Student loan | Student Loan Forgiveness (and Other Ways the Government Can ...

Student loan | <b>Student Loan</b> Forgiveness (and Other Ways the Government Can <b>...</b>

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<b>Student Loan</b> Forgiveness (and Other Ways the Government Can <b>...</b> Posted: 08 Oct 2014 05:00 AM PDT Have you heard or read about student loan forgiveness? Are you wondering what it is or if it is really possible? Perhaps you already know a little about it and you want to find out if you qualify. Well, you've come to the right place. We'll provide answers these questions and tell you where you can go to learn more. What is loan forgiveness? Loan forgiveness is the cancellation of all or some portion of your federal student loan balance. Yes, that's right—cancellation of your loan balance. If your loan is forgiven, you are no longer required to repay that loan. Is it really possible to have your student loans forgiven? Yes. However, there are very specific eligibility requirements for each situation in which you can apply for loan forgiveness. If you think you may qualify, it's definitely worth investigating. How do I get my loans forgiven? There are a number of situations under which you can have your federal student loan balance forgiven, and we've provided a few in this post. You will, however, want to research your options at StudentAid.gov/repay and contact your loan servicer for any questions you may have about student loan forgiveness. A couple examples of situations in which your federal student loans may be forgiven include: Teacher Loan Forgiveness: If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on certain federal student loans. For details about this program, see Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): If you work full-time in certain public service jobs you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance of your Direct Loans after you've made 120 qualifying payments on those loans—that's usually about 10 years of payments. Serving in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps is considered qualifying employment. To benefit from PSLF, you should enroll in a repayment plan that bases your monthly payment on your income. Learn more about income driven repayment plans. For loan repayment and borrower eligibility requirements, see Public Service Loan Forgiveness. There are additional situations that allow you to apply for cancellation of your federal student loans. For example, if you are totally and permanently disabled, a member of the U.S. armed forces (serving in area of hostilities), a member of the Peace Corps, or a law enforcement or corrections officer, you may be eligible for cancellation of a portion of your federal student loan. Learn more about how you may qualify for loan forgiveness and contact your loan servicer with questions. Are there other ways in which I can get help repaying my loans? There are additional government programs that provide student loan repayment assistance for individuals who provide certain types of service. A couple examples include: Military Service: In acknowledgement of your service to our country, there are special benefits and repayment options for your student loans available from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Defense. Learn about federal student loan benefits for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. AmeriCorps: The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is a post-service benefit received by participants who complete a term of national service in an approved AmeriCorps program—AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, or AmeriCorps State and National. An AmeriCorps member serving in a full-time term of national service is required to complete the service within 12 months. Upon successful completion of the service, members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award which can be used to pay educational costs at eligible postsecondary institutions, as well as to repay qualified student loans.  Remember, there are resources available to help you repay your loans. In addition to loan forgiveness and other benefit programs, you also have other options (including repayment plans that are based on your income) if you find yourself in a situation where you're having trouble making your loan payments. Be sure to discuss your options with your loan servicer. Lisa Rhodes is a writer at the Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid.

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