3 Documents Everyone in Government and Nonprofit Services Needs Right Now
As anyone who has ever resisted the warm glow of the "hot, fresh, now" sign on a Krispy Kreme donut shop can attest, freshness counts! To that end, the Department of Education has recently updated its Employment Certification Form for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and we want you to have the "freshest" forms available.
With this form, folks in government and 501(c)(3) nonprofit service* can get that warm and fuzzy feeling that will come from the government saying “yes, your employment qualifies" and “yes, you made x number of payments that count towards forgiveness."
Why This Is Important
Student loan borrowers can earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness by making 120 of the right kind of payments, on the right kind of loans, while working in the right kind of job*. But you also have to PROVE that you met all the requirements of the program. That’s where the paperwork comes in.
Nothing about Public Service Loan Forgiveness is automatic. Not one thing. Student loan borrowers will need to jump through a whole lot of hoops to establish that they have earned the forgiveness. Flaming hoops probably. But student loan borrowers aren’t afraid of a little paperwork, right? We say Bring. It. On.
If you think you are working for a qualifying public service employer and you’re working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, YOU NEED THIS FORM. You love this form. This form is your new BFF.
Run, don’t walk, and download these documents:
Instructions for Completing the Employment Certification for Public Service Loan Forgiveness form
Employment Certification for Public Service Loan Forgiveness form
Department of Education’s Letter to Borrowers about the process (Updated July 2013)
Read it all. Fill out your part and take the documents to your work. Figure out who is authorized to sign for your employer and ask that person to fill out their part fully and carefully. Make sure everything is filled in and then submit the form to:
FedLoan Servicing
P.O. Box 69184
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9184
Or Fax it to 717-720-1628
Do this every year and whenever you change jobs. Keep copies of your W-2s and paystubs, and whatever else you think may satisfactorily document your employment or supports your employer's eligibility. Keep this stuff until the end of time. Forever. And then keep it some more. I recommend the "paranoid method of record-keeping" in this case.
For help with the form, call FedLoan Servicing: 855-265-4038
More from the Department of Education: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation#public-service-loan
More tools and information about PSLF and other loan repayment and forgiveness programs can be found on our tools page: http://askheatherjarvis.com/tools.
*Note for all clergy, rabbis, priests, imams, preachers, pastors, ayatollahs, and others: Generally, the type or nature of employment with the organization does not matter for PSLF purposes. However, when determining full-time public service employment at a not-for-profit organization, you may not include time spent participating in religious instruction, worship services, or any form of proselytizing.