Can I recieve a grant to help pay for school although I am aconvicted felon?

Question

I was convicted in 2005 and ended my sentence in prison in March 2007.

Answer 1

If it is for drug conviction then no you can never get federal student aid.  They actually ask that in the application and deny you if you have been convicted for any drug offense.

Answer 2

Yes you can get federal aid to go to school.  The fafsa application asks about convictions, but it only makes a difference if you were in college and recieving finanicial aid at the time.  And even if you were, there are certain things you can do (like complete an acceptiable drug rehab program) to make you eligilbe.  Here is the exact wording of the question and the worksheet they have you go through.

Have you been convicted of the possession or sale of illegal drugs and the offense occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study)?

Count only federal or state convictions for the possession or sale of illegal drugs if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). Do not count convictions that have been removed from your record. Do not count convictions that occurred before you turned 18, unless you were tried as an adult.

If your answer is "Yes", you will be taken to a worksheet that will help you determine your eligibility for federal student aid.

Have all of your federal or state drug-related convictions been removed from your record? Y or N

Did the offense for possessing or selling illegal drugs occur during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans and/or work-study)? Y or N