Student loan forgiveness programs are popular, but they are also controversial. In the end, it really is a case of doing what’s right for you. If you’re interested in having anything to do with student loan forgiveness, you’ll want to start by understanding what it is and what it doesn’t do. As a way of getting things clear, we’ve gathered some key questions that every person considering student loan forgiveness should ask themselves.
In certain situations, you may be able to have your federal student loan forgiven, canceled or discharged. Learn more about the types of loan forgiveness and whether you qualify based on employment or other circumstances.
Understanding Loan Forgiveness
Forgiveness, cancellation, or discharge of your loan means that you are no longer expected to repay some or your entire loan. Use the links below to find out more.
Differences between forgiveness, cancellation and discharge of loan debt
The terms discharge, cancellation and annulment have almost the same meaning, although they are use differently. If you are no longer require to make payments on your loans for work-relate reasons. This is generally call forgiveness or cancellation. If you are no longer require to make payments on your loans due to other circumstances, such as total and permanent disability or the closing of the school where you receive your loans, this is generally call a discharge.
Types of Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge
The summaries below provide quick reference to the types of forgiveness, discharge, and discharge available for different types of federal student loans.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you work for the government or a nonprofit organization. You may be able to receive loan forgiveness through the PSFL (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) Program.
PSLF pardons the leftover equilibrium on your Direct Loan Program Loans after you have made 120 qualified regularly scheduled installments through a certified reimbursement plan. While working all day for a certified manager.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
If you are a full-time teacher for five consecutive full academic years at a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency. You may be eligible to have up to $17,500 of your Direct Loan debt forgiven. Loan Program or your FFEL Program loans.
Forgiveness for closure of educational institution
If the school you attend closes while you are enroll or shortly after you leave. You may be entitle to have your federal student loan debt discharged.
Cancellation and cancellation of the debt of Perkins Loans
You may be entitle to have all or part of your Federal Perkins Loan debt cancel (based on your employment or volunteer service) or discharge (under certain conditions). This includes the cancellation of the debt of Perkins Loans to teachers.
Total and Permanent Disability Loan Forgiveness
If you are a person with a total or permanent disability. You may be entitle to a discharge of your federal student loans or your TEACH Grant service obligation. .
Death Waiver
Federal student loans will be forgive upon the death of the borrower. The student on whose behalf a PLUS Loan was obtain.
Insolvency discharge (in rare cases)
In some cases, your federal student loan may be forgive if you become insolvent. However, discharge due to insolvency is not an automatic procedure.
Defense of the borrower to the payment of the loan
You may be eligible for forgiveness of your federal student loans based on a borrower’s defense to repayment of the loan. If you borrowed to attend an educational institution and the institution did or did not do something related with your loan or the educational services you intended to pay for with the loan. The specific requirements to qualify for loan discharge for a borrower’s defense to repayment vary depending on when you received the loan.