Maximum Pell Grants for Children of the Fallen

If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service since 9/11, 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 the line of duty while serving on active duty” may qualify for the maximum Pell Grant.

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

Who Can Get the Maximum Pell Grant for the Loss of a Parent or Guardian?

You may be eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant for a parent’s or guardian’s post-9/11 service if:

• Your parent died “in the line of duty while serving on active duty” on or after Sept. 11, 2001. This new requirement doesn’t tie the parent’s service to any specific wars. Previously, students received grants if their parent died “as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan” after 9/11.
• You are under age 33 at the start of the award 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, 2026, and June 30, 2027, 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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