How to Complete the FAFSA and Submit Your Pell Grant Request

You need to fill out the FAFSA form to request a Pell Grant

The Free process for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the single form that determines whether you can receive a Pell Grant. You do not fill out a separate Pell Grant form. When you complete the FAFSA, you are automatically considered for a Pell Grant based on your financial information — the U.S. Department of Education calculates your may be able to access using the data you provide.

The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year and remains open through June 30 of the following year. However, schools and states often distribute aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting earlier in the window means you are more likely to receive the full amount you are may have access to to. You can submit the FAFSA for the upcoming school year starting in October of the year before you plan to attend.

You will need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to log in and submit the form. This is a username and password combination that you create at StudentAid.gov. If you are a dependent student, your parent or guardian will also need their own FSA ID to sign the form electronically.

Key Takeaways

The FAFSA is the only form you submit to request a Pell Grant; there is no separate process.
You will need an FSA ID for yourself and, if you are a dependent student, one for your parent or guardian.
The FAFSA opens October 1 each year and you should submit it as early as possible to maximize your aid.
You must provide tax information, income details, and information about your assets to complete the form.
After you submit the FAFSA, your school's financial aid office will send you a financial aid package showing your Pell Grant amount.

Creating your FSA ID before you start

Before you open the FAFSA, create an FSA ID at StudentAid.gov. This takes about 10 minutes. You will need a valid email address and a Social Security number. StudentAid.gov will ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions or by uploading a photo of your driver's license or state ID.

If you are a dependent student (meaning your parents claim you on their tax return), your parent or guardian must also create their own FSA ID. They cannot use your ID to sign the form. Each person needs their own account. Write down both FSA IDs and keep them in a safe place — you may need them later if you have questions about your aid or need to make changes.

If you do not have a Social Security number, you may still be able to submit the FAFSA, but you will need to contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your options. Non-citizens and undocumented students have different pathways depending on their state and school.

Gathering your documents and information

The FAFSA asks for financial information from the previous tax year. For the 2024–2025 school year, you will report 2023 tax information. Gather your tax return (Form 1040) and your parents' tax return if you are a dependent student. You will also need W-2 forms if you worked during that year.

Have the following information ready before you start: your date of birth, driver's license or state ID number, Social Security number, and alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen. If you have a savings account, checking account, or investments, you will need to know the current balance in those accounts. You do not need exact figures — estimates are acceptable.

If your parents are divorced or separated, you will report information for the parent you live with most of the time, even if the other parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you are an independent student (you do not live with your parents and they do not claim you on their taxes), you will report only your own financial information.

Completing and submitting the FAFSA online

Go to StudentAid.gov and log in with your FSA ID. Click "Start a New FAFSA" and select the school year you are explore for. The form has multiple sections: student demographics, school selection, financial information, and consent to share your information with schools.

Fill in your personal information first: name, date of birth, address, and contact details. Then you will enter your school information. You can search for your school by name or by its six-digit Federal School Code. If you have not decided on a school yet, you can add schools later or leave this section blank and submit the form — you can update it anytime before June 30.

In the financial information section, you will answer questions about your income, assets, and household size. The form pulls some information directly from the IRS if you authorize it to do so — this is called the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you use it, the IRS sends your tax information directly to the FAFSA, which reduces errors and speeds up processing. If you cannot use the tool, you will type in your tax information manually.

At the end, you and your parent (if you are a dependent) will sign the form electronically using your FSA IDs. Do not submit the form without both signatures if you are a dependent student — it will be rejected and you will have to resubmit it.

What happens after you submit

The Department of Education processes your FAFSA and generates a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report shows the information you entered and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — the amount the government estimates your family can pay toward education costs. You will receive an email when your SAR is ready, usually within three to five business days.

Your school's financial aid office receives your FAFSA information and uses it to calculate your financial aid package. This package shows how much Pell Grant money you will receive, plus any loans, work-study, or other aid you may be offered. The school will send you this package by mail or email, or you can log into the school's financial aid portal to view it.

If the school needs more information from you — for example, if your family circumstances changed or if the FAFSA flagged something for review — the financial aid office will contact you. This process is called verification. Respond to any requests from your school promptly, because your aid will not be released until verification is complete.

Making changes to your FAFSA after submission

You can log back into StudentAid.gov anytime before June 30 to update your FAFSA. Common reasons to make changes include: you got married, your family's income changed, you decided on a school, or you made a mistake on the original form. When you update your information, the Department of Education reprocesses your form and sends you a new SAR.

If you add a school after you submit, that school will receive your FAFSA information automatically. If you remove a school, it will no longer see your information. Schools can see your FAFSA only if you list them on the form.

If you submitted the FAFSA for the wrong school year by accident, you can create a new FAFSA for the correct year. Do not try to change the school year on an existing form — submit a new one instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit the FAFSA on paper instead of online?

The Department of Education no longer accepts paper FAFSA forms. You must submit online at StudentAid.gov. If you do not have internet access, you can use a computer at your school, public library, or a community center. If you need help completing the form, contact your school's financial aid office — staff there can walk you through it.

What if I do not know my parents' Social Security number?

You will need your parents' Social Security numbers to complete the FAFSA if you are a dependent student. Ask your parents directly. If they do not have a Social Security number, contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your options — there may be an alternative process.

Do I have to list my school on the FAFSA before I submit it?

No. You can submit the FAFSA without listing any schools, and you can add schools later. However, schools will not receive your information until you add them to the form. If you know which schools you are explore to, add them when you submit so the schools can begin processing your aid right away.

What if my parents refuse to fill out the FAFSA?

If you are a dependent student and your parents refuse to complete the FAFSA, you cannot receive a Pell Grant. However, you may be able to declare yourself independent through a process called a dependency override. Contact your school's financial aid office to ask whether you meet the criteria and how to request one.

How long does it take to hear back about my Pell Grant?

The Department of Education processes your FAFSA within three to five business days. Your school then takes an additional one to two weeks to calculate your aid package and send it to you. The entire process from submission to receiving your aid package typically takes two to four weeks, though it can be faster if you submit early in the FAFSA season.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.