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Perkins student loans were low-interest student loans that schools could distribute to both undergraduate and graduate students who exhibited . Undergraduate students could borrow up to $27,500, and graduate students could borrow up to $32,500. The Perkins Loan program ended on Sept. 30, 2017, with final disbursements running through June 30, 2018. While there are no new Perkins Loans being made, student loan borrowers who still have Perkins student loans may qualify to get up to 100 percent of their debt forgiven if they meet certain criteria. The amount of forgiveness you qualify for and the rate at which cancellation occurs depends on your career choice and how long you stay in that job, but all qualifying occupations fall in the public service sector. With some exceptions, forgiveness generally occurs over a five-year period in increments, rather than all at once. Here’s the schedule for most eligible jobs: 15 percent of the original loan amount for each of the first and second years. 20 percent of the original loan amount for each of the third and fourth years. 30 percent of the original loan amount for the fifth year. Note that Perkins Loan cancellation is not taxable, so you don’t have to worry about a significant tax bill for the year in which you receive forgiveness. Who qualifies for Perkins Loan Forgiveness
Perkins Loan cancellation is available for borrowers who took out loans in the program and work in one of the following public service fields: Teacher. Nurse or medical technician. Firefighter. Qualified professional provider of early intervention services. Faculty member at a tribal college or university. Speech pathologist with a master’s degree working in a Title I-eligible elementary or secondary school. Librarian with a master’s degree working in a Title I-eligible elementary or secondary school or in a public library. Law enforcement or corrections officer. Attorney employed in a federal public or community defender organization. Employee of a public or private nonprofit child- or family-services agency providing services to high-risk children and their families from low-income communities. Staff member in the education component of a Head Start program. Staff member in the education component of a prekindergarten or child care program that is licensed or regulated by a state. Military service member in the U.S. armed forces in a hostile fire or imminent danger pay area. AmeriCorps VISTA or Peace Corps volunteer. How to apply for Perkins Loan forgiveness
Because the Perkins student loan program is school-based, if you believe you’re eligible for Perkins Loan cancellation, you’ll need to contact the school that made the loan originally or the that handles your loan account for the college. Your school or student loan servicer will have the forms required for your particular type of cancellation and can answer any questions you may have about the process. You’ll need to provide proof that you’ve worked in a qualifying job during the period for which you’re applying. Also, keep in mind that most forms of Perkins Loan forgiveness require full-time work, so you may be ineligible if you’ve been working on a part-time basis. What to do if you don t qualify for Perkins Loan forgiveness
If you’re not eligible for Perkins Loan cancellation because you don’t meet the employment requirements, there are some alternatives you can pursue. For starters, think about whether you could eventually qualify for forgiveness based on your career path. For example, if you’ve been working part time in an eligible job and plan to switch to full time, you may be able to start the clock on Perkins Loan forgiveness, and it’ll make sense to keep your debt where it is. If Perkins Loan discharge is out of the question, here are some potential options to consider pursuing: Consolidate your loans: Perkins Loans don’t qualify for or . But if you through the Direct Consolidation Loan program, you will be eligible for both. If you think that you can qualify for PSLF or you need a more affordable monthly payment, consolidation may do the trick. Refinance your student loans: If you’re looking for ways to make your loan more affordable, it could be worth . Some private lenders may be able to offer you a lower interest rate than the standard 5 percent on Perkins Loans. Additionally, private refinance lenders can offer more flexible repayment options, giving you between five and 25 years to repay in some cases, which can give you more control over your repayment plan. As you consider each of these options, think about your current financial situation and your goals with your Perkins Loan debt. Keep in mind that in order to refinance your loans, you’ll generally need a high credit score and annual income, or at least have a co-signer who has these attributes. But before you think about consolidating or refinancing your Perkins Loans, both of which will rule out future Perkins Loan forgiveness, do your due diligence with the federal programs available to you. Refinancing will cut you off from Perkins Loan cancellation entirely, even if you eventually meet the employment requirements. Learn more
SHARE: Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer who loves helping people learn how to live life more fully. His work has appeared in several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Yahoo! Finance and more. Chelsea has been with Bankrate since early 2020. She is invested in helping students navigate the high costs of college and breaking down the complexities of student loans. Related Articles