Cancellations
Under certain conditions, a borrower may have all or part of his or her loan canceled. Cancellation means that a portion of all of the principal borrowed plus accrued interest will never have to be repaid by the borrower.
Important note: Before consideration may be given for any partial cancellation request (or a request for payment postponement/deferment in anticipation of a future partial cancellation), the borrower's account must be current to the beginning date of qualifying employment. Please contact the Student Loan Service Center if you need additional information.
TEACHER
- Full–time teacher in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school serving students from low–income families or
Full–time teacher of handicapped students in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school. The majority of the students the borrower teaches must be handicapped children. - Full–time special–education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system;
- Full–time teacher in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education or in any other field of expertise that is determined by a state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers in that state;
- Full–time staff member in HEAD START.
NURSE
A licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, or other individual who is licensed by the appropriate state agency to provide nursing services.
MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
An allied health professional (working in fields such as therapy, dental hygiene, medical technology, or nutrition) who is certified, registered, or licensed by the appropriate state agency in the state in which he or she provides health care services; an allied health professional is someone who assists, facilitates, or complements the work of physicians and other specialists in the health care system.
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL PROVIDER OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
A provider of services, as defined in section 672(2) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Section 672(2) of that Act defines developmental services as those services that are provided under public supervision; are provided at no cost except where federal or state law provides for a system of payments by families, including a schedule of sliding fees; are designed to meet a handicapped infants’ or toddler’s developmental needs.
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY EMPLOYEE
To receive loan cancellation for being employed at a child or family services agency, a borrower must be providing services only to high–risk children who are from low–income communities. The borrower may also be providing services to adults, but these adults must be members of the families of the children for whom services are provided. The services provided to adults must be secondary to the services provided to the high–risk children. The Department has determined that an elementary or secondary school system or a hospital is not an eligible employing agency.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CORRECTIONS OFFICER
To establish the eligibility of a borrower for the law enforcement or corrections officer cancellation provision, the school must determine that 1) the borrower’s employment agency is eligible and 2) the borrower’s position is essential to the agency’s primary mission. Please contact the Student Loan Service Center to determine if you are eligible. (Agencies that are primarily responsible for enforcement of civil, regulatory, or administrative laws are ineligible.)
MILITARY SERVICE CANCELLATION
The HEOA eliminates the 50 percent limitation on military service cancellations. Borrowers may now receive military service cancellation of up to 100 percent.
FULL–TIME STAFF MEMBER PREKINDERGARTEN OR CHILD CARE PROGRAM
The borrower must be a full–time staff member in a family child care program, center–based child care program. State prekindergarten program, school program, or other out–of home early childhood development care program, that is: licensed or regulated by the State; and serves two or more unrelated children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten.
FULL–TIME FIRE FIGHTERS
The borrower must be a full–time fire fighter with a local, State or Federal fire department or fire district.
LIBRARIAN WITH MASTER’S DEGREE
The borrower must be a full–time librarian with a master’s degree in library science who is employed in an elementary or secondary school that qualifies for Title I funding, or in a public library that serves a geographic area that includes on or more Title I schools.
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
The borrower must be a full–time speech language pathologist with a master's degree who is working exclusively with Title I eligible schools.
FULL–TIME PUBLIC DEFENDER
The borrower must be a full–time public defender.
15% for each of the first and second year;
20% for each of the third and fourth years; and
30% for the fifth year.
DEATH
Upon receipt of a COPY OF THE CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE, the unpaid balance of the loan, including interest will be canceled.
TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY Effective July 1, 2013
There are now 3 ways that a borrower can be eligible:
- Showing that the VA has determined the individual is unemployable due to a service connected disability.
- If individual is receiving SSDI or SSI Benefits the borrower can submit SSA notice of award stating individuals next scheduled disability review will be within 5 to 7 years from the date of the individuals most recent SSA disability (NEW) or
- Individual can submit a certification from a physician that he or she is totally and permanently disabled.
The Borrower must make a request directly to the US Department of Education by callling 1-888-303-7818 or email at disabilityinformation@nelnet.net