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05.27.08 | FAFSA Tip: How Drug Convictions Affect Federal Aid Eligibility
For those who don’t know, if you have past drug convictions, for selling or possession while you were receiving Federal aid, then this can affect your aid eligibility. Your eligibility for Federal aid is revoked for a period of time (directly correlated to the type and number of convictions).
I did some research on this, and it appears that as long as you have completed an “acceptable drug rehab program”, you can still receive federal aid. There are no time constraints on this, either. You could be convicted of selling/possessing drugs, enter a rehab program, complete it, and still get federal financial aid right away
An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must include two random drug tests.
The program must also:
- Be qualified to receive funds from federal, state, or local governments
OR
- Be qualified to receive funds from a federal or state licensed insurance company
OR
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court
OR
- Be administered or recognized by a federal or state licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor
I also found that if this drug conviction (for selling or possessing) was 2 or more years ago, then a drug rehab program is NOT required, and you should still be able to get federal aid. If you have more than 1 drug conviction in the past 2 years, then your eligibility is suspended for longer.
If you have more than 1 drug conviction in the past 2 years, you have to wait longer in order to be eligible for Federal aid. (it appears that each drug conviction you have = 1 year of lost eligibility). If you have 3 or more drug convictions in the past, then you are ineligible for Federal aid indefinitely.
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