Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to finding out if you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant.
The Student Aid Report (SAR) tells the school what you are qualified for, how much you will have to contribute to your education, and if you qualify for the Pell Grant.
You must be a U.S. citizen, have not earned a bachelor's degree yet, be a high school graduate or have a General Equivalence Diploma (G.E.D.), and be at or below the poverty level.
To continue receiving the Pell Grant, you must be making satisfactory progress in accordance with your school's standards. This means that if you are put on academic probation, you may be in jeopardy of losing the Pell Grant. It is up to the school to determine what "satisfactory" means.