Jeff has long worked to support the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which provides federal student loan forgiveness to borrowers who work in public service. From military service members and first responders, to teachers and public health workers, these public servants dedicate their lives to bettering their communities and their country—often for lower pay than they could receive for work in the private sector. PSLF provides an important incentive that allows highly qualified individuals to pursue careers in public service without the risk of being burdened by a lifetime of student debt.
So when Shelley reached out to Jeff’s office for help with her loan forgiveness, his team was eager to help. After working for a decade in the transit industry, Shelley had successfully made 124 payments on her student loans—more than the PSLF qualification of 10 years of service and 120 payments. Yet, in the midst of economic uncertainty for transit workers due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education had not acknowledged Shelley’s application for loan forgiveness.
“I have contacted an ombudsman and not heard back. I call FedLoan once a week and no help. I have put in a complaint with Student Aid and not heard back,” Shelley wrote to Jeff’s team. “Please help with this messed up Federal process.”
Jeff’s office reached out to the agency, which claimed that Shelley did not qualify for PSLF, even though she did. Over the next two months, Jeff’s office worked with the Department of Education to reconsider that determination and successfully get Shelley’s application approved. Finally, Shelley had over $123,000 of student loans forgiven.
“Thank you for looking into it; I believe it definitely pushed it forward quickly. Without you I could still be waiting for forgiveness,” Shelley wrote to Jeff’s team. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”
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