Social Security and financial aid?

Alright I have applied for a name change (due to marriage) from the Social Security Department six times in the last four years. I've even mailed the form in certified and every year at tax time I've discovered that it hasn't gone through. Now I've been attempting to apply for federal aid for online classes while overseas (my passport is in my married name, along w/ my drivers & id cards) only to have it rejected for the same reason. The US Embassy has forwarded the required documents to the SS Office & I was told it might take up to 6 months to go through. My question: Should I apply for aid under my maiden name & then change it when the SS card comes in? Or should I just apply for a loan (which I might not get) in my married name? The Embassy & the IRS both say that my married name is legal, but now I'm not quite sure.