Office of Student Loan Advocacy (SLA)

Upcoming Webinars

Upcoming Webinars

None at this time.
 

Past Webinars

Past Webinars

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): 2026 Updates – 9/16/2026

Are you pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? Confused about all the new changes to student loans? Watch our webinar to learn how federal student loan changes affect borrowers pursuing PSLF.

Topics covered include:

• PSLF program overview 
• PSLF Buyback program 
• July 1 changes affecting PSLF 
• Parent PLUS Loans and PSLF 
• Recent PSLF court decisions

Are you a Washington state resident and have questions about your student loans? Submit your question or complaint to the Student Loan Advocate using the Washington State Student Complaint Portal.

You may also access the presentation slides (PDF) and transcript (PDF, 248.09 KB).

Navigating Federal Student Loan Repayment: Life after SAVE & Avoiding Default

Are you confused about what to do now that the SAVE forbearance is coming to an end? Watch our webinar to learn about the federal student loan repayment options available to borrowers. This webinar features Student Loan Advocates and Ombudspersons from California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington.

We discuss what to expect as the SAVE forbearance ends, review repayment and forgiveness options, and outline steps borrowers can take to avoid delinquency and default. Participants also learned about income-driven repayment plans vs. fixed repayment plans, temporary relief options like forbearance and deferment, and important timelines and deadlines. The session concluded with guidance on available tools and resources to help borrowers navigate repayment moving forward.

You may also access the presentation slides (PDF, 656.14 KB) and transcript (PDF, 139.1 KB).

Navigating the Future of Student Loans: Insights from State Ombudsmen and Advocates webinar – 3/18/2026

This webinar features state student loan Ombudsmen and Advocates from California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. We discuss the latest updates on federal student loans, vital borrower resources, and how these offices can assist you. As significant changes are on the horizon for 2026, this webinar helps you understand how these updates may affect your options moving forward.

We cover essential topics, including borrower rights, repayment plans, new borrowing limits, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), default management, and more. This session is open to all students—both new and existing borrowers—as well as parent borrowers. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain crucial insights and support in navigating the evolving student loan landscape!

You may also access the presentation slides (PDF, 575.51 KB) and transcript (PDF, 172.56 KB).

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): Overview and Updates - 11/19/2025

Have you heard about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, but are not sure if you qualify? Do you want to learn more about how other student loan changes & updates impact PSLF? In this webinar from November 19, 2025, you will get an overview of the PSLF program, including:

• Steps to apply and stay eligible for PSLF.
• Using Studentaid.gov to track your PSLF progress.
• How the PSLF Buyback program works.
• The impacts of recent federal legislation and rulemaking on PSLF.

You may also access the presentation slides (PDF) and transcript (PDF, 171.24 KB).

Understanding Changes to Federal Student Loans - 9/17/2025

Do you want to learn what is happening in the world of student loans right now? Do you have questions about the SAVE forbearance and how it impacts your eligibility for forgiveness? Are you confused about how the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” will affect your student loans? In this webinar, you will get an overview of updates to federal student loans, including: 

• SAVE forbearance and options to remain eligible for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• How the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” is drastically changing federal student loan borrowing and repayment options.
• Status of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Changes to other Federal Student Aid programs, including Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD), and the Joint Consolidation Separation process.

You may also access the presentation slides (PDF, 6.34 MB) and transcript (PDF, 521.31 KB).

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Interested in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? Visit our PSLF page for resources to help you qualify for student loan forgiveness through your public service.

Stay Informed

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates from the Office of Student Loan Advocacy. You will receive information about future webinars and other important news about student loans.

Contact us

Contact us

To ask questions about your loans (including PSLF and other types of forgiveness) or file a complaint, use the Washington State Student Complaint Portal.

A member of our Student Loan Advocacy team will be happy to help you.

Ask us about: 

• Income-driven repayment (IDR).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Delinquency and default.
• Deferment and forbearance.
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge.
• Closed School discharge.
• Consolidation.
• Other student loan questions.

Student loan basics 

Student loan basics

Want to make sense of your student loans? Check out these 5 things you should know from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC):

• What type of student loans do you have?
• What is the status of your loans?
• Who holds the loans?
• Who is your loan servicer?
• What are your student loan goals? 

