Takeaway: Rutgers AAUP-AFT is partnering with the AFT to hold a virtual clinic for members about important updates to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program on November 3, 2021, at 6 p.m. Click here to RSVP for the Zoom link.
Note: If you’re receiving this email, that means you haven’t joined your union yet. This clinic shows the importance of a strong union that can support its members. Please take a minute to join by clicking here.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has settled an important lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that will positively impact thousands of educators with student loans. This settlement provides important enforcement and implementation support regarding the revisions to this program recently announced by the Department of Education. As a Rutgers employee, if you are carrying student loan debt, you may be eligible to enroll in this loan forgiveness program.
The AFT is holding clinics that can help all borrowers be prepared to apply for the PSLF under new rules, get on track for PSLF, and save money on their monthly payments. Our union is partnering with the AFT to hold a virtual clinic on November 3, 2021, at 6 p.m. (click here to RSVP). At the clinic, we’ll demonstrate Summer, a tool that can help you manage loan repayments and enrollment in forgiveness programs.
This important settlement creates significant structural changes in how PSLF will work. It will help ensure that millions of public employees receive the loan forgiveness they were promised. The Department of Education has agreed to:
- Reconsider upon request the application of any borrower who applied for PSLF or Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) and was denied, including borrowers with Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL). Borrowers will now have an official process to contest these determinations, unlike in the past.
- Review all applications for PSLF or TEPSLF denied prior to November 2020 submitted by borrowers with at least 10 years of repayment on a direct loan.
- Give borrowers whose applications are denied again detailed notices that include the reason for denial, the number of remaining PSLF payments before they are eligible for forgiveness, how to determine which payments are qualifying, and a contact person to speak with should they have questions.
In addition to the changes brought about by the lawsuit, the Education Department announced that it will:
- Discharge debt under PSLF if a borrower has worked in public service for at least 10 years and has made 10 years of payments on student loans;
- Retroactively count past payments toward the 120-payment requirement for PSLF; and
- Count previously non-qualifying loan payments, even if those past payments were made on current or prior Federal Family Education Loans, or graduated or other types of payment plans that did not previously count.
This virtual clinic on November 3 at 6 p.m. will be very valuable to those of you with student loans. We hope you take advantage of it. Click here to RSVP for the Zoom link. This clinic is open to all, but if you are not a member of our union, you won’t have access to Summer, the service that can assist you in managing your loans. You can join our union now, and you’ll have full access to Summer.
In solidarity,
Becky and Todd
Rebecca Givan, President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Todd Wolfson, General Vice President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
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