No action is required by any borrower, extended pause will occur automatically.

• Your relief is capped at the amount of your outstanding debt.
• For example: If you are eligible for $20,000 in debt relief, but have a balance of $15,000 remaining, you will only receive $15,000 in relief.

• Nearly 8 million borrowers may be eligible to receive relief automatically because relevant income data is already available to ED via the FAFSA (current students).
• If the ED doesn't have your income data, the Administration will launch a simple application which will be available by early October.
• If you would like to be notified when the application is open, please sign up at the Department of Education subscription page.
• Once a borrower completes the application, they can expect relief within 4-6 weeks.
• The ED encourages everyone who is eligible to file the application, but there are 8 million people for whom they have data and who will get the relief automatically.
• Borrowers are advised to apply before November 15th in order to receive relief before the payment pause expires on December 31, 2022.
• The ED will continue to process applications as they are received, even after the pause expires on December 31, 2022.

• The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the remaining balance on your federal student loans after 120 payments working full-time for federal, state, Tribal, or local government; military; or a qualifying non-profit.
• The Limited PSLF Program, ending on Oct. 31, 2022, provides flexibility that makes it easier than ever to receive forgiveness by allowing borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF.
• Enrollments on or after Nov. 1, 2022 will not be eligible for the Limited PSLF Program. ED encourages borrowers to sign up today. Visit PSLF.gov to learn more and apply.

• Any U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government agency is considered a government employer for the PSLF Program. This includes employers such as the U.S. military, public elementary and secondary schools, public colleges and universities, public child and family service agencies, and special governmental districts (including entities such as public transportation, water, bridge district, or housing authorities).
• A government contractor isn’t considered a government employer. You can visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Help Tool, which will help you determine if an employer is considered a qualifying employer under the PSLF Program.

The specific job that you perform doesn’t matter, as long as you’re employed by a qualifying employer. For example, if you’re a full-time employee of a public school system, your employment would meet the requirements for PSLF, regardless of your position (teacher, administrator, support staff, etc.).

Yes. However, you must submit a PSLF Form showing that you were employed full-time by a qualifying employer at the time you made each of the required 120 payments.

AmeriCorps or Peace Corps volunteer service does count. However, no other full-time volunteer service is eligible. You must be a full-time employee who is hired and paid by a qualifying employer.

Yes, under the temporary changes you are eligible for PSLF but you must apply before October 31, 2022. Learn about some PSLF rules being waived for a limited time

No. Private education loans aren’t eligible for PSLF and can’t be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Defaulted Direct Loans are not eligible for PSLF. However, a defaulted loan may become eligible for PSLF if you resolve the default. Learn how to resolve the default through rehabilitation or consolidation.

Yes. Like other Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans are eligible for PSLF. Direct PLUS Loans are made to graduate and professional students. Direct PLUS Loans made to parents may need to be consolidated.

Interest that builds gradually on the loan. Each day, interest is calculated on the unpaid principal balance and becomes accrued interest.

Periods during the life cycle of a student loan that define the borrower's status relative to the loan obligation:

• In Grace: Out of school but not yet expected to make payments
• In Repayment: Expected to make regular monthly payments unless granted a deferment or forbearance
• In School: Attending an eligible institution at least half time; also known as the "interim" status
• Borrower: A person who obtains a loan and who is responsible to repay it

When the federal government pays a student borrower's loan debt due to the borrower's death or total and permanent disability

Accrued interest that is added to the principal

The percentage of federal student loan borrowers who enter repayment during a particular federal fiscal year (FFY), October 1 - September 30, and default on their loans by the end of the next FFY for a two-year rate, or after two federal fiscal years for a three year rate.

A person who is a joint borrower on a loan and who is equally liable for repayment of the loan (example: spouses who borrows a Federal Consolidation Loan to repay a combination of their student loans)

The combining of existing loans into one new loan, which can result in lower monthly payments but higher total debt

When a federal student loan payment is 270 days delinquent or when the borrower fails to meet other terms of the promissory note

A postponement of payments

Failure to make a full payment when it is due

A subsidized and unsubsidized federal loan program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Direct Loans have similar terms to Federal Stafford Loans, and Stafford Loans were no longer made after July 1, 2010.

