How to fill out the Public Service Loan Forgiveness application

What steps should I take before I apply for PSLF?

Applying for PSLF is more than just submitting the application. Make sure you can check these steps off your list before getting started:

• 1. Make 120 qualifying repayments.

  Before you can apply for PSLF, you must make 120 eligible repayments. This means:

  • You’re enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan.
  • You made these repayments while working at a qualifying public service job.
  • Your loans are in the Federal Direct Loan Program

  If you haven’t started making eligible repayments, consider consolidating any FFEL, Perkins or Direct PLUS Loans with a Direct Consolidation Loan. Already started? You might want to consider other forgiveness options for those loans since consolidating means you’ll have to start over again.

• 2. Submit an Employer Certification Form for each eligible employer.

  Your repayments don’t count toward PSLF until you’ve submitted the Employer Certification Form (ECF) for each employer you worked for. Once you submit your first ECF, the Department of Education (DoE) transfers your loans to FedLoan. The servicer then processes your request and lets you know if your repayments actually counted toward the program.

  The DoE and FedLoan recommend you start submitting your ECFs as soon as you’ve you made your first eligible repayment toward PSLF. But it’s not required. You can submit ECFs at any time as long as you’ve made an eligible repayment.

• 3. Gather documents and information you need for the application.

  Having the following documents and information on hand before you apply can speed up the application process:

  • Most recent W-2 or your employer’s federal employer identification number (FEIN)
  • Start date with your current employer
  • Type of employer you currently work for, such as a government organization
  • Your employer’s tax-exempt status, such as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)

  You must be working for an eligible employer when you apply for PSLF. Otherwise, you’re not eligible for forgiveness.

How to fill out the PSLF application form in 5 steps

You can complete the PSLF application form online by using the PSLF Help Tool on StudentLoans.gov or by downloading the application and filling it out yourself.

If you choose to fill it out yourself, you can type in your answers or print them by hand using dark ink. Make sure your name and Social Security number are on all pages. Write all dates as numerals in the following order: month, day and year (MM/DD/YYYY).

Regardless of the method you use to fill out the form, you need to print the PDF to have it certified by your current employer.

Step 1: Fill out the borrower information.

Enter your Social Security number, birthday, name and contact information under Section 1: Borrower information. If anything has changed about your personal information since you took out your student loans or submitted your most recent ECF, check the box at the top of the section.

Step 2: Read and sign the borrower request, understandings, certification and authorization.

Carefully review the disclosures under Section 2: Borrower authorizations, understandings and certifications. If you don’t want your loans to go into forbearance while FedLoan processes the application, check the box at the top of the section. Go over the understandings to review your eligibility requirements and what will happen after you submit this form.

By signing and submitting this application, you’re authorizing your employer to give FedLoan your employment records. You’re also pledging to let the DoE know if you leave your current job while your application is being processed as soon as possible.

Check the box at the bottom of this section if your employer closed or will not certify your employment. If this is the case, the DoE will contact you to find another way to verify your employment.

If you haven’t already, print the PDF to sign and date the form — or hold off on this until you’ve completed the next section.

Step 3: Provide information about your employer.

Either you or your employer can complete Section 3: Employer information. Whoever fills out this section needs to provide basic information about your employer and answer questions to determine if it qualifies for PSLF.

If you held off on printing until you completed this section, now is the time to print, sign and date the Borrower authorizations, understandings and certifications section.

Step 4: Bring the application to your employer for certification.

Bring your application to someone who qualifies as an authorized official at your organization to sign and date Section 4: Employer certification.

The DoE defines an authorized official as anyone who works for your employer, has access to your employment records and is authorized by the organization to certify your employment status. Ask your manager if you’re not sure who to bring your PSLF application to.

Step 5: Submit your application to FedLoan.

After your employer returns the signed form, you have a few options to submit your PSLF application. If FedLoan is your servicer, you can upload your application directly to FedLoan by logging in to your account.

Otherwise, mail it to the following address:

US Department of Education
FedLoan Servicing
PO Box 69184
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9184

You can also fax it to 717-720-1628.

What happens after I submit my PSLF application?

Once FedLoan receives your application, you can expect the following to happen:

• Your servicer could change. If you’ve never submitted an ECF and you have a different servicer, the DoE transfers your loans to FedLoan.
• You might not have to make repayments. Unless you opted out of forbearance, your student loan repayments will be paused while your application is being processed. Wait until FedLoan confirms you’re in forbearance before you stop repayments.
• The DoE verifies your employment. If the DoE thinks you’re eligible for PSLF, it’ll get in touch with your current employer to check your employment records.
• The DoE accepts or denies your application. After verifying your application the DoE or FedLoan will contact you if you’re approved or let you know that some of your repayments don’t qualify.

Bottom line

Even if you’ve submitted ECFs religiously for the past 10 years, you can’t receive PSLF unless you submit the application form. Double- and triple-check it to make sure you didn’t make any mistakes that could disqualify you after all that hard work.

You can learn more about how it all works with our guide to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I have to pay taxes on my forgiven debt?

  No. Unlike with other forgiveness programs, you don’t pay taxes on what’s forgiven through the PSLF Program.

• What can I do if my application is wrongly rejected?

  If you think your application was rejected by mistake, you can submit additional documentation to FedLoan Servicing and ask for a re-evaluation.

• I have a Direct PLUS Loan. Am I eligible for PSLF?

  Yes, Direct Loans are eligible for PSLF. However, you have to consolidate any Parent PLUS Loans with a Direct Consolidation Loan to be eligible for an income-driven repayment plan, which is required for PSLF.