FAFSA has confused me. Help?

[Brendon]

I already went through the previous FAFSA posts, but none of them concretely addressed this. 

Obviously I have to put down my legal sex on FAFSA forms, but which document decides what my legal sex is? I've found myself in a position where it looks as though my driver's license and birth certificate will say one thing and my social security card will say another. Does anyone know which one has the final say? I'd like to apply as male (obviously), but I don't want any issues with getting financial aid because of this.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Alexmakenoise]

When in doubt, it's best to check with your school's financial aid office.  They're qualified to answer questions like this.  We're not.

[Brendon]

When in doubt, it's best to check with your school's financial aid office.  They're qualified to answer questions like this.  We're not.

True, but I figure that someone here may have had a similar mismatch and could offer some insight.

As it is, I won't be applying to colleges until next year. I'm currently trying to get my sex changed on my birth certificate, and I want to make sure that I'm not shooting myself in the foot.

I guess what I'm saying is, I don't think I can ask a financial aid office because I've not been accepted anywhere yet? I agree that would probably be the best course of action, though.

[sonopoly]

I think you can still ask this sort of question whether it's confirmed or not that you're going to a particular school.  It's a pretty general question, not a personal or confidential one (unless you make it that way

[Brendon]

I think you can still ask this sort of question whether it's confirmed or not that you're going to a particular school.  It's a pretty general question, not a personal or confidential one (unless you make it that way

I could give it a try I guess. Do you think it would vary from school to school, or could I just ask wherever? 

[sonopoly]

Honestly, I don't know and don't want to give you wrong information, but I would THINK that schools have pretty standard procedures.  I'm thinking that they would use your social security number, because you do have to submit that, but not your birth certificate, if I recall correctly. BUT I do not know for sure so please do give a call to one of the offices.  Try early because they get swamped and seem to be swamped all day.  Good luck to you and maybe you can post what you learn for future folks!

[Brendon]

Will do if I can ever get the nerve to call. Phones are intimidating 

Thanks for the help.

[Alexmakenoise]

I could give it a try I guess. Do you think it would vary from school to school, or could I just ask wherever? 

It would not vary from school to school.  The FAFSA is a federal document that is used to apply for federal student aid that can then be used to pay tuition at a school of your choice.  It is separate from the schools themselves.  You could ask any school.  It is in their best interest to help you get approved for financial aid so you can spend your tuition money there, so any school should give you a good answer.

Will do if I can ever get the nerve to call. Phones are intimidating 

A lot of schools offer financial aid assistance by email.

[Brendon]

I just emailed FAFSA directly (just found their email, or I would've done that first  ). I assume they'd be award of their own policies? If they can't give me an answer, then I'll try some colleges.

Thanks to both of you for the suggestions, I'll let you know what they say.

[Arch]

I've found myself in a position where it looks as though my driver's license and birth certificate will say one thing and my social security card will say another. Does anyone know which one has the final say? I'd like to apply as male (obviously), but I don't want any issues with getting financial aid because of this.

I'm a bit confused myself. I was under the impression that you haven't had any kind of surgery yet, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm trying to figure out why you'll be able to change your BC but not your SSA. Usually, birth certificates are pretty tough to change, so I was thinking that if you can change your BC, you should be able to change your sex with the SSA, too. But I don't know your circumstances.

In any event, since the FAFSA is a federal document and you have to declare your SSN, you would probably want to put down whatever your sex is with the feds, whatever is on file with the SSA. I think that getting directly in touch with the FAFSA people is your best bet. Once you get a reply, print it out for your records in case you ever run into trouble. Oh, and don't be surprised if you don't get an e-mail reply and you wind up having to call after all. But I hope you get an easy answer. (I used to find phones intimidating, too, so I can relate.)

[Brendon]

I'm a bit confused myself. I was under the impression that you haven't had any kind of surgery yet, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm trying to figure out why you'll be able to change your BC but not your SSA. Usually, birth certificates are pretty tough to change, so I was thinking that if you can change your BC, you should be able to change your sex with the SSA, too. But I don't know your circumstances.

You're correct; I haven't had any surgery yet.

Where I live (am I allowed to say what state I live in?  ), a pretty good number of trans guys have been able to get the sex marker on their birth certificate changed without having surgery; they just slip it in with their name change. I don't know a single person who has been able to change their sex on their birth certificate after their name change because there aren't any forms that exist for that, so it's pretty important that you get it through at the same time. This doesn't always work, but out of everyone I know of that's tried it (probably upwards of 30 people) only 2 or 3 have been denied.

So, if my name change goes through, then I'll be male on my birth certificate, but I still won't be able to change my social security card.

[tekla]

Don't call, don't write, go in and talk to a real human.  It's much more likely you can get it sorted out that way.  Somewhere, someone in that office has the ability to sign off on it, you need to talk to that person.