Students working certain careers may qualify for student loan forgiveness programs to ease financial strain. Public service employees such as federal, state, tribal and local government employees as well as employees at 501(c)(3) non-profits could qualify for public service loan forgiveness.
To achieve PSLF, borrowers must make 120 qualifying monthly payments through an income-driven repayment plan while working for an eligible employer. Here are five tips to help navigate the PSLF program:
Firefighters
Firefighters are highly-regarded professionals. However, like all professions there can be both pros and cons to being a firefighter; for some this career path might prove too risky or their interests could change over time; in such instances the PSLF program may provide invaluable help in remaining within this profession and making positive contributions to society.
Not only are firefighters called upon to respond to active fire calls, they can also be asked to assist with medical distress calls, car accidents or incidents involving hazardous materials. Firefighters spend much time training so they are prepared for all eventualities so as to provide their communities with superior levels of service.
Once they’ve earned a degree in fire science, firefighters can advance through their local department by becoming engineers, lieutenants, captains and eventually battalion chiefs. Most departments require at least a bachelor’s degree for promotion into such positions (usually one that pertains to fire science or public administration) but firefighters may also pursue careers as fire inspectors or investigators after accruing experience.
No matter the demands of their work, many firefighters find great fulfillment and satisfaction from helping those in need. They relish in the feeling of accomplishment when rescuing individuals from dangerous situations and saving lives; for which they receive great respect in their communities – many seeing firefighting as the career they were born to do.
Unfortunately, not everyone who wishes to become a firefighter can actually become one due to various circumstances. But those who cannot or prefer not running into burning buildings can still contribute their communities by working in non-operational roles like fire prevention, fleet services and training – positions found across fire departments of all sizes that offer opportunities for participation and involvement with lifesaving efforts of local fire departments.
Teachers
There are various programs designed to assist teachers with getting rid of debt, depending on their type and the nature of their loans. One is Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), which forgives student loans after 10 years working in public interest jobs such as teaching. Another program, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, forgives up to $17,500 of federal Perkins Loans at low-income schools or certain subjects taught, while private school teachers may qualify if employed by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
Tayne advises teachers that in order to qualify, they must make 120 qualifying payments on an income-driven repayment plan before their loans will be forgiven. He notes that it is wise to cost out each option based on their specific situation, with PSLF often being more beneficial due to being completed faster (usually around 10 years).
An alternative approach is to investigate state-level programs like those provided by the American Federation of Teachers. They have an online database you can search to locate local or state-specific programs. However, keep in mind that consolidating Federal Direct Loans to qualify for PSLF will void your eligibility for Perkins Loan cancellation.
If you have multiple kinds of loans, it may be possible to combine them for an effective debt relief strategy. According to Tayne, employers eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs and you meeting eligibility requirements could qualify. You could speak with your school financial aid counselor and/or the financial aid office for more information regarding such programs for teachers. Alternatively, professional financial planners offer complimentary consultations that provide expert advice on how to reduce student debt quickly and affordably.
Doctors
Medical school graduates typically incur hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt upon graduating, which they may be eligible to have forgiven through loan forgiveness programs. One such program, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), cancels any remaining balance on federal student loans after working in certain government or nonprofit jobs for 10 years with 120 payments made via income-driven repayment plans made after October 1, 2008. It only applies to Direct Loans issued after this date and only those made after October 1. 2008.
As another means of qualifying for loan forgiveness, serving two years in either the military or law enforcement agencies can qualify you. There are even state-specific loan forgiveness programs designed to reward doctors – in North Dakota registered pharmacists can receive up to $50,000 per year as payment toward their loans if they agree to provide treatment in underserved areas – so if you’re working as a healthcare professional in a low-income community check to see if you qualify.
Other medical specialties may also qualify for loan forgiveness programs; to find out, check if the hospital or clinic where you work has such programs available to them. For instance, the National Institute of Health offers up to $35,000 annually as loan resistance for health professionals conducting research with minority and disadvantaged populations.
These programs do have some drawbacks; one being they constitute public assistance and making you dependent upon it to pay for your education. Furthermore, many have income restrictions and service commitment requirements, with any cancelled or forgiven debt needing to be reported on taxes as income taxable income.
Medical students and attending physicians might be tempted to accelerate loan repayment by making early payments, but it’s important to remember that every dollar spent on student loans reduces your eligibility for PSLF or other loan forgiveness programs. On a positive note, though, the Biden administration recently implemented a one-year waiver to PSLF; so it might be worthwhile checking if this new change might benefit you.
Lawyers
Attorneys have the flexibility to specialize in various fields, ranging from criminal defense and corporate law to civil legal aid and debt assistance. Though having significant student loan debt might make choosing public service jobs more challenging, loan forgiveness options exist such as PSLF as well as state/local programs for which attorneys might qualify.
The PSLF program provides loan forgiveness to attorneys working at qualifying government and nonprofit organizations. To be eligible, you must fulfill 10 years of employment under an income-driven repayment plan which caps monthly bills at a percentage of your income. With recent changes made easier for borrowers to qualify, be sure to keep checking back with both your employer and/or Department of Education regularly in order to increase the chance of loan forgiveness.
If you’re considering entering the legal profession, it is worthwhile to crunch some numbers to ascertain whether Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is right for you. In some instances, other strategies could make repayment more manageable such as student loan refinancing.
PSLF can be an effective means of overcoming financial obstacles that prevent some aspiring lawyers from exploring lower-paying public service careers. But PSLF shouldn’t be your sole strategy to attack debt; be sure to consider other means, such as taking advantage of an income-driven repayment plan.
If you’re trying to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), it’s crucial to work with an expert loan forgiveness team like Savi’s team of loan forgiveness experts, which offers employment certification services and electronic filing for just $60 annually. Plus they boast a 98% success rate when it comes to timely submission of PSLF paperwork!