Last fall, the Department of Education announced an overhaul of the PSLF program designed to allow millions of public service workers who have been struggling under the weight of student loan debt a path to relief. In short, borrowers who were previously ineligible because they had the wrong loan, were making payments on the wrong payment plan, or were knocked off track due to processing errors can now receive credit toward forgiveness for those years worked in public service. 

Why Attend  

During the current waiver period, the Department of Education is allowing borrowers to receive credit toward loan forgiveness for any months since October 1, 2007, during which: 

• They worked full-time for a qualifying public service employer, AND 

• They were in repayment on any federal student loan they took out for their own education. 

You do not have to be currently employed or working full-time to receive loan forgiveness. If you have accrued 120 months of public service employment while your loans were in repayment since October 1, 2007, you can qualify to have your debt cancelled, regardless of what repayment plan you were in, and regardless of whether you actually made a payment for a given month, as long as your loan was not in a deferment, forbearance, or default. 

Who Should Attend?  

Anyone who works in the public sector, including nonprofits, government agencies, and emergency personnel. Basically, anyone who is employed by a public service employer. 

Cost

Free for Everyone

About Our Speakers  

Kat Welbeck  

Kat Welbeck is the Director of Advocacy & Civil Rights Counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center where her work primarily focuses on examining the student debt crisis through a lens of racial and economic justice. Prior to joining the SBPC, she worked in the CFPB’s External Affairs division. 

Before beginning her legal career, Kat taught fourth grade in Houston, TX. She currently serves as a Board member and Program Director of Rising Leaders, Inc., a mentoring and leadership development program for middle school students. She received an A.B. in Sociology and Certificate in African American Studies from Princeton University and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Amy Czulada  

Amy Czulada is the Outreach & Advocacy Manager at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Previously, Amy was a Research Analyst at 32BJ SEIU in New York City. Prior to her work at SEIU, Amy was heavily involved in research and activism around wage theft in the greater Denver area and was also part of the Sanctuary movement in Denver. She graduated with her master’s degree in International Studies from the Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver and has a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from La Salle University, Philadelphia.