BY SAMANTHA BARTLETT

In 2007, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) was created to encourage people to choose careers in public service. The program would forgive federal student loans for borrowers who had worked in a public service job for 10 years (120 payments). While on paper the program looks good, the implementation is not so good. The program reported a very low acceptance rate and many lawmakers pushed for a change. 

In response, the government created the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (TEPSLF) for borrowers who had been denied under the original PSLF. Again, the implementation left much to be desired. As of June, 99% of applicants to the TEPSLF have been rejected. Of the $700millin approved in funding by Congress, only $26.9million have been awarded. 

Many applicants (71%) were denied because they had not first submitted a PSLF program application. According to the acceptance guidelines, an applicant must first submit a PSLF application and be denied before applying for the TEPSLF program. Other frustrations that applicants have shared involve lack of information. Many of the help tools and online documents from the Department of Education still do not provide adequate information needed to correctly apply for the TEPSLF program. 

TEPSLF program requires that applicants submit a PSLF and have that application be denied solely because payments were not made under a qualifying repayment plan for PSLF, have at least 10 years of full-time employment with a qualifying employer, have met the TEPSLF requirement for the amount paid 12 months prior to applying for TEPSLF and, have made 120 qualifying payments under the new requirements for TEPSLF while working full-time for their qualifying employer or employers. Also, only federal Direct Loans are eligible for the TEPSLF program. 

The AVMA has a Public Service Loan Forgiveness page with more tips and information for qualifying for the program that can be accessed at avma.org/PSLF. The AVMA also encourages any veterinarians that have applied for the PSLF or TEPSLF program contact JAVMA News to tell their story whether their application has been accepted or denied.