Chapter	3
Student	Aid	Index	(SAI)	and	Pell	Grant	Eligibility
A	student	may	qualify	for	a	Pell	Grant	in	one	of	three	ways:
Maximum	Pell	Grant	(Max	Pell)
Minimum	Pell	Grant	(Min	Pell)
Calculated	Pell	Grant,	based	on	SAI	(Calculated	Pell	=	Max	Pell	minus	SAI)
The	first	two	paths	to	Pell	Grant	eligibility	are	briefly	discussed	below.	See	Volume	7	of	the	FSA	Handbook	for	additional
information	on	Pell	Grant	eligibility.	Most	of	this	chapter	is	spent	discussing	how	the	SAI	is	calculated.
General	Information
The	FAFSA	Processing	System	(FPS)	uses	data	provided	by	the	applicant	and	contributors	on	the	FAFSA	form	to	determine
Max	or	Min	Pell	Grant	eligibility	and	calculate	the	SAI.
Maximum	Pell	Grant	Eligibility	Criteria
A	student	is	eligible	for	a	Maximum	Pell	Grant	if	any	of	the	following	is	true:
Dependent	Student
The	student9s	parent(s)	is	not	required	to	file	a	federal	income	tax	return;	or
The	student9s	parent	is	a	single	parent	and	has	an	AGI	greater	than	zero	and	less	than	or	equal	to	225%	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	greater	than	zero	and	less	than	or	equal	to	175%	of	the
poverty	guideline	for	the	applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence.
Independent	Student
The	student	(and	spouse,	if	applicable)	is	not	required	to	file	a	federal	income	tax	return;	or
The	student	is	a	single	parent	and	has	an	AGI	greater	than	zero	and	less	than	or	equal	to	225%	of	the	poverty
guideline	for	the	applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence;	or
The	student	is	not	a	single	parent	and	has	an	AGI	greater	than	zero	and	less	than	or	equal	to	175%	of	the	poverty
guideline	for	the	applicant9s	family	size	and	state	of	residence.
SAI	for	Maximum	Pell	Grant	Recipients
A	dependent	student	whose	parents	are	not	required	to	file	a	federal	income	tax	return	OR	an	independent	student	(and
spouse,	if	applicable)	who	is	not	required	to	file	a	federal	income	tax	return	for	the	prior-prior	tax	year	is	assigned	an	SAI
equal	to	-1500.	Other	students	eligible	for	a	Maximum	Pell	Grant	will	be	assigned	an	SAI	equal	to	0	or	a	calculated	SAI,
whichever	is	less.
Minimum	Pell	Grant	Eligibility	Criteria
Maximum	Pell	Grant	Eligibility
HEA	Sec.	401(b)(1)(A)
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