The Biden Administration announced Tuesday, Oct. 25 permanent changes to public service loan forgiveness, making it easier for some borrowers to get relief.
Those with Public Service Loans can now get credit for partial, late or lump sum payments or payments made under a differing payment plan.
The PSLF program allows those who work for the government or specific nonprofits to get their debt forgiven after 10 years or 120 payments.
However, the path to forgiveness has been plagued with “red tape,” Cardona said. He added that the new changes will reduce the red tape that has muddled the program.
To qualify, however, you must have a direct loan, according to CNBC.
Borrowers, who have either a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) or a Federal Perkins Loan, now have until July 2023 to consolidate loans into direct loans with lenders.
Education Department officials suggest that these borrowers should apply for consolidation by May 1, 2023.
The plan makes permanent some changes the Biden Administration introduced a year ago with an expiration date of Oct. 31.
“I’m incredibly proud that the Biden-Harris team’s temporary changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) helped over 236,000 teachers, nurses, veterans, government employees and other public service workers secure more than $14 billion in debt relief,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “Today, we’re encouraging public service workers to take advantage of the program’s temporary changes before the deadline on October 31.”
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https://www.nj.com/education/2022/10/education-department-eases-public-service-loan-forgiveness-requirements-for-borrowers.html