Student Loan Forgiveness For Law Enforcement Explained 

Are you a law enforcement worker who has student loans? New policies that are aimed at reducing student debt can provide you with some relief. 

Understanding the programs and policies will help you save as much as possible on your student loan payments. Let’s take a look at some ways by which law enforcement officers can trim their student debt with the help of student loan forgiveness programs.

Do police officers get student loan forgiveness?

Police officers are eligible for exclusive opportunities to be on the receiving end of student loan forgiveness. Borrowers usually have to meet a few specific qualifications, like having a reliable payment history, while working in law enforcement.

Student loan forgiveness options for law enforcement 

Police officers and others in law enforcement have several choices when it comes to receiving loan forgiveness. These programs can either reduce or completely eliminate your debt.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program 

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program rewards law enforcement personnel who make 120 on-time student loan payments. This must be done while they are working full-time for the government or another qualifying organization. 

The PSLF program requires you to make a long-term commitment to a career in law enforcement, but it can be difficult to receive debt forgiveness even if you qualify. While it’s not perfect, the program gives law enforcement an opportunity to have their loans forgiven. 

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness 2022

President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program aims to provide one-time debt relief for low and middle-income families. Qualifying Pell Grant recipients are in a position to receive $20,000 worth of student debt forgiveness, while qualifying non-Pell Grant recipients can get $10,000 of their student loans forgiven. 

A borrower’s income cannot exceed $125,000 in order for them to qualify for student debt forgiveness, whereas households cannot exceed an income of $250,000 to qualify. Borrowers with FFEL or Perkins student loans do not currently qualify for forgiveness based on the latest update because private companies own those loans, not the federal government.

How police officers can get student loan forgiveness

Police officers can receive student loan forgiveness from existing programs as well as President Biden’s one-time Student Loan Forgiveness Debt Relief Program. Here is an outline of the process for receiving debt forgiveness as a law enforcement officer.

Biden’s student loan forgiveness 2022

The U.S. Department of Education obtains and stores income data reported via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some borrowers will automatically receive student loan forgiveness because of this data, as long as it is updated and current. 

Borrowers who do not have their updated income on file can fill out an application, which should be available by early October 2022. If you need to fill out this application, you should complete it before November 15, 2022. That way, you can receive debt relief before the payment pause expires at the end of December.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program 

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program provides debt relief to law enforcement officials who have made 120 on-time student loan payments while working in law enforcement. 

Borrowers with FFEL or Perkins student loans do not currently qualify for the program. Also, borrowers with private loans may have difficulty receiving debt forgiveness, and you must work full-time for a qualifying organization before you can be considered.

Other options for student loan forgiveness for law enforcement

The PSLF program has helped officers repay student debt for over 15 years, and President Biden’s recent policy can further ease the burden of student debt. Law enforcement personnel have additional options for student loan forgiveness as well.

Perkins loan cancellation and discharge

You can receive debt forgiveness for your Perkins loan based on your length of service and volunteer time. You should learn more about the Perkins loan cancellation and discharge to see if you qualify. 

While the Student Aid page about Perkins loans starts with details that focus on teachers, it proceeds to list other occupations that qualify, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, military personnel and other workers.

Total and permanent disability discharge 

A disability can impact your ability to work and perform basic tasks. Although this isn’t the best way to get your debt repaid, law enforcement officers who have a disability can qualify for full student debt relief. That said, you must also have a direct loan, FFEL Program loan or Perkins loan in order for you to qualify.

Discharge due to death 

Borrowers with direct, FFEL or Perkins loans can have their debt discharged as a result of death. A family member or someone you appoint prior to passing away must provide the proper personnel with your death certificate before the debt can be discharged. 

Bankruptcy discharge

While it’s extremely difficult, some borrowers can qualify for a full student loan discharge by filing for bankruptcy. You will need to have taken out a direct, FFEL or Perkins loan to have any chance of getting your debt discharged. From there, the bankruptcy courts must determine that continued student loan repayments would provide you with an undue hardship, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Getting your student loan debt forgiven 

Student debt forgiveness can minimize the financial burden of student loans and provide a fresh start for certain law enforcement personnel. You should assess your options and figure out how to tap into each one. The programs are available for a reason, and they serve as strong complements to making student loan payments, so don’t pass up these opportunities.