Working Non Profit Student Loan Forgiveness
Working Non Profit Student Loan Forgiveness
For many people, student loan debt can be overwhelming. However, there is a way to pay off your loans early through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This government program was created to provide some relief for those who are struggling with their student loans and also work in a qualifying nonprofit job.
How to Qualify for National Service Loan Forgiveness
You can only be eligible for loan forgiveness if you:
- Have a qualifying federal student loan. The type of loans that qualify for this program are Direct Loans, which are made directly from the U.S. Department of Education to students or parents who use them to pay their educational expenses. These include Stafford, Grad Plus and Parent Plus loans
- Are making 120 monthly payments on your loans while employed full-time by an eligible employer in public service
- Are enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan during the full time employment period and all 120 eligible payments are made under such a plan
- Worked for an organization that provides public services (such as schools, hospitals and fire departments)
What About Other Nonprofit Jobs?
The PSLF program is just one of many student loan forgiveness programs. Other programs may be available to you if you work in certain fields, such as law enforcement or government work. If you’re unsure whether or not your job qualifies for any types of student loan forgiveness, check out this article on qualifying careers for other options.
The PSLF program also isn’t the only way to get student loan forgiveness; if you have high monthly payments and can’t afford them, another program might work better for your situation—for example, income-driven repayment plans lower monthly payments based on your income so that they’re more affordable and manageable.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is designed to encourage students to work in public service jobs. To be eligible for this particular student loan forgiveness program, you’ll need to make 120 monthly payments on an eligible federal or Direct Consolidation Loan during the 10-year period following your graduation date or after Oct. 1, 2007.
Once you’ve made those payments and meet all other requirements of the PSLF program, your remaining balance will be forgiven. If you’re married and file a joint tax return with your spouse while working toward PSLF forgiveness and they also work in public service jobs, both of you are considered “eligible borrowers.”
If your spouse has Direct Loans but not FFEL loans (or vice versa), only one spouse’s payments count toward qualification for PSLF loan forgiveness benefits — but this doesn’t mean that both spouses can’t become eligible for PSLF at some point down the road if their situations change!
The PSLF program can offer debt forgiveness to those who serve the public in nonprofit jobs.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program will forgive the remaining balance on federal student loans for borrowers who are employed full-time in public service jobs.
- Who qualifies for PSLF?
To be eligible for the PSLF program, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- You have to be enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program at an eligible institution (for example, a law school or medical school). If you are not currently enrolled in such a program, but have been previously and had your loans forgiven through that effort, then you may be able to qualify under this provision.
You must work full-time for an employer that is qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes all nonprofits like religious organizations and schools that provide social welfare services like healthcare and education (including graduate degrees). It also includes governments at all levels (federal, state and local), military service members serving in designated combat zones during certain time periods while deployed overseas on active duty orders; Peace Corps volunteers; AmeriCorps VISTA members serving through AmeriCorps VISTA assignments; lawyers working on behalf of low-income clients through pro bono programs; adjunct faculty members employed by nonprofit educational institutions; physicians providing medical care in medically underserved areas through programs such as Health Professions Opportunity Grants Program administered by Health Resources and Services Administration
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program is a great way to reduce student debt. The program offers up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for each year of public service work. These loans include both federal and private loans, so whether you are looking for help with your student loans or just want more information about this option, you can find it here at the Department of Education website.