; (ii) the aggregate amount of contributions a candidate may accept from all individuals under this subparagraph with respect to the election cycle may not exceed $50,000; and (iii) the candidate may not accept any contributions under this subparagraph after the date on which the Commission notifies the candidate under section 513(a) that the candidate is certified as a participating candidate under this title. (b) Special rules for personal funds (1) Limit on amount A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate may use personal funds (including personal funds of any immediate family member of the candidate) so long as— (A) the aggregate amount used with respect to the election cycle (including any period of the cycle occurring prior to the candidate’s certification as a participating candidate) does not exceed $10,000; and (B) the funds are used only for making direct payments for the receipt of goods and services which constitute authorized expenditures in connection with the election cycle involved. (2) Immediate family member defined In this subsection, the term immediate family means, with respect to a candidate— (A) the candidate’s spouse; (B) a child, stepchild, parent, grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the candidate or the candidate’s spouse; and (C) the spouse of any person described in subparagraph (B). (c) Exceptions (1) Exception for contributions received prior to filing of statement of intent A candidate who has accepted contributions that are not described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) (or, in the case of a candidate who has exercised the option described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a), that are not described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a)) is not in violation of subsection (a), but only if all such contributions are— (A) returned to the contributor; (B) submitted to the Commission for deposit in the Freedom From Influence Fund established under section 541