Do Military Spouses Get Student Loan Forgiveness?

Federal student loan forgiveness programs offer a pathway to relief for many borrowers across the United States. While no specific student loan forgiveness program exists solely for military spouses, they may qualify for various federal programs designed to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. These programs consider factors such as employment, income, and disability status, allowing military spouses to pursue forgiveness options for their own federal student loans.

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Military Spouses

Military spouses holding federal student loans can explore several forgiveness programs.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is one such option, designed for individuals working full-time in public service roles. This includes employment with government organizations at any level (federal, state, local, or tribal) or qualifying non-profit organizations. For a military spouse, their employment in such a role, rather than their service member spouse’s military service, would be the qualifying factor. After making 120 qualifying monthly payments, typically over 10 years, any remaining balance on eligible Direct Loans may be forgiven.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans also offer a route to forgiveness, providing lower monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and family size. There are several IDR plans, including the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Under these plans, any remaining loan balance is forgiven after 20 or 25 years of payments, depending on the specific plan and whether the loans were for undergraduate or graduate study. While IDR forgiveness typically results in a taxable event, through December 31, 2025, any forgiven amounts are not considered taxable income by the federal government.

Another option is Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge. This program provides for the discharge of federal student loans if a borrower is determined to be totally and permanently disabled. A military spouse may qualify for TPD discharge based on their own disability, which can be certified by a physician, the Social Security Administration (SSA), or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Spouse-Specific Eligibility Requirements

For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the spouse must be directly employed full-time, meaning at least 30 hours per week, by a qualifying employer. This includes government entities (federal, state, local, or tribal) or certain tax-exempt non-profit organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The type of job performed is less important than the employer’s qualifying status.

Only federal Direct Loans are eligible for PSLF. If a military spouse has Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans or Federal Perkins Loans, they would need to consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to become eligible. These payments do not need to be consecutive, but the borrower must be employed by a qualifying employer at the time of forgiveness application.

For Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, if a military spouse files taxes jointly with their service member spouse, both incomes are generally considered in the calculation of the discretionary income used to determine the monthly payment. If they file separately, only the military spouse’s income is typically used. Family size includes dependent children and other adults for whom the borrower provides more than half support.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge requires documentation proving that the military spouse is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental impairment. This impairment must be expected to result in death, have lasted continuously for at least 60 months, or be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 60 months.

Gathering Application Information and Documentation

For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the primary document is the PSLF & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification & Application form. This form can be generated using the PSLF Help Tool on the Federal Student Aid website. Military spouses will need to provide their personal information, employment details, and have their qualifying employer certify their employment. It is advisable to submit this form annually or whenever employment changes to track progress toward the 120 qualifying payments.

For Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, borrowers submit an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan Request. This application requires information regarding employment, family size, marital status, and proof of income. Income documentation can include the most recent federal income tax return, pay stubs, or a letter from an employer stating gross pay. If income has changed significantly since the last tax return, or if no tax return was filed, proof of current income earned within the last 90 days may be required.

For Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge, the TPD discharge application must be completed. If qualifying through the Social Security Administration (SSA), a copy of the SSA notice of award or Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) showing a specific disability review schedule is needed. If through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), documentation of a 100% service-connected disability or individual unemployability rating is required. For physician certification, the medical professional must complete a specific section of the application, detailing the nature and permanence of the disability.

Submitting Your Forgiveness Request

For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the PSLF form can be submitted electronically through the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov. After completing the form, it can be sent digitally to the employer for signature, and then electronically submitted for processing. Alternatively, the form can be printed, manually signed by both the borrower and employer, and then faxed or mailed to the designated servicer, typically MOHELA, which is the dedicated servicer for PSLF. After submission, processing can take between two to six months, though it may vary based on factors like previous employment certification and any required follow-up.

For Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan requests, the application can be completed and submitted online through StudentAid.gov. This online process is often faster. If submitting a paper application, the completed form along with all required income documentation can be uploaded to the loan servicer’s website, faxed, or mailed directly to the servicer. Processing times for IDR applications can also take several weeks, and borrowers should expect confirmation of receipt from their servicer.

For Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge, the application and supporting documentation are typically submitted to Nelnet, the servicer assisting the U.S. Department of Education with the TPD discharge process. The application can be started online at DisabilityDischarge.com, which allows for digital entry of initial information, followed by printing, signing, and mailing the complete package. Alternatively, some forms can be emailed or faxed. Borrowers are generally not required to make payments on their loans while the TPD application is under review, and a decision is usually provided within 30 days of receiving the complete application. Processing times for TPD discharge generally span from weeks to months, with most applicants receiving a response within 60 to 120 days.