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Drowning in Debt?
How Public Interest Lawyers Can Earn Student Loan Forgiveness
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Today’s Agenda
• Know Your Federal Loans
• Essentials of Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Essentials of Loan Repayment Assistance Programs
• Resources for managing high student debt
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Know Your Loans
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Loan Basics: Sources of Student Loans
• State Loans – States may have different repayment options
• Federal Loans
– May be eligible for federal relief programs
• Private Loans – Never eligible – The government cannot forgive
or write off debt that it does not own
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Federal Loans
Grad PLUS
Unsubsidized Stafford
Federal Consolidation
Subsidized Stafford
Federal Loans
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Loan Basics: Sources of Federal Loans
Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL): Government-guaranteed loans but funds came from banks and other financial institutions. FFEL ended in 2010.
Federal Direct: Funds for the loans come directly from the US Department of Education.
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Loan Basics: What loans do I have?
• Federal Student Loans – National Student Loan Data System:
www.nslds.ed.gov – Contact your servicer and ask
• Private Student Loans
– Look for private loans at: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
• www.nslds.ed.gov
Loan Basics: What loans do I have?
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (CCRAA)
Income-Based Repayment Public Service
Loan Forgiveness
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• If You: – Make 120 qualifying loan payments while
working full-time in a qualifying public service position after October 1, 2007
• The Federal Government will: – Forgive the balance remaining on your eligible
Federal Direct Loans.
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Requirements for Forgiveness
• Eligible Loans • Qualifying
Employment
• Qualifying Payments
Forgiveness
Qualifying Payments
Qualifying Employment Eligible
Loans
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Which loans are eligible?
Only Federal Direct FFEL Loans are Not
Eligible
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Qualifying Employment
Government 501(c)(3) Non-profit
AmeriCorps Position Peace Corps
Public Service Organization
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Full-time Employment
• Working in qualifying employment for: – An annual average of at least 30 hours per week; or
– For a contractual or employment period of at least 8
months, an average of 30 hours per week; or
– Unless the qualifying employment is with two or more employers, the number of hours the employer considers full-time.
• Can combine/change positions
Must be paid by the qualifying employer(s)
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Qualifying Payments
• 120 times – separate, monthly and on time in a Qualifying Repayment Plan
– 10-Year “Standard” Repayment Plan
– Plan under which your payments are at least as
much as they’d be under 10-Year Repayment
– Income-Contingent Repayment
– Income-Based Repayment
• Payments do not need to be consecutive
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
• What payments don’t count toward the 120 payments required for PSLF? – Late payments (more than 15 days)
– Payments made on the “wrong” kind of loans
– Payments made while in the “wrong” kind of job
– Payments made in the “wrong” repayment plan
PSLF: Nonqualifying Payments
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Using Income-Based Repayment
• A repayment plan for federal loans Reduces monthly payments for borrowers with a
“partial financial hardship”
• High debt relative to income – The 15% Rule – Amount you owe annually is more than 15% of
your discretionary income – Payment cap is 15% of discretionary income
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Pay As You Earn: New ICR-A • “Pay As You Earn” Proposal
• The 10% rule A $353 payment on a $45,000 salary becomes $235
• Forgiveness after 20 years
• Only certain borrowers & certain loans No federal loans before October 1, 2007 and will Borrow a federal loan after October 1, 2011 Only Federal Direct Loans
• What about you? When did you borrow your first federal loan?
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
IBR: Information at studentaid.ed.gov
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Compare Monthly Payments • Use the calculators at www.finaid.org:
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
IBR & PSLF: Dara Defender finds relief! • Dara has $120,000 in federal
loans – $100,000 unsubsidized Federal
Direct
– $20,000 subsidized FFEL
• Dara takes a public defender position – Her salary starts at $45,000
– But she knows about IBR &
PSLF
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
IBR & PSLF: Dara Defender finds relief! • Dara consolidates into Federal
Direct – She now has $120,000 in a
Federal Direct Consolidation loan at 6.8% interest
• Dara enrolls in IBR – In her first year, her payments
are $353
– They would be $1,381 under standard 10-year repayment
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
IBR & PSLF: Dara Defender finds relief! • Dara remains in public service
– She receives annual raises of 3%
– Her payments gradually rise
– In year 10, her monthly payments are $461
• Dara applies for PSLF – She has paid $48,570 over 10
years
– The federal government forgives $151,133!
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Dara is eligible for the 10% cap! • Under the new Pay As You Earn
– Her initial payments are now $235
– In year 10, her monthly payments are $307
• Dara applies for PSLF – She has paid $32,380 over 10
years
– The federal government forgives $166,595!
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Using income-driven plans
• Apply for IBR or ICR – As soon as you think you may be eligible – Select the plan when you begin repayment – Contact your loan servicer(s) and request to
switch into the plan
• Apply for PSLF – After making 120 qualifying payments – Track your employment!
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Use Income-Driven Repayment
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Using Income-Driven Repayment
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Track Your Progress
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
What if I don’t qualify for PSLF?
• Benefits of IBR and ICR even without Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
− Lower monthly payment
− No required type of employment
− Forgiveness after 25 years
− Pay as You Earn has 20 year forgiveness
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Using IBR & PSLF: Considerations
• Not a one-size fits all solution
• Points of consideration: – Tax implications
– Likely future income
– Career plans
• Consult a tax or financial specialist
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Revisit Federal Loans Which Loans Are Eligible?
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Which loans are eligible?
Consolidate FFEL into Federal Direct • Stafford and Grad Plus • Reconsolidate a FFEL Consolidation Loan http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov • Consider keeping Parent PLUS & Perkins separate
FFEL
IBR
Federal Direct
IBR ICR Pay As You Earn PSLF
Never Eligible Commercial/ Private loans
Loans in Default
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
PSLF: Consolidating into Federal Direct
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
LRAPs: Where can I find one?
State-Based LRAPs Visit www.equaljusticeworks.org
for more information
School LRAPs Ask your school! Visit
www.equaljusticeworks.org
Employer LRAPs Ask your employer!
Federal LRAPs Federal programs based on
profession
Not necessarily mutually exclusive with IBR and PSLF, but check with program administrator to make sure
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
LRAPs: Design Matters
• Not all LRAPs are created equally:
– Different requirements and restrictions
– Varying payment amounts
– Varying duration of eligibility
– May or may not be allowed to combine
– May or may not be taxable
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Educational Debt Relief: Tax Issues
• NOT TAXABLE: – Public Service Loan Forgiveness – Many school LRAPs
• TAXABLE:
– 25- and 20-year IBR/ICR Forgiveness – Employer LRAPs – Some government LRAPs
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Educational Debt & Public Interest? • Remember the Steps
Know your loans
Know your career plans
Know options for managing high student debt • Public Service Loan Forgiveness • Income-Driven Repayment • Loan Repayment Assistance Programs
Think about your plans, then take the right steps to get there!
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Information, Resources & Checklists • www.equaljusticeworks.org
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Get our new eBook: Take Control of Your Future
Now Available in the Kindle Store!
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
Additional Resources
• Resources: www.equaljusticeworks.org http://studentaid.ed.gov www.finaid.org www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt @EJW_org #studentdebthelp
• Questions? – Get our new ebook and post on our forum:
www.equaljusticeworks.org – Email: [email protected]
• Stay connected for news, webinars and tips! @EJW_org #StudentDebtHelp
Equal Justice Works www.facebook.com/EqualJusticeWorks
Stay Connected!
Presented by: Isaac Bowers [email protected]
Radhika Singh Miller [email protected]
equaljusticeworks.org/ed-debt
@EJW_org #studentdebthelp