Heroes - Parent Killed in the Line of Duty

If your parent or guardian died in the line of duty while (a) serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer, then you may be eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year based on full time enrollment 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.

To Qualify, a student must meet the following criteria:

Have a valid FAFSA on file with Ferris State University indicating that your parent or guardian was killed in line of duty and all requested documents listed under Ferris360 Financial Aid - Missing Requirements have been submitted.
Be the child of a parent or guardian who 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; OR
- Actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer
Be less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which you are applying (e.g., for 2024-2025, you must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible).

Renewal criteria:

You must submit the FAFSA each year that you are enrolled and answer Yes to the FAFSA question Parent Killed in Line of Duty, continue to meet the general eligibility criteria, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Please be aware that the federal government has established a lifetime limit of no more than 12 Full-time semesters (or its equivalent) for eligible students.

Acceptable documentation

The Department of Defense is unable to provide confirmation that a service member was killed in the line of duty and there is no comprehensive national data source of individuals who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer; therefore, students must self-identify by indicating Yes to the Parent Killed in Line of Duty question on the FAFSA and provide supporting documentation to FSU Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid to confirm eligibility. Students must upload a death certificate and at least one supporting document attesting the parent or guardian's date and cause of death occurred in the line of duty while serving as an active duty service member or public safety officer.

Acceptable document for an active duty service member:

A death certificate AND one of the following:
- Service member’s DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) which documents death in the line of duty.
- A signed and dated letter from a military commanding officer attesting the date and cause of death in the line of duty.
- Service member’s DD Form 214 documenting that the date and cause of death occurred during and as a result of active duty.
- Department of Veterans Affairs Death Narrative Document.

Acceptable document for a public safety officer:

A death certificate AND one of the following:
- A signed and dated letter from the public safety entity attesting the date and cause of death occurred in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer.
- 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 or 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.
- 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 active duty service member

Defined in 38 USC 101, the term "active duty" means

Full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training;
Full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as a commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps ¹ of the Public Health Service (i) on or after July 29, 1945, or (ii) before that date under circumstances affording entitlement to "full military benefits" or (iii) at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title;
Full-time duty as a commissioned officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic Survey (i) on or after July 29, 1945, or (ii) before that date (I) while on transfer to one of the Armed Forces, or (II) while, in time of war or national emergency declared by the President, assigned to duty on a project for one of the Armed Forces in an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate military hazard, or (III) in the Philippine Islands on December 7, 1941, and continuously in such islands thereafter, or (iii) at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title;
Service as a cadet at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy; and
Authorized travel to or from such duty or service.

Definition of a public safety officer

Defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b)
1. 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;
2. an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the agency in an area, if those official duties—
  1. 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
  2. are determined by the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;
3. 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—
  1. 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
  2. are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties; or
4. 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.
A fire or 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

Use our Secure Document Upload option to submit your documentation as outlined above.