I am so happy and relieved that UFT’s Student Debt Relief Program helped me get $62,865 in loans waived.
As an educator, I assumed I was qualified for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program after making 120 monthly payments over 10 years. But when I called the loan company, I was told I was not in the correct repayment plan and would have to switch and make another 120 payments to qualify.
During the quarantine, one of the UFT emails I received said the union was working with the National Student Debt Forgiveness Center (NSDFC) to help staff members get their loans forgiven. I attended an online session in the spring of 2020 and provided a pay stub and some other documentation. From there, the NSDFC did all the legwork and sent me updates. I started the payment process over in a new plan, so the number of payments was low at first, which was disheartening. But after President Biden announced a temporary expansion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in the fall of 2021, I found out that all my previous payments would count. In May 2022, it became official – all of my remaining loan was waived.
I am grateful that the UFT kept sending out correspondence about the loan forgiveness program because at some point I was able to see it and I am so grateful for that program. It also felt great that the NSDFC was vetted by the UFT. It just made it easier – it gave me peace of mind that this company was vetted by the union. So, I felt like I could trust that NSDFC would do the right thing.
Once I realized that the loan had been canceled, I was so excited. I told my kids, who are 7 and 10 years old. We had a mini celebration at home. It was very important for me to tell them about my journey and tell them that our plan for them is not to have to start out life in that way and their father and I are saving for college for them.
Shalca Nelson is an instructional coordinator for 3k and pre-K teachers and is based at the Department of Education Administrative Building on Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn.
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