Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Prevent Felons From Receiving Grants?

December 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: FCRA, Pell Grant Income Requirements, Single Parent School Grants, Trade School Grants 
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We were recently asked this question by a convicted felon who was concerned about his ability to secure a grant for school.  The answer to this question, about education grants for felons, will vary depending on who or what company is awarding the grant for education.

If you have a felony conviction, and if you desire to return to school, there are some limitations to securing financial aid for school.  For example, felons who have a drug conviction typically do not qualify for federal grants however they can often qualify for private grants.  In many cases, private grants awarded are not based on anything other than your financial need and, perhaps, your grade point average from any prior schooling you may have.  If, however, the company requires a background check of some type, it will often be a consumer fair credit report that is regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, FCRA.

Federal law, under the FCRA, limits what a reporting agency can give to any organization, including grant awarding companies and to employers.  In most situations, the information reported is limited to going back no further than seven (7) years.  But states, in many cases, have modified this law to apply certain limitations.  For example, in New York, the limitation on using the Fair Credit Reporting Act, FCRA. is only applicable for 7 years and only if you are looking for a job, or award, that is more than $25,000 annually.  If your grant is less than that, the grant awarding company can’t use this information.

So, when applying for grants, if you come across some that require a background check, do not fret.  In many cases, these are done by outside agencies and if your felony is more than 7 years old, you should have very little to worry about.  Never let your felony hold you back from getting an education.   Consider all options for financial aid – both private and public scholarships, grants, and even loans.

Technorati Tags: Education Grants for Felons, Fair Credit Reporting Act, FCRA

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School Grants and Scholarships on www.FastWeb.com

November 15, 2011 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Grants for Felons, Pell Grant Income Requirements, Trade School Grants 
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Are you looking for school grants or scholarships?  The type that you can obtain without regard to your background or prior jobs for felons you may have had?

If you have a felony conviction, there is no doubt you understand the distress that can be caused by the inability to find work that pays enough to feed your family.  If  you’ve struggled to find jobs and to start a new career, then you’ll want to consider going back to school and pursuing a degree as a college education will often help you find a job despite your felony background.  But, how will you pay for school?  For many convicted felons, the use of college grants and scholarships are quite common and, while you can obtain grants through Pell grant and trade school grants options, it is important to also consider the public and private grants and scholarships thru other resources.   So, if you are looking for financial aid for felons, then be sure to head over to www.fastweb.com and create a free profile.  Once there, you can browse through funding opportunities and receive regular email alerts when new opportunities are available that fit your profile criteria.  Remember, no matter what your background may possess, it is always your future that holds the greatest opportunities.  So, get your education and pursue your dreams in a new career.

Technorati Tags: Grants for Felons, Scholarships for Felons, School Grants for Felons

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