Household Size Petitions

You are allowed to include your unborn baby in your household size on the FAFSA for the 2023-2024 academic year, as long as your unborn child is due by June 30, 2024. There are three situations in which we may be able to include your unborn baby in the household size on your FAFSA for this academic year:

1. If you or your spouse were expecting at the time you submitted the FAFSA, but you did not include your unborn child in the household size, and your baby is due by June 30, 2024.
2. If you were selected for verification and you or your spouse were expecting when you completed verification, but you did not include your unborn baby in the household size, and your baby is due by June 30, 2024.
3. If you or your spouse were not expecting either at the time you submitted the FAFSA or when you completed verification, but now you are expecting, and your unborn child is due by June 30, 2024.

Updating household size through verification

For situation #1 or #2, complete the following:

1. Write a letter and indicate which of the situations applies to you.
2. Attach a letter or note from your doctor indicating the approximate date of conception and the due date of the unborn baby. If your baby is already born, provide a copy of his/her birth certificate instead.
3. Complete verification tasks that are assigned to you.

Updating household size by petition

For situation #3, complete the following:

1. Write a letter indicating the reason(s) you are requesting a change to household size. Reasons may include increased expenses, loss of income, etc. Please indicate specifically if the child is your firstborn.
2. Provide a letter or statement from your doctor that indicates the approximate date of conception and the due date of the unborn baby.

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

• Your unborn child is due after June 30, 2024
• You do not have current or future enrollment during the academic year

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

The federal government is making significant changes to the FAFSA. Because of these changes, the government will no longer allow to include your unborn child in your household 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 household size to include your unborn baby. Counselors are happy to assist you.