Fillable Form Public Service Loan Forgiveness Form
The PSLF/TEPSLF Certification and Application form is a vital document for borrowers seeking loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Temporary Expanded PSLF programs. The form requires borrowers to provide detailed information about their employment history, loan repayment history, and qualifying payments.
What is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Form?
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)/Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Form is a financial document that is used by borrowers to seek loan forgiveness under either the PSLF or TEPSLF programs. The form requires borrowers to provide detailed information about their employment history and loan repayment history. The form also requests information about the borrower's employer, including the employer's tax identification number, and the borrower's loan servicer.
To be eligible for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program, borrowers must have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time in a qualifying public service job. To be eligible for loan forgiveness under the TEPSLF program, borrowers must have made at least 120 payments on a Direct Loan while enrolled in a non-qualifying repayment plan, and have had their application to the PSLF program denied for not meeting the program’s requirements.
How do I fill out the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Form?
The PSLF/TEPSLF Form requires information about both the borrower and their employment and loan repayment history, as well as information about their employer. The Form consists of 9 sections, though it is important to note that sections 5 to 9 all contain information on how and where to send the accomplished form, and do not require any information to be entered. As such, it is recommended that you read through sections 5 to 9 before proceeding to fill out sections 1 to 4.
Section 1 - Borrower Information
Information Change
Check the box provided if any of the information written below has changed since the last time you provided it.
Social Security Number
Enter the borrower’s Social Security Number (SSN).
Date of Birth
Enter the borrower’s date of birth.
Name
Enter the borrower’s full legal name.
Address Information
Enter the borrower’s street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
Primary Telephone
Enter the borrower’s primary phone number.
Alternate Telephone
Enter the borrower’s alternate phone number in case the primary is unavailable, if applicable.
Email
Enter the borrower’s email address.
Section 2 - Borrower Request, Understandings, and Certification
Request
Check the box or boxes that correspond to the reason for why you wish to learn whether you qualify for PSLF/TEPSLF. Choose any of the following:
Certification
Read each of the items listed carefully, then check the box provided if you cannot obtain certification from your employer due to the organization having closed or refused to provide certification.
Have the borrower sign the form in the space provided, then enter the date that they signed the form.
Section 3 - Employer Information
Do not fill out this section if you checked the box in the “Certification” area of Section 2. If that box was checked, skip directly to section 4 instead.
Employer Name
Enter the employer’s name.
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
Enter the employer’s FEIN.
Employer Address
Enter the employer’s primary office address.
Employer Website
Enter the website name and URL of the employer, if they have one.
Employment Beginning and Ending Date
Enter the date that your employment began, then enter the date that your employment ended OR check the box provided if you are still employed.
Employment Status
Check either of the boxes labeled Full-time or Part-time to indicate your employment status.
Hours per Week (Average)
Enter the average amount of hours per week that you spend working for the employer. These hours should include vacation, leave time, or any leave taken under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Government Organization
Check the box that indicates whether or not your employer is a government organization. If you check “Yes”, skip to Section 4. Otherwise, check “No” and proceed to item 10.
Tax-Exempt
Check the box that indicates whether or not your employer is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). If you check “Yes”, skip to Section 4. If your employer is tax-exempt under any other subjection of 501(c) besides 501(c)(3), or if your employer is not exempt at all, check “No” and proceed to item 11.
Non-Profit
Check the box that indicates whether or not your employer is a not-for-profit organization. If you check “Yes”, proceed to item 12. If you check “No”, stop here. Your employer does not qualify.
Partisan Political Organization/Labor Union
Check the box that indicates whether or not your employer is a partisan political organization or a labor union. If you check “Yes”, your employer does not qualify. If you check “No”, proceed to item 13.
Services Provided
Check any of the boxes that correspond to the services that your employer provides. You may choose one or more of the following:
If none of the above apply, check “None of the above - the employer does not qualify” and do not submit this form.
Section 4 - Employer Certification
This section states that the employer certifies that all information entered above is true and that the borrower is indeed their employee.
Enter the name of the employer or their representative, as well as their title within the organization, their phone number, and their email address. Then have them sign the form in the space provided and enter the date the form was signed.
