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The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Updated | Julie Provost
iraq and afghanistan service grant

What to know about the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Receiving a Federal Pell Grant for your education can be an excellent way to help lower your college costs, however, not everyone qualifies for this type of financial aid. This is where the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant can help. This is a Title IV grant for dependents of service members who died in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11. Here is what you need to know.

Who is eligible for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

According to StudentAid.gov, applicants may qualify for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if they are ineligible for a Pell Grant due to the amount of expected family contributions toward education but meet the following requirements:

  • The applicant meets all other Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements;

  • The student’s parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11; and

  • The applicant was under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death.

Pell Grant Eligibility – Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students with financial need and have not earned a degree. Read more about the Pell Grant at Pell Grant: Everything You Need to Know on College Recon.

How do you apply for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

In order to apply for this grant, submit a FAFSA form every year you are in school. Your school, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, will determine your eligibility for the grant.

How much is the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

The amount of the grant is equal to the amount of a max Federal Pell Grant for the award year, but StudentAid.gov says it also can’t exceed the cost of attendance for the year.

How do you receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

Payment is delivered the same way as the Pell Grant. The exact payment date depends on your school.

When can you no longer get the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

Once you earn a baccalaureate degree or your first professional degree or if you have used up all 12 semesters of eligibility, you can no longer receive the grant.

You can read more about this grant on the Federal Student Aid website.

 

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About the author

Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.

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