How To Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Service

The government designed Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) to reward public servants. If they are eligible, individuals working in select government and nonprofit organizations can apply for loan discharge. Keep in mind that there are several restrictions regarding this initiative.

As always, Chipper is here to help you understand how this solution works. Read on to discover how to apply for student loan forgiveness for public service.

PSLF Qualifications

Before you enroll for PSLF, check out the three criteria for qualification below. You can use the PSLF Help Tool to check your eligibility.

1. Work Full-Time With a Qualifying Employer

The first criterion to qualify for PSLF is to work full-time in public service for at least ten years. What you do and who your employer is play a crucial role in securing this loan relief.

Typically, these employers qualify for PSLF:

Government organizations: federal, state, local, or tribal
Nonprofit organizations under the 501(c)(3) classification
Nonprofit organizations that don’t fall under 501(c)(3) but with a primary purpose to provide public service
The Peace Corps or AmeriCorps

2. Apply for a Qualifying Repayment Plan

To qualify for PSLF, you have to enroll in any of these income-driven repayment plans:

Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Repayment Plan
Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan
Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Repayment Plan
Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan

These plans cover payment terms between 20 – 25 years.

3. Make 120 Qualifying Payments

The last essential criterion to become eligible for PSLF is to make 120 qualifying payments, which should follow these guidelines:

Done after October 1, 2007
Made through one of the four approved income-driven repayment plan options
Accomplished not later than 15 days after the due date
Executed while working full-time for a qualifying employer

Application Process

If you are eligible for PSLF, download the Public Service Loan Forgiveness employment certification form, fill it out, and submit it to FedLoan Servicing. Attach an employment certification for every employer you had while making the payments.

You only need to submit one form for your current employer if you’ve been completing them diligently.

Afterward, submit your documents to this address:

US Department of Education

FedLoan Servicing

PO Box 69184

Harrisburg, PA 17106-9184

FedLoan Servicing will confirm the receipt of your paperwork. While the agency processes your application, you are not required to make loan payments.

Repayment Alternatives

Recent PSLF statistics reveal that the government denied 98% of applicants from November 2020 to April 30, 2021. Its complicated, decade-long requirements can be overwhelming for both the borrowers and the approvers.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t qualify for the plan; there are other available options for you. Below are some alternatives to PSLF:

Stick to an income-driven repayment plan. Remember, unlike PSLF, the forgiven amount for such programs is taxable.
Consider refinancing options. Student loan refinancing can help you move toward financial independence faster.

If you’re still unsure about the best path for you, sign up for a free Chipper account today. We’re here to help you make the smartest student loan decisions.

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Use Chipper for Lower Payments

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Use Chipper for The Best Path to Forgiveness

Finding your path to student loan forgiveness is easier than ever before. Chipper helps members find better Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans every day. Once enrolled in an eligible repayment plan, we can help you explore your forgiveness options and understand your path towards forgiveness. Sign up with Chipper today and get on track with your student loans.

Use Chipper for Round-Ups

Paying off your student loans doesn’t have to be a long and painful journey. Round-Ups are a way to directly pay off your loans with your everyday spending! By tracking your linked spending account(s), we will calculate the rounded up amount from each transaction in a week (IE spending $4.28 would add $0.72 to the weekly amount). We then initiate a payment towards your student loan for the weekly amount. Get chipping away on your student loans with Chipper today.

Use Chipper for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program was created to provide relief to borrowers aiding the public sector. Unfortunately, 30% of applicants are denied due to incorrect paperwork. We can help! Chipper was created to solve this issue by assisting borrowers in understanding their options as well as allowing forgiveness eligible users enroll into the best forgiveness program available. Sign up for Chipper today to see your student loan forgiveness options and get the forgiveness you deserve.

Use Chipper for Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF)

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) program was created to enable teachers working in Title 1 schools to receive student loan forgiveness of up to $17,500 (depending on their teaching subject). Chipper has helped teachers from all over the country qualify for TLF program and can help you get the forgiveness you deserve today. Find out if you qualify for forgiveness in minutes with our employer search tool.