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Public Servants Can Eliminate Student Loan Debt

9/1/2022

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - The Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs urges public service employees to take advantage of a limited-time waiver that can dramatically reduce the amount they owe on their federal student loans. This is separate from President Biden’s recent announcement, and potentially offers greater relief.

Teachers, nurses, firefighters, librarians, and others in who work for government and nonprofit organizations may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Limited Waiver.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 31.

Traditionally, PSLF lets public service employees have their federal student loans forgiven after 120 payments. The limited waiver sweetens the deal. It gives borrowers credit for payments that previously didn’t count—including late, partial and missed payments, and payments made while a borrower was enrolled in the wrong repayment plan.

Learn more about the PSLF waiver and find out if you work for a qualifying employer at studentaid.gov/pslf/. The County’s Department of Consumer Affairs website also has information on the PSLF waiver and tool.

Since the PSLF waiver was announced last year, more than 8,160 Ohioans have used the waiver to shear $438.5 million off their federal student loan debt, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That’s close to $54,000 per person.

“The PSLF waiver can make a significant impact on student loan debt for our residents working in public service,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “While unrelated to President Biden’s recent student loan forgiveness announcement, in combination with that new initiative, this waiver will help put money back into the hands of those who have been paying back on their school loans. I encourage everyone that qualifies to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Borrowers who in the past were turned down are encouraged to apply again using the waiver.

“We don’t want a single County resident who qualifies to miss out on the opportunity to shrink their federal student loan debt,” said Sheryl Harris, Director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs.

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The nonprofit Student Borrower Protection Center is offering webinars on how to navigate the waiver. The next webinar is at 5:00 p.m. on September 8, and registration is now open.

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