Are You Eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness?
Answer a few questions and find out.
Do you have an outstanding loan disbursed on or before October 1, 1998?
Don't know? Access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and browse a list of your loans.
Yes
No
You do not qualify for teacher loan forgiveness.
Unfortunately, you must have borrowed your first federal student loan after October 1, 1998. Or, if you borrowed federal student loans before October 1, 1998, you must have paid that loan or loans off before you borrowed a new loan after October 1, 1998.
Don't qualify for teacher loan forgiveness? You may meet the requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To find out if you do, go to TG's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program webpage.Did you teach at a Title I school(s)?
To find out whether your school is a Title I school(s), browse the online Annual Directory of Designated Low-income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
Yes
No
Did you teach for five complete, consecutive academic years at your qualifying Title I school(s)?
Taught at an elementary or secondary school?
You must have taught at least one year of your service after the 1997-98 academic year.
Taught at an educational service agency?
You must have taught at least one year of your service after the 2007-08 academic year.
Yes
No
You do not qualify for teacher loan forgiveness.
Although you don't qualify for teacher loan forgiveness, you may meet the requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To find out if you do, go to TG's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program webpage.
You are not eligible for teacher loan forgiveness.
The loan or loans for which you are seeking forgiveness must have been made prior to the end of your qualifying service.
Don't qualify for teacher loan forgiveness? You may meet the requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To find out if you do, go here.
Was the loan or loans for which you are seeking forgiveness made prior to the end of your five academic years of qualifying teaching service?
YesNo
You are not yet eligible for teacher loan forgiveness.
You must teach at a Title I school(s) for five consecutive, complete academic years.
Working on your teaching service and want to maximize the amount of your loan forgiveness? You could get up to $5,000 of your balance forgiven, or $17,500 in the case of teachers of special education, secondary math, or secondary science. If you owe less than the potential forgiveness amount for which you may be eligible, you can postpone payments while completing teaching service. Here's how:
- Request a Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) forbearance from your lender or servicer. The lender will grant this forbearance if it appears you will qualify for forgiveness of your entire loan balance at the end of your qualifying teaching service.
Download a Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance request form.
Don't qualify for a TLF forbearance this year? Ask your servicer about an alternate forbearance or deferment. You could also reapply for a TLF forbearance in subsequent years.
Have you received benefits from the AmeriCorps Program for the same teaching service for which you are seeking forgiveness on your loan or loans?
YesNo
You are not eligible to receive loan forgiveness under both the AmeriCorps and Teacher Loan Forgiveness Programs for the same years of teaching service.
Are you in default on the loan or loans you would like forgiven?
YesNo
Loans in default are not eligible for loan forgiveness unless you have made satisfactory repayment arrangements (SRA) with your loan holder.
In a SRA, you must voluntarily make six consecutive, timely, monthly payments of a reasonable and affordable amount (as determined by the loan holder) on your defaulted student loan or loans. To request an SRA, contact your loan holder.
Please note that if you have a non-defaulted loan(s), in addition to any defaulted loan(s) for which you have not made an SRA, you may still be eligible for forgiveness on the non-defaulted loan(s).
Have questions? Contact TG Contact Center Operations at (800) 845-6267.
Did your teaching service begin before or after October 30, 2004?
BeforeAfter
Do you teach full-time in special education or secondary math or science?
Special educationSecondary math
Secondary science
None of the above
Do you meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher?
Find out by reviewing this information.
Yes
No
Do you meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher?
Find out by reviewing this information .
Yes
No
You are not eligible for teacher loan forgiveness.
If your teaching service began after October 30, 2004, you must have met the definition of a highly qualified teacher as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Don't qualify for teacher loan forgiveness? You may meet the requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To find out if you do, go here.
Congratulations! You may qualify for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness.
To start applying, complete and submit an application. Please keep in mind that you will need to submit a separate Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application for each school at which you taught within your five years of teaching service.
Have questions? Contact your loan holder. You may also contact TG Contact Center Operations at (800) 845-6267.
Do you teach special education, or secondary math or science, full-time?
Special educationSecondary math
Secondary science
None of the above
Congratulations! You may qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness.
To start applying, complete and submit an application. Please keep in mind that you will need to submit a separate Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application for each school at which you taught within your five years of teaching service.
Have questions? Contact your loan holder. You may also contact TG Contact Center Operations at (800) 845-6267.
Clicking the options above will automatically step you through the eligibility evaluation.
If you wish to restart the process, use the button below.