STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS

Federal Student Aid Do you work or have you worked in public service? Act now! If you work in public service or have worked in public service at some point since October 2007, you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The rules for who's eligible are currently broader than before, so even if you've been denied in the past, you may now be eligible. But these temporary changes expire October 31, 2022, and the process has multiple steps – so start today! You may be eligible if • you work in public service or have worked in public service any time after October 2007 (e.g., at a non-profit organization or federal, state, Tribal, or local government), and • you have federal student loans under either the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or the Perkins Loan Program and consolidate the loans into a Direct Loan. Under the temporary rules, any prior period of repayment will count as a qualifying payment, regardless of loan program, repayment plan, or whether you made the payment in full or on time. The time-limited changes are making a huge difference. In 11 months, public servants across the country – such as teachers, nurses, and firefighters who had FFEL or Perkins program loans – have had over $12 billion in loans forgiven. Step 1: Use PSLF Employer Search to verify your current or past employer's eligibility • You will need the Federal Employment Identification Number (FEIN) found in Box b of your W2 IRS form. You can also confirm the FEIN with your human resources officials. • You will need your start and end dates of employment with each employer you have worked for in public service. • If your employer is "likely ineligible/undetermined," it means we have not yet reviewed the employer's eligibility. But don't worry, you can still apply. As long as you complete the online application using the PSLF Help Tool by October 31, even if we haven't finished reviewing your employer, your application will be considered on time. Step 2: Apply to consolidate your FFEL or Perkins loans into the Direct Loan Program • Submit your consolidation application on StudentAid.gov before midnight Eastern time on October 31. FFEL borrowers who have previously consolidated can consolidate again for purposes of PSLF. • By applying for consolidation by October 31, you will get to keep all your months of payments made prior to the consolidation for purposes of PSLF. After October 31, this will no longer be the case. • The consolidation may take a few months, but you should not wait to apply for PSLF. You should immediately start your PSLF application (step 3). Step 3: Apply for PSLF by October 31 • Submit your application using the PSLF Help Tool. Only through October 31, you do not need to be currently employed in the government or non-profit organization to receive PSLF! • You and any of your public service employers must sign your form to certify your employment. Start this process now to allow time to get the employer signature(s). • We know some employers may take some time to sign the form. As long as you do your part to generate a PSLF application by October 31 through the PSLF Help Tool, you can submit the form with the employer signature(s) after the deadline. • Once you have the appropriate employer signature(s), submit your PSLF form to the PSLF servicer, MOHELA. Send it by upload, mail, or fax. - Upload it to mohela.com/uploadDocument if MOHELA is already your servicer. - Or mail it to U.S. Department of Education, MOHELA, 633 Spirit Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63005-1243. - Or fax it to 866-222-7060. Contact your loan servicer for help. Spread the word with co-workers, friends, and family who work in public service. You can share our blog. Tell them to act before October 31! Richard Cordray Chief Operating Officer Federal Student Aid Sign up for text alerts to stay updated on our grant programs, loan forgiveness programs, repayment plans, and information about your loans. This email was sent by: Office of Federal Student Aid U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20002, US If you wish to contact us, please use the StudentAid.gov contact page. For more information about financial aid, visit StudentAid.gov.