A	student	who	does	not	qualify	for	a	Maximum	Pell	Grant	or	for	a	calculated	Pell	Grant	because	the	SAI	is	too	high	can	still
be	eligible	for	a	Minimum	Pell	Grant	if	any	of	the	following	is	true:
Dependent	Student
The	student9s	parent	is	a	single	parent	and	has	an	AGI	less	than	or	equal	to	325%	of	the	poverty	guideline	for	the
applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence;	or
The	student9s	parent	is	not	a	single	parent	and	has	an	AGI	less	than	or	equal	to	275%	of	the	poverty	guideline	for	the
applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence.
Independent	Student
The	student	is	a	single	parent,	and	the	AGI	is	less	than	or	equal	to	400%	of	the	poverty	line;	or
The	student	is	a	parent	and	is	not	a	single	parent,	and	the	AGI	is	less	than	or	equal	to	350%	of	the	poverty	guideline
for	the	applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence;	or
The	student	is	not	a	parent,	and	the	student9s	(and	spouse9s	if	applicable)	AGI	is	less	than	or	equal	to	275%	of	the
poverty	guideline	for	the	applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence.
SAI	for	Minimum	Pell	Grant	Recipients
Students	eligible	for	a	Minimum	Pell	Grant	under	this	guidance	retain	their	calculated	SAI.
Student	Aid	Index	(SAI)	Formulas
The	SAI	formulas	use	income,	assets,	and	the	number	of	persons	in	the	family	size	for	the	award	year.
The	law	gives	three	SAI	formulas:
1.	Formula	A	3	Dependent	students,
2.	Formula	B	3	Independent	students	without	dependents	other	than	a	spouse,	and
3.	Formula	C	3	Independent	students	with	dependents	other	than	a	spouse
Tables	used	in	the	computation	of	the	SAI	are	updated	annually	and	published	on	the	Knowledge	Center	in	a	Federal
Register.	The	Department9s	2025-26	Student	Aid	Index	(SAI)	and	Pell	Grant	Eligibility	Guide	is	also	updated	annually	and
available	at	fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center	in	the	Library	section	under	Resource	Type	>	Handbooks,	Manuals,	or
Guides.
The	FAFSA	Simplification	Act	eliminated	the	simplified	needs	test	and	automatic	zero	provisions.	However,	some
applicants	will	be	exempt	from	reporting	assets	and/or	will	have	assets	excluded	from	consideration	in	the	SAI	formula.
Minimum	Pell	Grant	Eligibility
HEA	Sec.	401(b)(1)(C)
SAI	Formulas
HEA	Sec.	474-479
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