Musings: Loan forgiveness put in limbo
A sign outside the Supreme Court. As of July 1, student loans entered forbearance, suspending a program that faces Supreme Court scrutiny and leaving them in limbo, a reader writes. Credit: AP/Mariam Zuhaib
Those who pursue careers in public service are to be lauded. People like nurses and nonprofit staffers work extremely long hours and face stressful work to keep the government functioning and help people better their lives.
Since these individuals earn much lower wages than the private sector, incentives are offered. One is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, offering students loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualified payments while working full-time for eligible organizations.
Many individuals who relied on the promise of loan forgiveness, however, are now facing uncertainty. As of July 1, their loans entered forbearance, suspending a program that faces Supreme Court scrutiny and leaving them in limbo. Many people don’t realize that the months that loans are in forbearance don’t count.
Without government communication, many are left in the dark. This could remove an incentive for workers to enter critical positions, straining areas already in need of services.
— Judie Ulberg, Bellmore
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