Although employees of government agencies (federal, state, or local) and 501(c)(3) charities have qualified employment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), those that work for a private, non-profit employer may benefit as well.

Employer Must Provide Certain Public Services

Said employer is a qualifying public service organization if it provides certain specified public services. These services include

  • emergency management;
  • military service;
  • public safety or law enforcement services;
  • public health services;
  • public education or public library services;
  • school library and other school-based services;
  • public interest law services;
  • early childhood education; or
  • public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

The organization must not be a labor union or a partisan political organization, however. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the type or nature of employment with the organization does not matter for PSLF purposes.

However, when determining full-time public service employment at a not-for-profit organization you may not include time spent participating in religious instruction, worship services, or any form of proselytizing.

For federal student loan debtors that qualify for the Income Based Repayment (IBR) or Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) plans, this program can be very beneficial, as it can discharge any unpaid balances after 120 payments, rather than 25 years.

So What Do I Do?

If you live in southern New Jersey and would like to consult with me on your loans, please feel free to call my office at 856-432-4113 or contact me through this site to schedule an appointment in my Woodbury office to discuss your case.

If you would like more information about student loans, you can dowload my free book, I Graduated; Now What? A Guide to Dealing with Your Student Loans.

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Steven J. Richardson
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Bankruptcy, Collections, Student Loan, DUI and Traffic Court attorney in Woodbury, NJ.