Public service loan forgiveness program qualified employer

What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program?

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a government program that will forgive the remaining balance of a Direct loan (student loan) if you work full time for a qualified employer.

Do I qualify for this program?

You must meet all of the qualifications below to participate in this program:

• Have a Direct Loan (a type of federal student loan) or consolidate your loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan
• Make all of your payments so far under a qualifying repayment plan
• Have at least 10 years of full-time employment certified by a qualifying employer. (A qualified employer is usually a government or a non-profit organization)
• Meet all of the qualifications for the amount you paid 12 months prior to applying for the program.
• Make 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualified employer.

To see if you qualify for this program, click here.

I qualify for this program! What should I do next?

Fill out a PSLF form periodically or every time you change qualified employers so that it is easier to track and get accepted after 10 years. For more information on this, click on this link.

I want more information on this program.

For more information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program or if you have more questions about if you qualify, visit studentaid.gov or click on this link.

If some or all of your payments were not made on a qualifying repayment plan, you may still qualify for the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program. For more information on this, click on this link.

Temporary Changes

Temporary changes were made that provided borrowers of a Direct Loan flexibility to receive loan forgiveness through the PSLF Program by allowing borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for the PSLF Program due to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary changes also allowed multiple federal education loans to be consolidated into one Direct Loan. This means that someone who was not eligible to have their loans forgiven may now be eligible. These temporary changes will end October 31, 2022, and eligibility for loan forgiveness is the same as required by regulations before the pandemic. For more information about this temporary change, click here.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is a federal program created for those in public service jobs, offering the opportunity to have their federal loan balances forgiven after 120 qualifying monthly payments.

The PSLF program is separate from and in addition to the one-time debt cancellation of up to $20,000 available through President Biden's executive action. You are strongly encouraged to complete both the PSLF tool and the cancellation application as soon as possible to ensure you receive full debt relief.

Read important tips about how to protect yourself from scams as you apply for relief.

The University of California (EIN: 94-3067788) is a qualified employer for the PSLF program. Generally, many full-time UC employees who otherwise qualify may be eligible to apply their months of employment towards PSLF.

To ensure as many eligible UC faculty and staff as possible can take advantage of this program as possible, this page will be updated regularly with news and resources.

Important changes to the PSLF program

The Department of Education has announced a set of actions to help more people take advantage of the PSLF program, including a time-limited waiver so that student borrowers can count payments from all federal loan programs or repayment plans toward forgiveness. This includes loan types and payment plans that were not previously eligible. The Department of Education will pursue opportunities to automate PSLF eligibility, give borrowers a way to get errors corrected and make it easier for members of the military to get credit toward forgiveness while they serve. 

The waiver will run through October 31, 2022. 

Please note: To qualify under the waiver you should generate a PSLF employment verification form using the PSLF Help Tool before 11:59 p.m. EST on October 31, 2022. If you need to consolidate your loans, the Department of Education has clarified that consolidation requests need to be submitted online through StudentAid.gov by the October 31 deadline in order to count under the waiver. After taking these steps, you must still print, sign, have your employer(s) sign, and submit the PSLF form to MOHELA, the PSLF servicer as soon as possible.

How do I obtain the employer information and signatures I need?

You must generate your PSLF application and employer verification form through the online PSLF tool for submission to UCPath before Oct. 31, 2022 (Application forms completed on paper or outside of the PSLF tool still must have employment certification and be submitted to the Department of Education by the Oct. 31 deadline). Under updated PSLF rules, you can meet the Oct. 31, 2022, waiver deadline even if your request for employment verification has not been completed by that date. 

Helpful tips from UCPath to avoid delays:

• Complete page 1 of the form (sections 1 and 2) with borrowers information ONLY.
• Make sure you sign and date your PSLF form before submitting to UCPath. A physical (pen and ink) signature is required; digital signatures are not accepted.
• If you are or were classified as a variable paid employee, you must contact your campus location to complete the certification.
• Ensure you meet ALL PSLF eligibility requirements; part-time employment does not meet the qualifications for loan forgiveness.

1. Use the PSLF Help Tool to complete the PSLF Application for Forgiveness.
2. Submit the form to the UCPath Center for completion of Sections 3 and 4:
   • Active employees: Submit your request online through your UCPath account:
     • Go to Ask UCPath > Submit An Inquiry
     • Complete the "Submit Inquiry" form (topic: "Human Resources") and click submit
   • Former UC employees: Submit your request via email to
   • Along with your request, please specify how and where to return the form.
3. For most efficient processing, submit the completed form by fax to 866-222-7060.

Or mail to:
U.S. Department of Education
MOHELA
633 Spirit Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63005-1243

Contact a MOHELA PSLF Specialist at 855-265-4038. MOHELA, one of the federal loan servicers, administers the PSLF Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. If MOHELA is already your servicer, you may upload your PSLF form on MOHELA's website.

#UCStudentDebtChallenge Virtual Town Hall

Thank you to those who attended a #UCStudentDebtChallenge Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. You are invited to watch a recording of the full afternoon session below.

The question and answer period from the morning session is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4_uSnYV1e8