There is now a program called Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) that can help borrowers get credit for past payments made on loans. This program helps those who normally would not qualify for the program. Payments that borrowers have made in the past can now count as a qualification for payments, regardless of loan type, repayment plan, or whether payments were made in full (or in a timely manner). People still need to have been working full-time for a qualified employer when payments were made. Borrowers who do not have Direct Loans need to consolidate their loans into the Direct Loan program to be eligible for this waiver.

Learn more about this program.

Several key components of the waiver include:

• Borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment on loans that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF (i.e., Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins loans, and other federal student loans) - as long as the borrower consolidates into a Federal Direct Loan. Before consolidating, one can determine if they work for a qualifying employer using the PSLF Help Tool. The U.S. Department of Transportation is a qualifying employer.
• Past periods of repayment will now count, whether they were made on time, for the full amount due, or are currently on a qualifying repayment plan.
• If people previously applied for PSLF and were denied because of loan type, they are encouraged to please try again. This is a time-sensitive opportunity, so it is important to take action soon.

Visit StudentAid.gov/PSLFWaiver for more information. This opportunity ends October 31, 2022.