If you’re a student and are convicted of the possession or sale of illegal drugs at any time while you are receiving financial aid, you will lose your financial aid. This applies to all students who receive federal aid for academic purposes during the academic school year (including holiday breaks) and summer school. You need a Naperville drug offenses attorney to defend you so this doesn’t happen.
According to the United States Department of Education, if a student is convicted of a drug offense after they’ve received federal aid (i.e. Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS loans, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans), the student must immediately notify the Financial Aid department of their academic institution of his or her conviction. Failing to notify your school of the conviction can lead to immediate dismissal from the school. Also, lying about a drug conviction on a FAFSA application is considered a federal crime and can carry up to $10,000 in fines if discovered.
Depending on what type of offense the student is convicted of, he or she will become ineligible for financial aid as follows:
If convicted for the Possession of Illegal Drugs:
1st offense – Ineligible for financial aid one year from the date of conviction
2nd offense – Ineligible for financial aid two years from the date of conviction
3rd or subsequent offense – Indefinite ineligibility for financial aid from the date of conviction
If convicted for the Sale of Illegal Drugs:
1st offense – Ineligible for financial aid two years from the date of conviction
2nd or subsequent offense – Indefinite ineligibility for financial aid from the date of conviction
Three things a convicted student can do to shorten the period of ineligibility:
- Successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program that includes passing two unannounced drug tests, or
- Passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program, or
- Having the conviction reversed, set aside or rendered invalid.
If a student becomes indefinitely ineligible for federal aid due to a conviction for a drug offense, he or she must satisfy one of the above to qualify for federal aid. If the conviction stands and/or the student fails to complete a drug rehabilitation program and two approved unannounced drug tests, the student must wait out the period of ineligibility before reapplying for federal aid.
Website designed by: