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A State Grant for POW and MIA Children — Parental Income Ignored

PHEAA makes a need-based undergraduate grant to the child of a servicemember who served on active duty after 31 JANUARY 1955 and is or was a prisoner of war or listed as missing in action. The provision that changes who gets it: NEED IS DETERMINED WITHOUT REGARD TO PARENTAL INCOME under 22 Pa. Code §121.116. A grant that is need-based but ignores what the parents earn reaches families who are refused everywhere else. The servicemember must have been a Pennsylvania domiciliary for 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE active-duty service.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

PHEAA makes a need-based undergraduate grant to the child of a servicemember who served on active duty after 31 JANUARY 1955 and is or was a prisoner of war or listed as missing in action. The provision that changes who gets it: NEED IS DETERMINED WITHOUT REGARD TO PARENTAL INCOME under 22 Pa. Code §121.116. A grant that is need-based but ignores what the parents earn reaches families who are refused everywhere else. The servicemember must have been a Pennsylvania domiciliary for 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE active-duty service.

What it's worth: A need-based undergraduate grant, assessed without parental income

  • NEED IS DETERMINED WITHOUT REGARD TO PARENTAL INCOME under 22 Pa. Code §121.116.
  • The parent must have served on active duty AFTER 31 JANUARY 1955 and be, or have been, a POW or listed MIA.
  • The servicemember must have been a PENNSYLVANIA DOMICILIARY FOR AT LEAST 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING active-duty service.
  • CHILDREN OF DESERTERS, DEFECTORS OR DISHONORABLE DISCHARGES ARE EXCLUDED.
  • It is an UNDERGRADUATE grant.
  • THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS NOT ESTABLISHED from the sources reviewed.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are a servicemember's child.
  • The parent was a prisoner of war or listed as missing.
  • You are enrolled or applying.
  • Pennsylvania administers the grant.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: By PHEAA's annual state grant deadline
  1. 1Apply through PHEAA and say expressly that you are applying under the POW/MIA provision at 22 Pa. Code §121.116.
  2. 2Do not be deterred by parental income — it is disregarded for this grant.
  3. 3Have evidence of the POW or MIA status and of the parent's Pennsylvania domicile in the 12 months before service.
  4. 4Ask PHEAA what the current maximum is; it is not published in what we reviewed.
  5. 5File the ordinary state grant application as well, in case both routes are open to you.
Form
Application through PHEAA
File with
PHEAA
Annual
Claimed once a year.
Worth knowingA need-based grant that ignores parental income is unusual. A family that has been refused ordinary state aid on income grounds should still apply here.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.