How to Repay a Perkins Loan in 2023
One of the fastest-growing types of consumer debt in the US is student loan debt. The total amount of outstanding student loan debt, which includes more than 43 million borrowers, exceeds $1 trillion. According to savingforcollege.com, the average debt per borrower is expected to be approximately $33,500.
There are many different types of loans. Banks and other financial entities make private loans. Refinance loans are designed for graduates who are currently making loan payments.
On the other hand, federal loans are provided through government-sponsored lending schemes. The Perkins loan program, which started in 1958, was one of them. What you need to know if you still have a Perkins loan is shown below.
A Perkins Loan: What Is It?
A Perkins loan was a low-interest loan option made accessible to undergraduate and graduate students who proved an extraordinary need for financial help under the federal government’s Perkins Loan Program.
In 1958, the program got under way. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form was used to assess eligibility, and loans were disbursed directly through the school’s financial aid office.
This indicates that the government served as the subsidizing entity, while the school served as the lender. The government made interest payments while the borrower was a student.
Before the program’s expiration on September 30, 2017, almost 500,000 loans were given to students.
5 On June 30, 2018, final payments were made. Federal direct loans, sometimes referred to as Stafford loans, took the role of the program.
Your Perkins Loan Repayment
You have nine months after you graduate, quit school, or drop below half-time status if you are still enrolled and enrolled at least half-time before you must start repaying the loan. The Department of Education advises contacting your school to see how long your grace period is if you are only going part-time.
After the nine-month grace period is through, Perkins loans are normally fully repaid within ten years. The loan is often repaid by students to their school or a certified loan servicer directly.
You might also be able to take advantage of a few more alternatives when it comes time to repay your Perkins loan. The loan servicing business or the financial assistance office at your school can clarify your alternatives.
Forbearance or Deferral
After the nine-month grace period has passed and you are still unable to make payments, you may request a deferral or forbearance to put off repayment. You may be qualified for an in-school deferral if you have a Perkins loan from a prior school that is about to mature and you are still enrolled at least half-time.
Cancellation
Teaching, nursing, firefighting, and other public service careers may qualify you to have all or a portion of your Perkins loan debt forgiven after a specific amount of time.
Discharge
Additionally, there are conditions under which your debt may be dismissed. These might entail demise, severe incapacity, or personal bankruptcy. In addition, you can be eligible for a release if your institution closes.
Earnings-Based Repayment
Only if you consolidate your Perkins loans into a federal direct consolidation loan will you be able to have the payments tailored to your income level. The Department of Education advises “not include your Federal Perkins Loans when you combine” if you have Federal Perkins Loans and work in a profession that makes you eligible for Perkins Loan Cancellation Benefits.
The Revised Pay-As-You-Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE) requires payments to be made over 20 years for undergraduate loans and 25 years for graduate school loans, and the amount is typically 10% of your discretionary income.
Again, payments under the Pay-As-You-Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE) are typically 10% of your discretionary income, but only up to the amount of your 10-year Standard Repayment Plan. Typically, this lasts for 20 years.
Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR): Payments should not exceed your 10-year Standard Repayment Plan amount and should be made at a rate of 10% or 15% of your discretionary income. The percentage and the time period for payments, which might be either 20 or 25 years, depend on when
you obtained the direct loan.
Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR): With this option, your payments would be based on a repayment plan with a set payment over 12 years, adjusted for your income, and would be no more than 20% of your discretionary income. With an ICR plan, the payback time is 25 years.
Any outstanding loan debt is discharged under all four income-driven repayment plans once the necessary payments have been completed for the necessary number of years.
The Direct Consolidation Loan Application is available on the Federal Student Aid website of the U.S. Department of Education, where you can also get additional information about the procedure and consolidate your federal loans.
Although the Perkins Loans Program was terminated by the federal government, additional student loans are still available to anyone who can prove they are in need of financial assistance. A few of these are: