Documentation	of	the	student	qualifying	for	a	state	tuition	or	other	state	benefit	accorded	to	the	surviving	children	or
other	family	members	of	a	public	safety	officer.
Other	documentation	the	school	determines	to	be	from	a	credible	source	that	describes	or	reports	the	circumstances
of	the	death	and	the	eligible	occupation	of	the	parent	or	guardian.
Legacy	IASG	and	CFH	Eligibility
Students	who	were	eligible	for	and	received	Iraq	and	Afghanistan	Service	Grant	(IASG)	funds	or	received	Pell	Grant	funds
based	on	IASG	or	Children	of	Fallen	Heroes	(CFH)	eligibility	criteria	for	the	2023-24	award	year	but	are	not	eligible	for	Pell
Grant	funds	under	the	Special	Rule	beginning	with	the	2024325	award	year	are	eligible	to	receive	Pell	Grant	funds	based
on	prior	IASG	or	CFH	eligibility	criteria.	Students	remain	eligible	if	they	received	at	least	one	disbursement	of	Pell	Grant	or
IASG	funds	based	on	their	IASG	or	CFH	eligibility	during	the	2023-24	award	year	and	continue	to	meet	the	age
requirement	for	the	Special	Rule.	Students	who	receive	a	maximum	Pell	Grant	based	on	legacy	IASG	or	CFH	guidance
continue	to	be	eligible	if	the	student	received	at	least	one	disbursement	of	funds	based	on	the	grandfathered	eligibility	in
each	subsequent	award	year.	If	there	is	a	break	in	disbursement	of	one	award	year,	then	the	student	must	qualify	under
the	Special	Rule	in	HEA	Section	401(c).
Certification	and	Reporting
Schools	report	maximum	Pell	Grant	eligibility	based	on	either	(1)	Special	Rule	criteria	eligibility	or	(2)	legacy	eligibility	due
to	prior	IASG	or	CFH	criteria	to	the	Department	via	the	FAFSA	Partner	Portal	(FPP).	Once	reported,	the	FAFSA	Processing
System	(FPS)	will	generate	a	new	ISIR	transaction	reflecting	the	student9s	eligibility.	This	updated	ISIR	transaction	will
allow	you	to	originate	and	disburse	a	maximum	Pell	Grant	for	eligible	students.	Applicants	who	meet	Special	Rule
eligibility	will	be	reported	as	simply	eligible.	There	will	be	a	separate	value	for	students	who	meet	the	requirements	for
legacy	eligibility.	See	
Volume	4	of	the	2025-26	FAFSA	Specifications	Guide	for	additional	information.
Eligibility	Determination FAFSA
Partner	Portal
Field
Indicator	Value
Eligible	3	Special	Rule	(died	in	the	line	of	duty	while	serving	on	active	duty	as	a
member	of	the	U.S.	Armed	Forces	on	or	after	September	11,	2001)
IASG	Indicator 1	3	Eligible	for
IASG
Eligible	3	Legacy	IASG IASG	Indicator 2	3	Eligible,
grandfathered	for
IASG
Eligible	3	Special	Rule	(died	in	the	line	of	duty	while	actively	serving	as	and
performing	the	duties	of	a	public	safety	officer)
CFH	Indicator 1	3	Eligible	for	CFH
Eligible	3	Legacy	CFH CFH	Indicator 2	3	Eligible,
grandfathered	for
Note:	You	must	work	with	any	student	who	indicates	on	the	FAFSA	form	that	their	parent	or	guardian	was	killed	in
the	line	of	duty	to	document	and,	if	determined	eligible,	certify	eligibility	for	a	maximum	Pell	Grant	under	the
Special	Rule.	This	includes	students	who	may	otherwise	qualify	for	a	Max	Pell	Grant	based	on	SAI	or	other
eligibility	criteria.	Since	eligibility	under	the	Special	Rule	does	not	need	to	be	redetermined	annually,	certifying	a
student	as	eligible	under	the	Special	Rule	allows	the	student	to	continue	receiving	a	maximum	Pell	Grant	award	in
subsequent	award	years,	regardless	of	financial	information.