JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

PFC Eligibility

{ISAC Rules, Sections 2731.20 and 2732.20}

To be eligible for the Grant Programs for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers or for Dependents of Correctional Officers, a student must be either:

  • the natural born or legally adopted child or any child in the legal custody of the Illinois police, fire or correctional officer who was killed or disabled in the line of duty (while children of disabled Illinois police, fire or correctional officers need not have been born, legally adopted or in the legal custody of the officer before the disability occurred, they must have been so at the time the officer was killed in order to receive this grant), or
  • the spouse of an Illinois correctional officer or police or fire officer at the time of death or disability. Common law partners are not eligible.

A student:

  • must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (FSA Handbook, Volume 1 Chapter 2);
  • must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis at an institution that is approved for participation in the Monetary Award Program (MAP)
  • must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate;
  • must not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant;
  • need not be a resident of Illinois at the time of enrollment; and
  • does not have to demonstrate financial need to receive the grant.

An applicant is ineligible if he or she is:

  • either a spouse who remarries after an Illinois police, fire or correctional officer is killed in the line of duty, or is a spouse who divorces a permanently disabled Illinois police, fire or correctional officer; or
  • a stepchild who is not in the legal custody or legally adopted by the Illinois police, fire, or correctional officer.