Children of Fallen Heroes Grant

Beginning with the 2018-2019 award year, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made.

We want to express our sympathy to you and your family regarding the loss of your parent or guardian, and recognize their service to protect others and our community.

General Criteria

To qualify, a student must meet all three of the following criteria:

1. Have a valid FAFSA on file with NAU.
2. Be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) greater than zero. (The EFC is based on the processing results of the FAFSA, which can be obtained through the Student Aid Report.)
3. Be less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death.

Renewal Criteria

In subsequent award years, the student’s eligibility for the maximum Pell Grant for the award year will continue, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student.

Acceptable Documentation

A single national data source of individuals who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety office does not exist.  Therefore, the student must self-identify and demonstrate their eligibility with NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid by uploading any of the following documentation below using to the secure upload link nau.edu/OSFAdoc-upload

• A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice,
• A written letter of attestation of determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as defined below,
• Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted below, or
• Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.

Definition of a Public Safety Office

Defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b):

1. a) an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, or as a chaplain;
   b) an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the agency in an area, if those official duties—
   (i) are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and
   (ii) are determined by the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;
   c) an employee of a state, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an area, if those official duties—
   (i) are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and
   (ii) are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties; or
   (d) a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew who, as authorized or licensed by law and by the applicable agency or entity, is engaging in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services.
2. A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

Instructions

1. Complete the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Form.
2. Upload the form and acceptable documentation to nau.edu/OSFAdoc-upload