My Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is the biggest award for needy students. Unlike a student loan, it is an award that does not have to be paid back to the government. To apply for a Pell Grant, you need to apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) form. When you submit a FAFSA, you are automatically considered for Pell Grant. However, certain eligibility criteria need to be met before Pell Grant is yours. For the same, you need to supply all important details about your financial status in the federal Pell Grant application form. This includes your financial aid history as well as your EFC (Expected Family Contribution). These factors not only determine your eligibility but also the amount that you can receive through the Pell award. The amount can range anywhere from $400 to $ 5,000, depending on your need and enrollment status.

While submitting a FAFSA, you can indicate other interests as well, such as student employment, student loans and parent loans. Be careful while checking the appropriate boxes as your eligibility is completely dependent on the information you offer while applying. For instance, if, by error you check the graduate box instead of the under-graduate box then the Department of Education will not be able to award you the Pell Grant. The information should be corrected immediately so that your Pell Grant application form can be processed on time.

Your school can also apply for a Pell Grant form for you and attach it directly to your school costs. Of course, do not forget to take in writing the total amount that will be at your disposal. The school will disburse funds every term (trimester or semester) or at least, twice a year. Your college website will be updating your financial status and how much you are eligible to receive from Pell Grant.

If you’ve applied for a Pell Grant fund through FAFSA, you can be rest assured that your wish will be “granted.” This is so because when you submit the FAFSA form, you are inevitably applying for the Federal Pell Grant among other grants. The details of your form are sent to the Federal Student Aid Processing Center which deducts your EFC(Expected Family Contribution) based on you and your parents income tax returns. If your form is accepted then the processed data is sent to the school/s listed on your FAFSA. The school usually determines the Pell Grant amount that you qualify for along with the possibility of getting other grants.

Once the Pell Grant awards are announced and you would like to access the results then the best option is to call the Federal Student Aid Center during office hours (9 am to 5.30 pm during week days. Another option is to check your online FAFSA account. Don’t forget to key in your PIN number.

One needs to be extremely careful while filling out the FAFSA form especially when it comes to numbers. You can recheck your form by using your PIN number. If you don’t remember your PIN number then you can contact your financial aid office. Pell Grants are awarded based on need. It is necessary that your EFC is below $4,000 or else you are less likely to be considered for a Pell Grant. Sometimes, the delivery of cheques may not happen on time as there have been cases when students have been intimated that their Pell Grant money has been sanctioned but that’s about it. In such a case, it is best to check with your University. Also, till the results are not announced, it is better to keep checking with the University authorities.

A Pell Grant award is no doubt one of the biggest financial aids sponsored by the United States Department of Education but a student should not make the mistake of completely depending on it. It is considered to be a foundation of federal financial aid supplemented by other federal and non-federal sources.

The maximum Pell Grant award amount for the academic year July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 is $4,731. A year ago the maximum award number was $4,310, showing that there is an increase by at least $200. However, the maximum award numbers can change either way and have a lot to do with program funding.

A Pell Grant award amount can range anywhere from $400 to $5000. This amount depends on the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is deducted based on the information provided in the FAFSA form. The amount each student gets will be determined based on his financial needs, likely school expenses, the enrollment status (number of hours per week) as well as duration of the course. There is no restriction on the number of years a student receives Pell Grant. However, s/he will have to sustain a good school record and complete the stipulated number of hours. Also, unlike a loan, a Federal Pell Grant amount does not have to be repaid.

The average amount of a Pell Grant is likely to cover almost 50% of the school fees which is a substantial bit. However, if a student receives the maximum amount then about 75% of his school fees can be covered during four-year college tenure. But with rising educational costs, a lot of University authorities have asked for a raise in the Federal Pell Grant amount so that students need not spend their time or energy worrying about school fees and concentrate on their grades. However, care needs to be taken to avoid these funds from being misused by irresponsible students who do not complete their mandatory hours at school and quit school without a sincere attempt.

When in comes to Federal Grants, the Pell Grant, sponsored by the United States Department of Education, is one of the most sought-after grants awarded to students who are in great financial need. The Federal Pell Grant is truly a gift for deserving students since it does not have to be repaid. It is awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. However, in exceptional cases, Pell Grant, can be awarded to students who are enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program and are in dire financial state.

Like other grants, Pell Grant is also awarded through student FAFSA applications. Federal processors determine the eligibility of a candidate on the basis of the information provided in the FAFSA form. Crucial factors that determine a student’s eligibility for Pell Grant include the severity of financial assistance, Expected Family Contributions (EFCs), the costs to attend school, student status-full time or part time student and the duration of the academic term the student plans to attend (semester, trimester, or quarter).

A student can be awarded a Pell Grant amount in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 depending on his requirements. A student’s eligibility amount usually changes on an annual basis depending on the requirements of that particular academic term as well as the student’s inclination for pursuing further studies. The Federal Pell Grant fund can be paid to the student directly or can be disbursed by Schools at least once per term-semester, trimester or quarter. The school gives you the money you have not used usually by an e-card. However, the student must take a written confirmation regarding the Pell Grant amount of the fund and the amount of each installment to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. Moreover, every school website is equipped with a student’s online status which informs him of the impending Pell Grant award amount.

The Federal Pell Grant Program is a great boon for needy students completing their undergraduate education. The Federal Pell Grant eligibility criterion is fairly simple-US students who are enrolled in an undergraduate course of study or are in an eligible post baccalaureate program. However, students applying for the Pell Grant are required to furnish certain details such as their financial aid history and EFC (Expected Family Contribution) documents. In most cases, the determining factor for receiving the Pell Grant is the EFC. As per 2006-2007 regulations, the EFC must be less than or equal to $3,800 to qualify for a Pell Grant. The eligibility of the student for this largest federal grant program is determined by the Department of Education. The amount awarded ranges anywhere from $400 to $5,000 depending on the student’s enrollment status.

A student’s financial aid history also plays a crucial role in determining the amount of the Pell Grant. This is so because it helps to determine the extent of financial support a student received at other schools.

To qualify for Federal Pell Grants, students need to be transparent about their financial status while submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) application form at their website-www.fafsa.ed.gov. On completing a FAFSA, students are inevitably considered for a Pell Grant. Post verification (of the details given in the form,) the educational aid is sanctioned provided the students meet the eligibility guidelines established by the Federal government. Also, certain sensitive information such as the student being a graduate or an under-graduate should be filled up carefully. Under normal circumstances, if a form shows that a student is not an undergraduate then the Department’s records will show that s/he is not entitled for the Pell Grant under the regular program provision.

Students who have received the Pell Grant can also be eligible for similar educational aids that can be included as a part of their total financial aid package.