Answer the Call, N.Y. Police and Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit FundScholarship ProgramApplication portal
Application Portal

The Answer the Call Scholarship

For the children, spouses and domestic partners of NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Police members who died in the line of duty.

Your answers save as you go, so you can finish at your own pace.

Check that you’re eligibleA few questions, seen only by staff
Gather your documentsYour SAI, proof of enrollment, a transcript
Apply at your own paceOnly the questions that apply to you
Eligibility

Who can apply

The Answer the Call Scholarship Program supports the families of New York City Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department (FDNY), and Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) members who died in the line of duty.

You may apply if you are the child, surviving spouse, or legal domestic partner of a fallen first responder and you are attending, or plan to attend, a college or university, graduate school, or a trade, vocational, or technical school.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • Your FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) or an estimated SAI from the Federal Student Aid Estimator, plus documentation
  • Proof of enrollment, acceptance, or application to your school or program
  • If you are currently in school: your most recent transcript and copies of any test scores you list
  • If you have been accepted to a new school: your acceptance letter and a bill or cost estimate from the school
  • Your expected costs for the Spring 2027 term and any other scholarships or aid
  • If you are under 18: your parent or guardian, who will need to give consent

Accepted file types: PDF, JPG, PNG, or Word (.docx), up to 15 MB each. Photos taken on a phone work too.

New applicants

Start a new application

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Already started?

Continue your application

Use the private link you were given when you started (it was shown on screen and emailed to you). If you’ve lost it, contact us and we can send you a new one.