Student loan forgiveness programs are initiatives designed to reduce or eliminate the amount of student loan debt that borrowers owe. These programs are typically offered by the federal government, state governments, or certain private organizations, and they usually come with specific eligibility requirements. For more information, please see the Federal Student Aid website: Federal Student Aid
Here’s an overview of some key types of student loan forgiveness programs:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): This program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after the borrower has made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer, such as a government organization or non-profit.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness: This program offers forgiveness of up to $17,500 on Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans for teachers who work full-time for five consecutive years in a low-income school or educational service agency.
- Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness: Under Income-Driven Repayment plans (such as Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)), any remaining loan balance is forgiven after 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments, depending on the specific plan.
- Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge: Borrowers who have Perkins Loans and work in specific public service jobs (such as teaching, law enforcement, or nursing) may have up to 100% of their loan canceled over a period of five years of qualifying service.
Fiducius
Montgomery County ESC has partnered with Fiducius to help you navigate the changing landscape of student loan forgiveness. Please note that there is a charge associated with Fiducius’ services.