The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was created in recognition of the many ways public service workers make our communities, and our nation, better.
However, for too long the system was broken, meaning educators who earned cancellation were being rejected from forgiveness.
Over 750,000 educators and public service workers received $53.5 billion in student loan forgiveness through the Limited PSLF Waiver (and counting).
Thanks to the advocacy of educators and due to efforts by the Biden Administration, many of these issues have been fixed. While the Limited Waiver expired on October 31, 2022, PSLF is still here for educators and other public service workers. NEA’s student debt experts have created tools designed to help educators through the PSLF application process. Check them out below!
STORIES OF STUDENT DEBT CANCELLATION
Did you get your student debt cancelled through Public Service Loan Forgiveness? Help us continue to advocate for this program by sharing how PSLF helped you.
Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
PSLF Eligibility
To qualify for PSLF, you must be employed full-time (30 hours or more per week) by a public service employer, which includes all public school districts and public and non-profit higher education institutions. This includes all educators:
- Teachers
- Education Support Professionals
- Specialized Instructional Support Personnel
- Higher Education Faculty, Including Adjunct/Contingent
How to Apply
- Connect with the U.S. Department of Education: Every individual should also go to studentaid.gov and login with your Federal Student Aid ID (or create one if you do not have one) to make sure your contact information is up to date. The Department of Education uses this as their primary method of contact to reach you about the progress of your PSLF application. Your FSA ID provides access to your student debt dashboard, providing a wealth of historical information on your federal student loans and debt forgiveness opportunities.
- If you have a Direct Loan and have NOT applied for PSLF, visit studentaid.gov/PSLF: Access the U.S. Department of Education’s PSLF Help Tool to fill out your PSLF application.
- Submit your Employment Certification Form (ECF): After completing the PSLF Help Tool, you will need to get your employer(s)’s signature on each completed form, and submit the application(s) to MOHELA, the student loan servicer that manages the PSLF program. If you have worked for multiple public service employers since October 2007, you will need to file an application for every single employer. We recommend submitting your ECF/PSLF application annually to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on your progress towards attaining PSLF.
- If you have a FFEL, Perkins, or Parent Plus loan, you must first consolidate into a Direct Loan, then apply for PSLF. You will need to consolidate before April 30, 2024, to take advantage of the Department of Education’s one-time account adjustment, which will credit any payments made on these loans for the purposes of PSLF.
Meet the NEA Student Debt Navigator
Frequently Asked Questions on Public Service Loan Forgiveness
For too long, a handful of policymakers have weakened programs that were designed to help all Americans achieve a higher education, and enabled profiteers, including federal student loan servicers, to make a profit off the backs of students and educators.
Our experts answered some of the most common questions about Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
