skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment; Biden urges Americans to 'bring down the temperature' after Trump's US election win; As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed; As leaves fall in AZ, calls renewed to incentivize electric lawn equipment.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Gratitude, Relief for Public Workers Who Saw Student Debt Erased

play audio
Play

Tuesday, April 19, 2022   

Changes to a federal loan-forgiveness program are erasing debt for public employees, but people have a limited window to consolidate their debt under the overhauled program.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels student debt for public servants after they make 10 years of payments, and was streamlined by the Biden administration last year.

Jordyn Rogers, deputy director of the Great Falls-based nonprofit Rural Dynamics, said the people they have helped qualify for the program have expressed gratitude.

"Just an incredible amount of relief to have one source of debt paid off," Rogers observed. "In some cases, people then can use that extra income to purchase a home for the first time or consider having a career path in the private sector."

The Biden administration's waiver makes certain loan programs and repayment plans that did not qualify for forgiveness eligible for the program. Borrowers must apply by Oct. 31. The U.S. Department of Education estimates the change will help about 550,000 Americans.

Because the program eliminates student debt after 120 monthly payments, Rogers pointed out people should save proof they have made their payments.

"That's probably one of the big ones that we tell our consumers is to track how many payments that you're making on your end," Rogers outlined. "If there is a question of it being eligible you can go back with proof and show that you made that payment."

Rogers added one of the main reasons people are turned away is they do not work for a qualified employer. She encouraged people to use the Education Department's PSLF Help Tool to see if they are eligible.

Disclosure: Rural Dynamics, Inc. contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Disabilities, Philanthropy, and Poverty Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Young people convicted of crimes in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or victim restitution…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin experienced its first election using the state's new competitive political maps, and experts said it made a significant difference in …

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers se…


Protestors rallied for Medicaid expansion at the Kansas Statehouse in March. (Lacey Kennett/Alliance for a Healthy Kansas)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Health-care advocates are vowing to continue their fight to expand Medicaid in Kansas - despite this week's election, which expanded the Republican …

Social Issues

play sound

Once homeless and suffering from addictions himself, Joplin's mayor now leads a crusade to help others overcome the same hardships. About 53,000 …

California voters rejected the latest effort to raise the minimum wage statewide and to allow cities to enact local rent control. (IcemanJ/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

California political analysts say inflation and voter confusion contributed to the failure of propositions to raise the minimum wage and allow stronge…

Social Issues

play sound

Advocates of criminal-justice reform warn the passage of Proposition 36 will mean a sharp reduction in funds to anti-crime initiatives. The measure …

Social Issues

play sound

Donald Trump's victory in the race for the White House was again aided by wins in rural states such as Nebraska. While other contributing factors …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021