Section 5 - Instructions for Completing the Form
This section states that this form must be filled out using black ink or text. Dates must be entered in Month-Day-Year (MM/DD/YYYY) format, using only numbers.
Section 6 - Definitions
This section contains definitions for various terms used throughout the form.
Section 7 - Where to Send Completed Form
This section details the address that the completed form should be mailed, faxed, or uploaded to, as well as numbers to call for assistance in completing the form.
Section 8 - Important Information About PSLF and TEPSLF
This section outlines important information about the requirements one must fulfill in order to qualify for the PSLF or TEPSLF program, among other eligibility requirements.
Section 9 - Important Notices
This section contains important notices in regards to the filing of the PSLF/TEPSLF Form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between the PSLF and TEPSLF programs?
They are, generally speaking, not all that different. The TEPSLF program is simply another program designed to give those who failed to qualify for the PSLF program another chance at loan forgiveness.
What is a Qualifying Payment?
Qualifying Payments are full monthly payments made on time to an eligible loan after October 1, 2007. The payments must be made under a qualifying repayment plan while employed by a qualifying employer.
How is a payment determined to be on time?
A payment is considered on time if it is made within 15 days after the due date of the payment.
How many Qualifying Payments need to be made to qualify for the PSLF/TEPSLF program?
To be eligible for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program, you must make 120 qualifying payments while enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan (for PSLF) or a non-qualifying repayment plan before switching to a qualifying repayment plan and making all remaining payments (for TEPSLF).
Can I apply for both the PSLF and TEPSLF programs at the same time?
No. The TEPSLF program is designed to provide additional opportunities for borrowers who were previously ineligible for PSLF due to being enrolled in a non-qualifying repayment plan, and in fact requires that you apply first for PSLF and be denied in order to proceed properly.
What happens if payments are not made to a loan?
There are a variety of different consequences that may occur as a result of not paying for loans properly and on time. At minimum, the loan will be considered to be in default alongside any other consequences such as legal action or repossession of property.
What is an Eligible Loan?
Eligible Loans are loans made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The loan must not be in default to be considered eligible.
What is a Qualifying Employer?
A Qualifying Employer includes the government, a not-for-profit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a private not-for-profit organization that provides particular services to the public.
How can I check if my employer qualifies for the PSLF program?
You can check if your employer qualifies for the PSLF program by submitting an Employer Certification Form to the U.S. Department of Education. This form requires your employer to certify that you are employed full-time with a qualifying employer, and includes information about your employment start date and job title.
What happens if I am denied loan forgiveness under the PSLF or TEPSLF program?
If you are denied loan forgiveness under the PSLF program, you will receive a notification explaining the reason for the denial. You may also receive information about options for reconsideration or appeal. If you believe that the denial was made in error, you should contact your loan servicer or the Department of Education to seek clarification and assistance with resolving any issues.
What happens if I miss a qualifying payment while enrolled in the PSLF program?
If you miss a qualifying payment while enrolled in the PSLF program, that payment will not count toward the 120 required payments for loan forgiveness. It's important to make all payments on time and in full to ensure that you remain on track for loan forgiveness.
What is the deadline for submitting the PSLF/TEPSLF Form?
There is no specific deadline for submitting the PSLF/TEPSLF Form. However, it's important to submit the form as soon as possible to ensure that you are on track for loan forgiveness and to identify any issues that may need to be addressed.
Can I apply for loan forgiveness if I have already paid off my loans?
No. These programs are designed to provide loan forgiveness to borrowers who have made a certain number of qualifying payments while working in eligible public service jobs. If you have already paid off your loans, you may not be eligible for these programs.
Can I apply for loan forgiveness if I am in the military?
Yes. Military service is considered qualifying public service employment under the PSLF program, so if you work full-time for a qualifying public service organization while also serving in the military, your military service can count toward the 120 qualifying payments required for loan forgiveness.
What happens if I leave my public service job before making 120 qualifying payments?
You will no longer be eligible for loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. Only payments made while you are employed full-time by a qualifying employer count towards the 120 qualifying payments required for loan forgiveness.