Pell Grants for Children of the Fallen (Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants)

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If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, you may be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant regardless of your family's income.

If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, you may be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant regardless of your family's income.

Under the benefit formerly administered as the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, students whose parents died in or as a result of one of the wars may qualify for the maximum Pell Grant provided under a special rule, starting with the school year that begins July 1, 2024. 

Pell Grants are exempt from the rule that reduced the Iraq and Afghanistan Service grants by a congressionally-mandated percentage

Who Can Get the Maximum Pell Grant for a Parent's or Guardian's Iraq or Afghanistan Service?

You may be eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant for a parent's or guardian's Iraq or Afghanistan service if:

  • Your parent or guardian was a member of the military and died as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
  • You are under age 33 as of Jan. 1 of the award year (for example, you must not have turned 33 by Jan. 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year).

How Much Money Can I Get?

The grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant. For grants between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the maximum award is $7,395.

How Do I Get the Grant?

Completing and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is necessary to be eligible for all forms of federal financial aid, including grants, work-study, and federal student loans.

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