If I have a Perkins loan and I am interested in Public Service Loan Forgiveness, what do I need to know?
New! On Oct. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a temporary period during which borrowers may receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF or TEPSLF. For current PSLF guidance and to learn more about this limited time opportunity visit ED's website.
Before you enroll in Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you should know that if you have a Perkins loan, you may be eligible for a different benefit if you work in certain public service professions.
This benefit is known as Perkins loan cancellation. For each complete year of service, a percentage of the loan may be canceled. The total percentage of the loan that can be canceled depends on the type of public service performed.
If you choose to consolidate a Perkins loan into a federal Direct Consolidation Loan to become eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you will no longer be eligible for Perkins loan cancellation. You should understand your options before you choose to consolidate. More information about Perkins loan cancellation is available on the Federal Student Aid website .