A federal program through which the U.S. Department of Education offers four types of student loans: subsidized Direct Loans, unsubsidized Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for parents and graduate/professional students, and Direct Consolidation Loans

A federal loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students and graduate/professional students. Terms are similar to the Federal Grad PLUS loans that were no longer originated after July 1, 2010.

Student financial assistance/aid programs, usually Title IV programs, funded by the U.S. government and administered by the U.S. Department of Education along with eligible postsecondary institutions

A federal program through which the U.S. Department of Education offers four types of student loans: subsidized Direct Loans, unsubsidized Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for parents of dependent undergraduate students and graduate/professional students, and Direct Consolidation Loans

A federal program in which lenders and guaranty agencies offer four types of student loans: subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS loans for parents and graduate/professional student, and Federal Consolidation Loans. New loans under the FFEL Program ceased on July 1, 2010.

Also known as Interest Benefits, the federal government's payment for all or part of the interest that accrues during the in-school, grace, and deferment periods on behalf of the borrower

A loan program that is not need-based and is designed for parents with dependent students and graduate and professional students. No new Federal PLUS Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct PLUS Loans.

Included subsidized and unsubsidized loans. No new Federal Stafford Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct Loans.

Federal Family Education Loan Program, A federal program in which lenders and guaranty agencies offer four types of student loans: subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), and Federal Consolidation Loans. No new loans under this program have been awarded since July 1, 2010, instead loans are made under the Direct Loan Program.

Interest rates that do not change during the life of the loan

Permission to postpone or reduce payments

The standard form students must complete to apply for federal and state need-based assistance/aid programs and, in some circumstances, campus-based assistance/aid, including scholarships

An FSA ID is needed to view personal student loan information and history (recently replaced the federal PIN).

A period of time after a borrower graduates, withdraws, or drops below part-time status, during which the borrower does not have to make principal payments on a loan

Also known as the Insurance Premium, fee charged to a borrower for a federal student loan. The originating lender deducts the fee from the loan and remits it to the guaranty agency.

An organization that administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. If a borrower defaults on a FFEL Program loan, the guaranty agency buys the loan from the holder and collects it from the borrower.

A lender or secondary market that buys a loan and collects it from the borrower

A repayment plan for the major types of federal student loans that caps your required monthly payment at an amount intended to be affordable based on your income and family size.

Also known as the interim status, attending an eligible institution at least half time

Also known as the Guarantee Fee, a fee charged to a borrower for a federal student loan. The originating lender deducts the fee from the loan and remits it to the guaranty agency.

The cost of borrowing money

Cancellation of student loan debt

The student's enrollment period for which the postsecondary institution approves a student loan to pay educational expenses

Money borrowed that must be repaid, with interest

Master Promissory Note

Now the Perkins Loan Program

A database comprised of information from guarantors, schools, lenders, and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) that contains data on Title IV student financial assistance

A student's last date of at least half-time attendance or anticipated graduation date if an earlier withdrawal date is not reported by a school

The actual amount borrowed

The legal and binding contract a borrower signs promising to repay a loan

An organization, that purchases student loans and collects on the loans

The date a borrower graduates or stops attending school at least half time, which triggers the start of the grace period

Private companies that many postsecondary institutions, lenders, guaranty agencies, secondary markets, and the U.S. Department of Education contract with to handle student loan processing

Interest that is calculated on the principal portion of your loan SLS: Federal Supplemental Loans for Students, now the unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, a Title IV loan program for graduate, professional, and independent undergraduate students Stafford Loan: Included subsidized and unsubsidized loans. No new Stafford Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct Loans.

Federal Supplemental Loans for Students, now the unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, and a Title IV loan program for graduate, professional, and independent undergraduate students.

Included subsidized and unsubsidized loans. No new Stafford Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct Loans.

Need-based loan program for which the federal government pays the interest to the lender on the student's behalf while the student is enrolled at least half time, during the grace period, and during periods of authorized deferment. No new Stafford Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct Loans.

A non-need-based loan for which the federal government does not pay any of the accrued interest on behalf of the student. Interest begins to accrue on the loan as soon as it is disbursed, and the student may choose to pay the interest as it accrues or defer it as long as he or she remains enrolled at least half time in an eligible school. No new Stafford Loans were made after July 1, 2010, instead loans are originated as Direct Loans.