Pell grant receipt is widely used in higher education as a marker of financial need and as a criterion for supports such as S-STEM scholarships. Yet it is unclear whether Pell status adequately captures the severe financial challenges many community college STEM students face. Using data from 16,961 students at 89 community colleges across 16 states, we examine the extent to which Pell receipt aligns with basic needs insecurity (BNI) related to food and housing, and whether each indicator relates to factors relevant to student persistence. This brief assesses the limitations of relying on Pell status alone and highlights the importance of broader approaches to identifying student need.