Military Benefits

Description

The interest rate on any federal student loans you received before your military service cannot exceed 6% during periods of active duty.

We will proactively apply SCRA benefits to any eligible loans for confirmed, active duty borrowers based on dates on the official Department of Defense SCRA website  this link will open in a new window. In accordance with SCRA, borrowers may waive this interest rate benefit at any time.

Eligibility

• Federal student loan(s) disbursed prior to active duty start date.

• For federal student loans, the earliest benefit effective date is August 14, 2008. Active duty periods that fall on or after that date may qualify.

• If you consolidate your federal student loans after you begin active duty, your consolidation loan may not be eligible for the SCRA benefit.

Documentation Requirements

We will check an authorized military database and if you are listed as being active duty status we will automatically apply the benefit to your eligible loan(s). If your military orders show an earlier active duty start date, you may submit a copy of your orders, and we will apply the benefit based on the earlier start date.

Description

You can postpone federal student loan repayment during certain periods of active duty and immediately following active duty.

Eligibility

• Active duty military service during a war, other military operation, or national emergency.

• National Guard servicemembers must be called to active duty by the President or the Secretary of Defense and paid for with federal funds.

• Assigned to a duty station other than your normal station.

• Periods of training or attending service school are not eligible for deferment.

Documentation Requirements

• Completed Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request form with

  • a certification from an authorized official in Section 4; or

  • a written statement from your commanding/personnel officer; or

  • a copy of your military orders.

• If you cannot submit a deferment request form and other documentation, a verbal request from you or your representative is acceptable. Deferment based on a verbal request is limited to an initial twelve-month period.

Description

You can postpone repayment of your federal student loans while you prepare to return to school following your active duty. Pause your payments after active duty military service and any applicable grace period until the earlier of:

1. the date you resume enrollment at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis, or

2. thirteen months following the completion of your active duty military service and any applicable grace period.

Eligibility

Following service during a war, other military operation, or national emergency.

Documentation Requirements

• Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request form with a certification from an authorized official in Section 4; or

  • with a written statement from your commanding/ personnel officer; or

  • with a copy of your military orders.

Description

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a program for people who work in public service in federal, state, tribal, or local government, or for a non-profit organization. You may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance of your federal Direct Loans. Learn more at StudentAid.gov/pslf  this link will open in a new window .

Eligibility

• Federal Direct Loans only.

• Employed at least 30 hours per week on average at a qualifying government or non-profit public service organization, including military service

• Make 120 qualifying payments after October 1, 2007 while in a qualifying income-driven or 10-year standard repayment plan

Documentation Requirements

Submit a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification and Application or Certification of Military Service to determine eligibility.

If you are a service member and have already submitted a PSLF application and are on track for PSLF, you do not need to take any other action for these updates to occur to your account.

If you are a service member and have never submitted a PSLF form before, we recommend you use the PSLF Help Tool  this link will open in a new window to complete the form.

Description

While you are serving in a hostile area that qualifies you for special pay, interest may not accrue on your loan(s). This benefit is available for a maximum of 60 months over the life of your loan(s).

Eligibility

• Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans made on or after October 1, 2008.

• For a Direct Consolidation Loan, only any portion of the loan that represents loans made on or after October 1, 2008.

Documentation Requirements

• A completed Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request form with a certification from an authorized official certifying your service in an area of hostilities that qualifies you for special pay; or

• Military orders showing you are serving in a hostile area; or

• A Leave and Earnings Statement showing you are receiving hostile or imminent danger pay.

Description

There are income-driven repayment (IDR) plans that base your monthly payment on your income and family size. Under these plans, you may qualify for a low or zero payment amount with the possibility of forgiveness of the remaining balance in 20 to 25 years.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the loan type(s) and repayment plan. Contact our Servicemember and Veteran Liaison team at 1-855-278-3619 (Toll Free) to determine your eligibility.

Documentation Requirements

A completed Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request and documentation of income.

Description

While you are on active duty, ED waives certain documentation requirements. For example, if you are enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan and military service prevents you from providing your updated income and family size information, this documentation requirement will be waived, and your current monthly payment amount will be maintained.

Eligibility

Active duty military service during a war, other military operation, or national emergency.

Documentation Requirements

• Military orders

• We may apply a waiver if we have information that you are actively serving in the military and qualify for the waiver.

Description

In certain circumstances, as determined by the DOD, all or a portion of your federal student loans may be repaid by the DOD.

Eligibility

Varies based on branch of military.

Documentation Requirements

Contact your designated military personnel officer or representative for more information.

Description

If you have a service-connected disability, you may qualify for discharge of your federal student loans.

Eligibility

• Determination by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that you are unemployable due to a service-connected disability; or

• Determination by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or a physician that you are unemployable due to a total and permanent disability.

To Apply: Call Nelnet at 1-888-303-7818 (Toll Free).

Documentation Requirements

For a VA service-connected disability:

• A completed Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application  this link will open in a new window which can be found on StudentAid.gov/forms in the Loan Forgiveness and Discharge section. You may need to provide additional documentation from the VA showing that you are unemployable due to a service-connected disability.

For a total and permanent disability unrelated to your service:

• A completed Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and additional documentation from the SSA or your physician indicating that you have a total and permanent disability.

To view more information on supporting documentation requirements for Total and Permanent Disability Discharge, visit StudentAid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge  this link will open in a new window.

Description

Temporarily suspend payments while you are serving in an AmeriCorps position for which you received a national service award.

Eligibility

AmeriCorps service.

Documentation Requirements

Contact us to request a Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) Forbearance.

Description

Temporarily suspend your monthly payments while the military repays your federal student loans.

Eligibility

Servicemember of any branch of the U.S. military.

Documentation Requirements

Submit a Mandatory Forbearance form with Section 4 completed by an authorized official.

Description

Temporarily suspend payments during qualifying active state duty or full-time National Guard duty when you do not qualify for a military service deferment or other deferment; and, you were activated no more than six months after the last date on which you were enrolled in school at least half-time.

Eligibility

• During qualifying active state duty or full-time National Guard duty; or,

• When you do not qualify for a military service deferment or other deferment; or,

• Activated no more than six months after the last date on which you were enrolled in school at least half-time.

• Member of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps. Navy is not eligible for this forbearance.

Documentation Requirements

Submit a Mandatory Forbearance application. Section 4 should be completed by an authorized official or you can provide a copy of your orders.