The public Service Loan Forgiveness program is intended to encourage individuals to enter public service. It forgives the fresh federal student loan balances away from qualified consumers exactly who make at least ten years regarding money during specific public-service jobs.

New Agencies out-of Studies rejected 94% of program people throughout the Company off Safety. (I prior to now discovered an effective 99% assertion rates for everyone individuals.) The most popular assertion factors were not adequate repayments and you can unfinished apps.

We produced 5 ideas for DOD and Studies to boost awareness of the system and its particular standards from the sharing information and you may working together collectively.

What GAO Discover

Staff on the Institution from Protection (DOD)-plus solution members and you may civilian personnel-is generally eligible for federal student loan forgiveness from Public Solution Mortgage Forgiveness (PSLF) system whenever they stay in public service a job for 10 years and then make 120 being qualified mortgage repayments, certainly most other standards. Since , Agencies from Education (Education) study reveal that 287 DOD consumers obtained loan forgiveness, whenever you are 5,180 DOD borrowers (about 94 percent) was rejected (look for figure). The most popular aspects of this new denials just weren’t adequate qualifying costs and you may shed details about the form. GAO in earlier times said when you look at the an overall total denial speed away from 99 % for everyone PSLF software filed because of the borrowers. More details off DOD could help potential candidates watch out for the eligibility criteria.

As the manager, Education have specialized knowledge about new PSLF system but has not yet mutual done advice having DOD. Studies authorities have not distributed to DOD summation details about their professionals who possess taken procedures to pursue PSLF otherwise solution members whom could be eligible. Studies authorities together with stated they have not shared the benefits of with the PSLF system including DOD’s student loan fees system. Education officials have likewise perhaps not updated new student loan publication to have services players with certain information about PSLF. Knowledge could take most strategies to improve guidance sharing in the PSLF that have DOD group. DOD officials indicated interest in acquiring a whole lot more program pointers. Venture one of the departments and you will online title loans Tennessee direct lenders updated system guidance may help DOD authorities and its particular teams when deciding to take full benefit of PSLF.

DOD will not commonly utilize the PSLF program getting recruitment and maintenance to market readiness even with up against demands in some expertise community sphere. Some DOD officials i interviewed stated that it preferred to use most other DOD gurus and you can incentives you to DOD really control, such as for example incentives otherwise DOD’s education loan fees system. DOD could increase the recruitment and you may retention perform to advertise readiness that have agencies-broad and you may solution-certain pointers about how the new PSLF system can be put while the a tool to own such as for example services.

As to why GAO Did This research

Immediately whenever student loan obligations continues to mount getting of many, the fresh new PSLF system-established in 2007 and you can administered because of the Knowledge-is meant to prompt visitors to follow professions in public places solution.

Senate Report 116-48 provided a provision having GAO to learn the potency of the new PSLF system from the promoting army and civil employment and you can storage in addition to army readiness. GAO’s declaration assesses the new extent that (1) DOD team follow and discovered loan forgiveness from PSLF program, (2) Studies features mutual information that have DOD officials and its military and you will civilian team concerning system, and you will (3) DOD spends the application form getting recruitment and you may retention to promote readiness.

GAO examined student loan studies regarding Knowledge additionally the PSLF servicer right from the start of your own system thanks to ; reviewed related statutes, documents, and other guidance about PSLF, experts, employment, storage, and you will maturity; and you may interviewed DOD and you will Degree authorities.