Children of Fallen Heroes
Source: https://fas.ucsd.edu/types/other-funding-sources/children-of-fallen-heroes.html Parent: https://fas.ucsd.edu/types/other-funding-sources/index.html
NEW 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR
Effective with the 2024-25 award year, as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the Special Rule for Pell Grants replaces the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) and the Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) Scholarship with new or modified eligibility criteria for a student who is less than 33 years old as of the first of January of the FAFSA award year and who indicate on the FAFSA that their parent or guardian died in the line of duty while:
- Serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001 (i.e., IASG); or
- Actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer (i.e., CFH).
If you answered yes to the FAFSA question the Financial Aid and Scholarships office will request documentation in the Financial Aid Tool. Once eligibility is confirmed, eligible students will receive a maximum Pell Grant regardless of their Student Aid Index (adjusted for enrollment intensity).
2023-24 AND PRIOR
Starting with the 2018-2019 award year, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year in which the determination of eligibility is made.
Eligibility requirements:
You may be eligible to receive the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship if:
- You meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and
- Your parent or guardian passed away the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer.*
- You were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.
How do I apply?
- Annually file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) AND
- Submit the form to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office AND
- For the first year provide the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office supporting documentation confirming scholarship eligibility. Documentation may include:
- A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice;
- A written letter of determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who passed away in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer*
- Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or
- Other third-party documentation that describes or reports the occupation and circumstances of the passing of the parent or guardian.
Once awarded you will be sent an email to review the financial aid awards on your TritonLink.
Students continues to be eligible for the scholarship in subsequent award years, as long as the annual FAFSA determines a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and you remain an eligible student.
How much money can I receive?
The grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year. For the current annual Pell Grant amount please visit studentaid.gov.
Please note: eligible students enrolled in less than 12 units will receive a reduced amount of the Pell Grant for the term:
- 6-8 units = 50%
- 9-11 units = 75%
- 12+ units = 100%
* For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:
- As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b); or
- A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.