Office of Student Loan Advocacy (SLA)

SLA: Assisting student loan borrowers in Washington

The Office of Student Loan Advocacy (SLA) works with other state agencies to support current and future student loan borrowers in Washington State by:

Answering questions from student loan borrowers.
Attempting to resolve complaints about student loan services.
Sharing helpful information and resources about student loans.
Educating the public about borrowers’ rights and responsibilities

Upcoming Webinars

Virtual Webinar: Navigating the Future of Student Loans

Navigating the Future of Student Loans: Insights from State Ombudsmen and Advocates webinar

Join this webinar featuring state student loan Ombudsmen and Advocates from California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

In this informative session, we will 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 will help you understand how these updates may affect your options moving forward.

This webinar will 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!

Date: March 18, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm

Past Webinars

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 and transcript.

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 and transcript.

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates from the Office of Student Loan Advocacy to receive info about future webinars and other important student loan announcements and news.

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.

Common terms

Loan servicer. A loan servicer is a company that handles the billing and other services on your federal student loan.
Direct loans. A federal student loan borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education to attend a participating school.
Direct Consolidation loans. When borrowers combine many federal student loans into one new loan.
Loan discharge or loan forgiveness. Cancellation of a borrower's obligation to repay all or a portion of the remaining principal and interest owed on a student loan.
Private student loans. A loan issued by a bank, lender, or other institution. Private loans are not backed by the federal government and are made outside of the federal government student loan programs.
For a full list of student loan terms, visit: Student loans key terms | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Resources for Borrowers

Student loans can feel overwhelming, but you have options. Check out the tabs below to find a strategy that fits your situation and learn how to handle common challenges with confidence.

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):

Get more information

Help videos from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC):
Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP):
- Understanding Student Loans: Strategies & Repayment Plans
- Student Loan Repayment Checklist

Income-driven repayment

Income-driven repayment (IDR)

Borrowers can base their monthly student loan payments on their income. Depending on loan eligibility, the loan payment could be anywhere from 10-20% of discretionary income. Low-income borrowers could have a monthly income-driven payment as low as $0.

Get more information

StudentAid.gov: Income-driven repayment plans.
StudentAid.gov: FAQs about IDR plans.
StudentAid.gov: Loan Simulator helps you determine which plan is best for you.

Loan forgiveness programs

Public service and debt forgiveness. Borrowers who have full-time public service jobs could be eligible for debt forgiveness if they do all of the following:

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.
Make 120 on-time payments on their student loans.

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 this tool to determine eligibility for PSLF.
StudentAid.gov: Learn more about Perkins Loan cancellation.
StudentAid.gov: Applications for various types of forgiveness and cancellation.
StudentAid.gov: Learn about other types of loan cancellation and forgiveness.

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.

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

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.

Get more information

StudentAid.gov: Find out how to qualify for either.

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.

Closed schools and loans

Class action lawsuit: Sweet v. Cardona. 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
StudentAid.gov: Borrower Defense to Repayment
Harvard Law School: Project on Predatory Student Debt

Consolidation

Direct Consolidation Loan

Combine many loans into one loan. Borrowers may want to consolidate to get out of default, to get access to Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) if they have Parent PLUS loans, or to change an older loan type (like a FFEL or Perkins loan) into a Direct Consolidation Loan.

But borrowers should beware that the Department announced it is interpreting a recent court order to, at least for now, block it from applying an important rule that preserved borrowers’ credit for time earned toward reaching forgiveness in Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) when they consolidate. This means that if borrowers apply to consolidate their loans now, they risk losing credit for all the qualifying time that counted towards IDR forgiveness. Their new consolidation loan will start with zero qualifying months.

It’s easy to apply to consolidate federal student loans online, and there is no fee or cost for borrowers. 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.

All joint consolidation loan borrowers that plan to separate their loan(s) have until June 30, 2025, to submit an Application/Promissory Note to receive the benefits of the payment count adjustment on their new Direct Consolidation Loan.

Get more information

StudentAid.gov: Learn about consolidation.
StudentAid.gov: Direct Consolidation loan application.
StudentAid.gov: Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Process and Application.

Resources in other states

Other state resources

State Student Loan Ombuds programs.

Federal resources

About the student loan advocate

The student loan advocate has independent statutory authority to analyze and monitor laws and policies that impact student loan borrowers at the federal, state, and local level, and to make recommendations. The student loan advocate also works directly with loan borrowers to address complaints and help them navigate issues and identify resources.