Eligibility
T/F: Under the new PSLF limited waiver opportunity FFELP and Perkins loans are now eligible for PSLF.
False: In order to be eligible for forgiveness, borrowers with FFELP and Perkins loans would need to consolidate in order to be eligible for PSLF.
By what date must I consolidate my loans in order to be eligible for the limited waiver?
FFELP and Perkins loans must consolidate by 10/31/2022 in order to receive credit under the limited PSLF waiver.
Where can I find more information regarding the new PSLF limited waiver?
more information about the limited waiver can be found at Studentaid.gov/pslfwaiver and on the ED Fact sheet.
I was previously denied for PSLF because I was not on a qualifying repayment plan. Will my application be reviewed again?
If you were previously denied for PSLF due to not making payments under a qualifying repayment plan, you should reapply. Under the new limited waiver that began on 10/6/2021 and will continue through 10/31/2022, payments that did not previously count towards PSLF forgiveness, may be eligible, as long as you were working for a qualifying employer when the payments were made.
I would like to apply for the PSLF limited waiver. How can I do this?
Borrowers may visit StudentAid.gov/pslfwaiver and apply by logging in using their FSA ID or we can send a blank application to the borrower by mail, e-mail or fax.
What changes have been made to PSLF under the new PSLF limited waiver?
Under new rules, any payment made will qualify as a qualifying payment regardless of loan type, repayment plan, or whether the payment was made in full or on time. *Parent plus loans in the Direct/FFEL loan program may still need to consolidate if they have not made 120 qualifying payments.
I have a parent plus loan, and have been under an extended graduated plan for over 10 years while working at a qualifying employer. Am I eligible for the PSLF limited waiver?
You may be eligible if you have made 120 qualifying payments while working at least 30 hours a week or more for a qualifying employer.
How soon can I expect to see the benefits of this announcement on my account?
The department of education is working with the PSLF Servicer to review and update borrower accounts. Please note that it may take a few months to complete processing for this change and for updates to reflect an increased number of PSLF payment counts.
I am working for a government agency, but have not made 120 qualify payments. Would my loans be forgiven under the new limited PSLF waiver?
No, your loans would not be forgiven immediately under the new limited PSLF waiver because you would still need to make 120 qualifying payments while working at a qualifying place of employment. The waiver may provide credit for payments not previously eligible due to previously ineligible repayment plans.
Can I upload my PSLF application to MOHELA.com?
No. we should direct borrowers to return application to Fedloan Servicing since they are working with FSA to determine eligibility and track payments.
Can a borrower working full time for more than one qualifying employer be eligible for PSLF under the new limited waiver?
Yes. A borrower may work for more than one qualifying employer, but must work a combined average of 30 hours a week or more.
What steps do I need to take to consolidate my loans?
1) Verify loan types with Aid Summary. 2) Verify eligible employement with the PSLF help tool using your FSA ID: hhtps://studentaid.gov/pslf/. 3) If employer is eligible, check out the consolidation page on StudentAid.gov (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/consolidation). 4) If borrower wishes to consolidate, apply for consolidation via the link https//studentaid.gov/app/launchConsolidation .action 5) Submit PSLF form by October 31, 2022 through
I'm not certain if my employer is qualifying for PSLF. How can I find out if my employer is eligible?
You can verify employer eligibility through the PSLF Help Tool by logging in with your FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/PSLF/. In the employment history section, you can check your employer's eligibility.
Would a borrower have to submit more than one application if they are currently working for more than one PSLF qualifying employer or have worked for more than one PSLF qualifying employer over the past few years?
Yes. The borrower would need to complete an application for each employer to determine eligibility and track potentially qualifying payments.
I previously received PSLF forgiveness. I want to know if I am eligible to receive a refund for payments made that were not previously eligible for PSLF, but that are now eligible due to the limited waiver.
No. Borrower that have previously received PSLF forgiveness before the limited waiver would not be eligible for credit/refund of payments that did not qualify prior to the PSLF limited waiver beginning on 10/6/2021.
What is the earliest date payments must have been made to be considered qualifying payments for PSLF?
Only payments made after October 1, 2007 would be reviewed for eligibility since this is when the PSLF program began.
I have a Parent Plus loan, but and recently became employed for a not for profit agency. Am I eligible for the limited waiver?
In order for Parent Plus loans to be eligible you would want to consider consolidation. By consolidating your loans you would be eligible for an ICR plan based on income and household size. Please note, after consolidation, payments made under payment plans that are not under the ICR plan may be considered qualifying payments through 10/31/2022.
I understand that Fedloan servicing will soon no longer be the PSLF servicer. Will this transition have any impact on these benefits?
FSA will be working side by side with Fedloan Servicing as borrowers participating in PSLF Program are transferred to a new servicer and these benefits will apply whether your loans are with Fedloan Servicing or the new servicer.
I am on the StudentAid.gov website, and am being prompted to change my repayment plan to an IDR plan. I thought I did not need to be on an IDR plan to receive credit.
Through 10/31/2022, payments may count towards PSLF that may have been previously ineligible, provided you are working at a qualifying employer. You may still want to consider changing your repayment plan to an IDR plan, if you have not met 120 qualifying payments. This may make monthly payments more comfortable and would leave a balance to be forgiven after 120 payments are met.
Where do I return my PSLF application once completed?
PSLF applications must be sent to Fedloan Servicing to be processed. Borrowers may mail application to U.S. Department of Education, Fedloan Servicing, P.O.Box 69184, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9184, fax application to 717-720-1628, or upload to MyFedLoan.org/FileUpload, if Fedloan Servicing is already one of your servicers.
What if I made my payments late? Would these payments still count towards PSLF forgiveness?
Under the new PSLF waiver payments may be counted regardless of whether the payment was made in full or on time.
How can I find out if I need to consolidate my loans?
Borrowers can view their loan types by logging into StudentAid.gov, going to the My Aid page (https://studentaid.gov/aid-summary/), and scrolling down to the loan breakdown section. If the borrower has loans that start with "FFEL" and "Perkins" they would need to consolidate.
I submitted an application for PSLF previously and was approved. What action do I need to take regarding this announcement?
There is no action you need to take currently. FSA will work with current PSLF servicer, Fedloan Servicing, to review borrower accounts, update any payment counts, correct any errors, and consider/reconsider any write-offs that may result. If any additional information is required you will be contacted by FSA or Fedloan Servicing.
Will payments suspended due to the CARES Act count towards PSLF?
If you have a direct Loan and work full time for a qualifying employer during the suspension, then you will receive credit toward PSLF.
Can my employer electronically sign the PSLF application?
Digital signatures from your employer must be hand drawn (from signature pad, mouse, finger, or by taking a picture of a signature drawn on a piece of paper that you then scanned and embed on the signature line of PSLF form, to be accepted. Typed signatures, even if made to mimic a hand-drawn signature, or security certificate-based signature would not be accepted.