Do You Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness or Discharge?

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Federal student loans offer benefits that many other loans don't. One benefit is the ability to qualify for loan forgiveness—under special circumstances, the federal government may forgive part, or all, of your federal student loans. This means you're no longer obligated to make your loan payments. Another benefit is there may be some situations where you may qualify to have your loans cancelled or discharged.

These are some of the most common types of loan forgiveness and discharge.

• Teacher Loan Forgiveness
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Closed School Discharge
• Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

Note this is not a complete list, and you need to meet certain requirements and provide specific information to qualify. See if you qualify.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your Direct Loan program loans. See StudentAid.gov/teach-forgive for more information and a form you can fill out when you have completed your teaching service.

Learn more about the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply. (If you aren't already logged in, you'll be asked to do so.)

Note: You may not receive a benefit for the same qualifying payments or period of service for Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

You've Got Options If You Were Denied PSLF

If your application for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) was denied, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) opportunity.

As part of this opportunity, the Department of Education reconsiders your eligibility using an expanded list of qualifying repayment plans.

This TEPSLF opportunity is temporary, has limited funding, and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Once all of the funds are used, the TEPSLF opportunity will end.

Visit StudentAid.gov for detailed information on how to be reconsidered for loan forgiveness.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

Learn more about the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge process, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.

Note: Servicing for this process is managed by another federal student loan servicer. If you apply for a Total and Permanent Disability Discharge, your eligible loans will be transferred from Great Lakes to that servicer.

Not Eligible for Total and Permanent Disability?

If you believe you qualify for one of the programs other than the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge, complete and submit a loan forgiveness, cancellation, or discharge application form. (If you aren't already logged in, you'll be asked to do so.)

All forms are in Portable Document Format (PDF). In order to view PDF files, you must first download the free Acrobat Reader software. Detailed instructions for downloading and installing the Acrobat Reader are located on the Adobe website.

Free Expert Help!

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