Student loan forgiveness - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Eligibility: To qualify for student loan forgiveness, you must have federal student loans, not private loans. You must also have made a certain number of qualifying payments, typically through an income-driven repayment plan.
- 2. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): This program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer, such as a government or non-profit organization.
- 3. Teacher Loan Forgiveness: Teachers who work in low-income schools for five consecutive years may be eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness on their Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.
- 4. Income-Driven Repayment Plans: These plans adjust your monthly payments based on your income and family size. After making payments for 20-25 years, depending on the plan, any remaining balance is forgiven.
- 5. Disability Discharge: If you become permanently disabled and unable to work, you may qualify for a total and permanent disability discharge of your federal student loans.
- 6. Closed School Discharge: If your school closes while you are enrolled or shortly after you withdraw, you may be eligible for a discharge of your federal student loans.
- 7. False Certification Discharge: If your school falsely certified your eligibility for federal student aid or your identity was stolen to take out loans in your name, you may qualify for loan forgiveness.
- 8. Bankruptcy Discharge: While it is difficult to discharge student loans through bankruptcy, it is possible in cases of undue hardship where repaying the loans would cause an undue burden.
- 9. Tax Implications: In most cases, forgiven student loan debt is considered taxable income by the IRS. However, certain forgiveness programs, such as PSLF, are not taxed.
- 10. Application Process: Each forgiveness program has its own application process and requirements. It is important to carefully review the eligibility criteria and submit all necessary documentation to apply for loan forgiveness.