be able to update your FAFSA to add your baby to your family size. To update your FAFSA, your child must be born by June 30, 2025, and you must have current or future enrollment during the academic year. There are two ways in which we may be able to add your newborn baby.

Updating family size through verification

1. Log in to fafsa.gov:
   
   1. Click "Access Existing Form" (Do not submit a new FAFSA).
   2. Update the Family Size question that asks "How many people are in the student's family?"
   3. Submit.
2. Complete verification tasks that are assigned to you. We typically receive the updated FAFSA in 3-5 days. You will receive tasks after that time. Please watch your My Financial Center and BYU email for notification.

Updating family size by petition (if verification was already completed)

1. Write a letter indicating the reason(s) you are requesting a change to your family size. Reasons may include increased expenses, loss of income, etc. Please indicate specifically if the child is your firstborn.
2. Provide a copy of your child's birth certificate.

Circumstances that do not qualify for an update through verification or by petition

• Your child is born after June 30, 2025
• You do not have current or future enrollment during the academic year

Changes to family size petitions beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year

The federal government has made significant changes to the FAFSA. Because of these changes, the government will no longer allow to include your unborn child in your family size either through verification or petition, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year.

Contact us

We invite you to contact Enrollment Services to speak with a counselor if you have questions about updating your family size to include your newborn baby. Counselors are happy to assist you.