How Moms Can Apply for Pell Grants

The Basic Steps to Apply for a Pell Grant

To apply for a Pell Grant, you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the official FAFSA website. The FAFSA is the single form that determines whether you meet the federal requirements for Pell Grants and other aid. You do not apply to Pell Grants directly — the FAFSA result tells your school whether you are may be able to access, and your school then awards the grant as part of your financial aid package.

The FAFSA opens October 1 each year and remains open through June 30 of the following year. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and tax information from the previous year. If you are a dependent student, you will also need one parent's information. The form takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete online.

After you submit the FAFSA, you receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — the amount the federal government calculates you and your family can contribute toward education costs. Your school uses this number to determine your Pell Grant amount. Schools typically notify you of your aid package by mail or through their student portal within two to four weeks of receiving your FAFSA results.

Key Takeaways

• You apply for Pell Grants by completing the FAFSA on fafsa.gov, not through a separate Pell Grant application.
• The FAFSA opens October 1 each year and you can submit it anytime through June 30 of the following year.
• You will need your Social Security number, ID, and previous year's tax information to complete the form.
• Your school receives your FAFSA results and determines your Pell Grant amount based on your Expected Family Contribution and the school's cost of attendance.
• If you are a dependent student, you must include one parent's information on the FAFSA.

What Information You Need Before You Start

Gather these documents before you open the FAFSA form. Having them ready means you can finish the application in one sitting rather than starting and stopping.

You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and driver's license or state ID number. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need your Alien Registration Number. You will also need your previous year's federal tax return — if you filed taxes, bring your 1040, 1040-A, or 1040-EZ form. If you did not file taxes but had income, gather your W-2 forms or records of self-employment income.

If you are a dependent student (meaning your parents claim you on their taxes), you will need one parent's Social Security number and their tax information as well. If your parents are divorced or separated, use the information from the parent you live with most of the time. If you are an independent student — meaning you are over 24, married, a veteran, or have dependents of your own — you only need your own information.

Have your school's Federal School Code ready as well. You can find this on your school's financial aid website or by searching the Federal School Code database on fafsa.gov. You will enter this code so your FAFSA results go directly to your school.

Creating Your FSA ID and Logging In

Before you can start the FAFSA, you need an FSA ID — a username and password that lets you access federal student aid websites. You create this on studentaid.gov, not on fafsa.gov. Go to studentaid.gov, click "Sign In," then select "Create an Account."

You will enter your email address, create a password, and answer security questions. You will also need to verify your identity by entering your Social Security number and date of birth. The system may ask you to verify your identity through additional steps, such as answering questions about your credit history or receiving a code by text or email. This process takes about 10 minutes.

If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need their own FSA ID. Your parent creates one the same way on studentaid.gov. Once both of you have FSA IDs, you can both sign the FAFSA electronically — this is faster and more secure than printing, signing by hand, and mailing the form.

Filling Out the FAFSA Form Itself

Once you have your FSA ID, go to fafsa.gov and sign in. The form is divided into sections: your personal information, school selection, financial information, and dependency status.

In the personal information section, you enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and contact information. In the school selection section, you enter the Federal School Code for each school you want to attend or are considering. You can list up to 10 schools. In the financial information section, you enter income and asset information from your tax return — the form pulls some of this automatically if you give it permission to access your IRS data.

The dependency status section asks questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student. Answer these honestly; the form uses your answers to decide whether your parents' information is required. If you are a dependent student, you will enter your parent's FSA ID so they can sign the form electronically. If you are independent, you skip this section.

After you complete each section, review it for errors before moving forward. Once you finish all sections, you and your parent (if dependent) sign the form electronically using your FSA IDs. After signing, you receive a confirmation number. Write this down — you will need it to check your application status.

What Happens After You Submit

The federal government processes your FAFSA within three to five business days. You will receive an email confirmation that your form was received. A few days later, you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), which shows the information you entered and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Your school receives your FAFSA results automatically and uses them to calculate your Pell Grant amount. The amount depends on your EFC, your school's cost of attendance, and whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Schools typically notify you of your financial aid package within two to four weeks. You may receive this notification by mail, email, or through your school's student portal.

If you need to make changes to your FAFSA after submitting it, you can log back into fafsa.gov and edit your form. Changes take another three to five business days to process. If your circumstances change during the school year — such as a job loss or change in family size — contact your school's financial aid office to see whether you can request a review of your aid package.

Submitting Your FAFSA at a School or Library

If you do not have internet access at home or prefer in-person help, many schools and public libraries offer computers where you can complete the FAFSA. Your school's financial aid office can tell you which locations offer this service and whether staff are available to answer questions while you fill out the form.

Some schools also hold FAFSA completion events, especially in October and November when the form first opens. These events are free and do not require registration. Call your school's financial aid office or check their website for dates and times.

If you need help understanding the questions or your results, the Federal Student Aid office runs a toll-free helpline at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Representatives can answer questions about the FAFSA process but cannot fill out the form for you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is entering incorrect tax information. Double-check that income and asset figures match your tax return exactly. If you estimate numbers and they do not match your actual return, your school may ask you to correct them later, which delays your aid package.

Another common error is listing the wrong school code or misspelling your school's name. If your school does not receive your FAFSA results, they cannot award your Pell Grant. Before you submit, verify that each school code is correct by searching fafsa.gov's school code database.

If you are a dependent student, make sure your parent signs the form. An unsigned FAFSA is incomplete and will not be processed. If you forget to have your parent sign, you can log back in and add their signature within a few days.

Do not miss the June 30 deadline if you want aid for that school year. Some states and schools have earlier deadlines for state aid or school-specific scholarships, so check your school's financial aid website for those dates as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to reapply for a Pell Grant every year?

Yes. You must submit a new FAFSA each year you want to receive a Pell Grant. The form opens October 1 and you can submit it anytime through June 30. Your school will notify you of your aid package for the new school year once they receive your updated FAFSA results.

What if I do not have a Social Security number?

You must have a Social Security number to receive a Pell Grant. If you are not a U.S. citizen but have an Alien Registration Number, you may be able to receive aid under certain circumstances. Contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your specific situation.

Can I apply if I am taking classes part-time?

Yes. Your Pell Grant amount will be smaller if you are enrolled part-time rather than full-time, but you are still may be able to access. Your school determines your enrollment status and calculates your grant based on the number of credits you are taking.

What if my FAFSA is rejected or not processed?

If your FAFSA is rejected, you will receive an email explaining why. Common reasons include a mismatch between your name and Social Security number, or an unsigned form. Log back into fafsa.gov, correct the error, and resubmit. Processing takes another three to five business days.

Can I use an old FAFSA if I did not complete one last year?

No. You must submit a new FAFSA for each school year. You cannot use a form from a previous year, even if you did not attend school that year. If you are returning to school after time away, submit a current FAFSA for the year you plan to enroll.