Find out if you qualify for a Pell Grant. Contact the U.S. Department of Education either by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID or by visiting the Department of Education website and inserting your information into the site's FAFSA4Caster tool. For either method, make sure you have information on your most recent earnings available, by having either your most recent tax return, W-2s or 1099s handy.
If your parents claimed you as a dependent on their most recent tax return or if you are under 18 years old, you will also need your parents' most recent tax return, W-2s or 1099s.
Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you used the FAFSA4Caster on the Department of Education website, stay on the website to fill out your FAFSA. You'll need your most recent tax return, W-2s or 1099s, as well as your Social Security number. If your parents claimed you as a dependent on their most recent tax return or if you are under 18 years old, you will also need your parents' most recent tax return, W-2s or 1099s. You can also call the Department of Education and ask for a paper copy to be sent to you.
Check your mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which will be mailed to you from the Department of Education. These documents will inform you whether you are entitled to a Pell Grant, and, if so, how much money you may receive.