Make sure you're eligible for consideration. You are if you're enrolled in college and have not yet received a bachelor's degree. (You'll only get a Pell Grant if you meet the needed criteria; grades don't matter.)
Apply early. The deadline isn't until spring of the year for which you seek funding, but money is only available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Gather key financial documents: tax returns and W2s from the previous tax year (or your parents' forms, if you're their dependent), driver's license, recent bank statements.
Get a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your school counselor's office or your financial aid office. Fill it out and send it in.
Carefully review the Student Aid Report (SAR) that you'll receive in response to your FAFSA. The SAR will tell you if you're eligible for a Pell Grant, and if so, for how much money.
Follow the instructions on the SAR for claiming your Pell Grant money.