Get more information

• Help videos from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC):
  • Watch: Know What Type of Loans You Have
  • Watch: How to Use StudentAid.gov
  • Watch: Do You Have FFEL or Perkins Loans?
  • Watch: Private Student Loans
• Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP): 
  • Understanding Student Loans: Strategies & Repayment Plans
  • Student Loan Repayment Checklist 

Income-driven repayment 

Income-driven repayment (IDR)

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans are designed to make student loan payments more affordable. IDR plans adjust monthly payments based on your income and family size. All IDR plans offer forgiveness on your remaining loan balance after making 20 to 30 years of qualifying payments, depending on the specific plan.

Low-income borrowers could qualify for a payment as low as $0-10/month.

The following IDR plans are available for borrowers with only loans prior to July 1, 2026:

• Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
• Pay As You Earn (PAYE)*
• Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)*

*These plans will be phased out by July 1, 2028. Borrowers will be required to move to another plan.

The following IDR plans are available for borrowers with loans, including consolidation loans, disbursed after July 1, 2026:

• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

Note for Parent PLUS borrowers

Parent PLUS borrowers have very limited or no Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) options available. Check out our Parent PLUS tab to learn more.

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Income-driven repayment plans
• StudentAid.gov: Apply for an Income-Driven Repayment plan
• StudentAid.gov: FAQs about IDR plans
• StudentAid.gov: Loan Simulator helps you determine which plan is best for you
• Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP): You may also use EDCAP’s Repayment Plan Calculator to estimate payments under different plans
• National Consumer Law Center: Income-Driven Repayment Plan Loan Forgiveness

Loan forgiveness programs

Loan forgiveness programs

Public service and debt forgiveness. Borrowers who work in public service jobs could be eligible for student loan forgiveness if they meet all of the requirements:

• Work at least 30 hours per week for local, state, federal, or tribal government or nonprofit organizations;
• Have Direct loans;
• Are on an eligible income-driven repayment plan; and
• Make 120 qualifying payments.

Get more information

• WSAC's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Page.
• StudentAid.gov: Learn more about qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• StudentAid.gov: Use the PSLF Help Tool to complete a PSLF form.
• StudentAid.gov: Learn more about Perkins Loan cancellation.
• StudentAid.gov: Learn about other types of loan cancellation and forgiveness.
• StudentAid.gov: Applications for various types of forgiveness and cancellation.

Payment delinquency, default

Payment delinquency and default for Federal Student Loans

Borrowers with delinquent payments can get back on track. Many borrowers fall behind on their student loan payments at some point. Borrowers who are currently behind on their loans, but have not yet defaulted, may be able to lower their monthly payments.

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Understanding delinquency and default
• StudentAid.gov: Avoid default

Borrowers can get out of default. Borrowers who have already defaulted on their loans still have options. They can get out of default and avoid having their wages garnished or tax refunds withheld. Visit these links below for more information.

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Get out of default.
• StudentAid.gov: Make sure to contact the right collection company.
• National Consumer Law Center: What borrowers can do to protect themselves.
• National Consumer Law Center: Request to Stop or Reduce Offset of Social Security Benefits (PDF).

Payment Delinquency and Default for Private Student Loans

Private student lenders are not required by law to offer “get out of default” options. Private student loans often go into default when you miss monthly payments. Depending on the terms of your loan, you can also default on a private student loan if you declare bankruptcy or default on another loan.

Get more information

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What happens if I default on a private student loan?
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What are my options if a debt collection agency contacts me about my student loans?
• National Consumer Law Center: Default & Debt Collection.
• National Consumer Law Center: Negotiating a Settlement.
   

Deferment and forbearance

Deferment and forbearance

Short break from making loan payments. Deferment and forbearance are good options for borrowers who need a break from making student loan payments. These options are best if used for a short period of time. Why? 

• Interest continues to grow, which increases the amount borrowers must pay back.

• Borrowers may miss out on accruing monthly credit towards forgiveness, such as Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Before applying for a forbearance or deferment, it’s always a good idea to check if you may be eligible for a more affordable monthly payment under an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. 

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Find out how to qualify for a forbearance or deferment.
• StudentAid.gov: Find out which forbearances and deferments count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Disability discharge

Total and Permanent Disability discharge (TPD)

Discharge student loans due to disability. Loan discharge may be an option for borrowers who are disabled and unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to their disability. Substantial gainful activity is a level of work performed for pay or profit that involves doing significant physical or mental activities, or a combination of both. Federal Student Aid vendors handle all TPD applications. 

