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Program Updates Make Student Loan Forgivness Easier for Public Workers [AUDIO]

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After changes to streamline the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, more workers are getting their student debt erased.

The U.S. Education Department program forgives student loans for public sector employees after ten years of consistent payments.

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Anneliese Simon is a psychiatric social worker at Western State Hospital and member of the Washington Federation of State Employees. She’d racked up more than $50,000 in debt.

She said she used the revamped program and worked with the Education Department website.

“I used their little tool that typed everything in,” said Simon. “And then sent it to our HR department and then faxed it over the student loan folks and surprise, surprise! A few weeks later my loan was forgiven.”

Since overhauling the program in October, more than 127,000 people have qualified for the program, according to the federal data. However, the waiver making it easier to qualify is only in place until October 31.

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Simon said her application was probably simplified because she’s had the same employer since she graduated. But she said applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness is worth the time – especially when you do the math.

“I maybe spent a total of an hour on this,” said Simon. “And for an hour I got $11,000 forgiven. I thought that was time well spent.”

Simon said this is an important program that public service employees deserve, noting they’re paid less than the private sector and it’s a good incentive to bring workers into public work.

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“Public servants,” said Simon, “people who work with the public, people who do the jobs that most people would not want to do, are important and run this country.”


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Eric Tegethoff | WNS

Eric Tegethoff is a journalist covering the Northwest. Eric has worked as a reporter for KBOO, XRAY FM, and Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland, Oregon, as well as other print and digital news media. In 2012, Eric traveled to North Dakota to write about the Bakken region oil boom. He’s also worked at a movie theater, as a campaign canvasser, and quality assurance at a milk packaging factory. Eric is originally from Orlando, Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2010.

The above article was provided by Washington News Service. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its content.

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