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: TPD eligibility.
• StudentAid.gov: How to Apply for TPD.
• StudentAid.gov: Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Info for Medical Professionals.
• The Institute for College Access & Success: How Medical Professionals Can Help Student Loan Borrowers with Disabilities
• Social Security Administration: Substantial gainful activity guidelines.
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Individual Unemployability for veterans guidelines.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: How to retrieve a VA disability rating letter. (PDF)

Closed schools and loans

Closed schools and loans

Class action lawsuit: Sweet v. McMahon. Sweet v. McMahon (previously known as Sweet v. Cardona) has reached a settlement and it has been finalized. For more information visit Sweet — Project on Predatory Student Lending (ppsl.org).

Discharge student loans due to school closure. Sometimes schools close before students can finish their credential. Students in this situation, who have also taken out loans to pay for their education at the closing school, may be able to get a closed school discharge. Borrowers can qualify if they were:

• Unable to complete their education because their school closed.
• Attending classes when their school closed.
• On an approved leave of absence when their school closed, or if the school closed within 120 days after they withdrew.

Students who do not meet one of the above qualifications can still apply for loan forgiveness through a separate program called Borrower Defense to Repayment. Borrower defense is an application for loan cancellation for students whose school misled them or engaged in other misconduct in violation of certain state laws.

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Closed School Discharge
• StudentAid.gov: FAQs for ITT students
• StudentAid.gov: For ITT students in Washington (PDF)
• StudentAid.gov: Borrower Defense to Repayment
• Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL): Borrower Defense

Consolidation

Direct Consolidation Loan

Combine multiple loans into one. Consolidation can make managing loans simpler, but it is permanent and may have important drawbacks. If you’re a borrower considering consolidation, we strongly encourage you to contact our office for guidance before making a decision. You can submit a request for assistance through the Washington State Student Complaint Portal.

Borrowers may want to consolidate to get out of defaultor to change an older loan type (like a FFEL or Perkins loan) into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

But borrowers should beware that consolidating can erase or decrease their progress towards forgiveness: 

• Income Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness: If borrowers consolidate, they will lose all credit towards IDR forgiveness. Their new Direct Consolidation Loan will start with zero qualifying months.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): If borrowers consolidate, they will receive a weighted average of all their PSLF qualifying payments. Borrowers must certify all public service employment prior to consolidating to get an accurate weighted average on the new Direct Consolidation Loan(s). Borrowers applying to consolidate their loans will also have fewer repayment options. Most consolidation loans disbursed after July 1, 2026, will only be eligible for the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and the Tiered Standard Repayment plan. 

It’s easy to apply to consolidate federal student loans online, and there is no fee or cost for borrowers. However, it’s important for borrowers to research their options before deciding.
 

Joint Consolidation Loan (JCL) Separation

Apply to separate Joint Consolidation Loans. Borrowers can separate their joint loan obligations and reconsolidate into new individual Direct Consolidation Loans. This allows borrowers struggling with their joint consolidation loans to receive significant benefits.

Learn more about the joint consolidation loan separation process, additional benefits, and deadlines on StudentAid.gov.

Get more information

• StudentAid.gov: Learn about consolidation.
• StudentAid.gov: Direct Consolidation loan application.
• StudentAid.gov: Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Process and Application.
• Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP): PSLF Weighted Average Calculator.

Parent Plus Loans

Parent Plus Loans

Parent PLUS debt can be challenging to repay due to limited repayment protections, higher interest rates, and fewer forgiveness options. Parent PLUS borrowers have no or very limited Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) options available, depending on when their loans were disbursed:

• You have only Parent PLUS loans disbursed before July 1, 2026: 
  • Unconsolidated Parent PLUS loans are not eligible for IDR plans. You may access the 10-Year Standard, Graduated, and Extended repayment plans. 
  • If you consolidated your Parent PLUS loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, and it was disbursed before July 1, 2026, you may access the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan until July 1, 2028. 
  • To retain long-term access to IDR, you must make at least one payment under ICR and then switch into the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan before ICR eligibility is phased out.
• You have ANY Parent PLUS loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 (including consolidation loans containing Parent PLUS loans): 
  • You cannot access any IDR plans, including the Repayment Assistance Program (RAP). These loans will only be eligible for the Tiered Standard Repayment plan.
  • You cannot pursue IDR forgiveness.
  • In most cases, you’ll be unable to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for these loan types, as you will not have access to a PSLF-qualifying repayment plan.

Get more information

• Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP): Repayment Plan Calculator
• StudentAid.gov: Learn about other types of loan cancellation and forgiveness
   

Resources in other states

Other state resources

State Student Loan Ombuds programs.

Federal resources

• Federal Student Aid Ombudsman.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Federal Trade Commission.