TEPSLF vs. PSLF: What Is the Difference?

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) programs offer federal student loan forgiveness for individuals in public service. These initiatives recognize the value of public service by providing mechanisms to alleviate student loan debt.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program offers a pathway for federal student loan borrowers to have their remaining loan balance forgiven. This program applies to Direct Loans, which include Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans. Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans and Federal Perkins Loans do not directly qualify for PSLF, but they can become eligible if consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Only payments made on the new Direct Consolidation Loan will count towards the PSLF payment requirement.

To qualify for PSLF, borrowers must make 120 qualifying monthly payments. These payments must be made while working full-time for a qualifying employer and under a qualifying repayment plan. Full-time employment generally means working at least 30 hours per week. Payments must be made after October 1, 2007.

Qualifying employers include U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government organizations, including the U.S. military. Also eligible are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Certain other non-profit organizations that provide specific public services may also qualify. Examples of qualifying public service include emergency management, public safety, law enforcement, public health, public education, and social work.

Payments made under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan are generally the most beneficial for PSLF, as they can result in a remaining balance to forgive after 120 payments. These plans include Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). While the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan is a qualifying plan, borrowers typically pay off their loans entirely within 120 payments under this plan, leaving no balance to be forgiven.

Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) was created to assist borrowers who were denied PSLF primarily because they were not enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan for some or all of their 120 payments. This program addresses situations where borrowers were making consistent payments but under plans like Graduated or Extended repayment, which typically do not count for PSLF.

TEPSLF allows payments made under certain non-qualifying repayment plans to count toward the 120-payment requirement. A key difference in eligibility for TEPSLF is that the amount paid in the 12 months prior to applying for TEPSLF and the final payment made before applying must be at least as much as what would have been paid under an income-driven repayment plan.

The program provides a second chance for those who met all other PSLF criteria, such as working full-time for a qualifying employer and having Direct Loans, but were on a non-qualifying payment schedule. Borrowers should confirm they meet all PSLF criteria except for the repayment plan type before requesting TEPSLF.

Comparing PSLF and TEPSLF

PSLF and TEPSLF both aim to forgive federal student loan balances for public service workers, but they differ significantly in their primary eligibility criteria, particularly concerning repayment plans. PSLF is the original program, requiring 120 qualifying payments made under specific income-driven repayment plans or the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan. TEPSLF, conversely, acts as an expansion, offering relief to borrowers who were otherwise eligible for PSLF but made payments under non-qualifying repayment plans.

The core distinction lies in the eligible repayment plans. PSLF strictly requires payments under IDR plans (IBR, PAYE, REPAYE, ICR) or the 10-year Standard Plan to count. TEPSLF broadens this to include payments made under Graduated, Extended, or other non-IDR plans, provided the payment amounts meet specific thresholds. For TEPSLF, payments in the last 12 months and the final payment must be at least as much as they would have been under an IDR plan.

The application path also differs. Borrowers typically apply for PSLF directly using the PSLF & TEPSLF Form once they believe they have met all requirements. TEPSLF, however, is generally pursued after a PSLF application has been denied solely due to repayment plan issues. It serves as a reconsideration process, allowing those previously ineligible due to their payment plan to have their case reviewed under the expanded criteria.

Historically, a notable difference was TEPSLF’s limited funding, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. This contrasts with PSLF, which is a statutory program without such funding limitations.

Navigating the Forgiveness Process

For PSLF, borrowers should regularly submit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification & Application form, often referred to as the PSLF form. This form confirms qualifying employment and allows the loan servicer to track progress toward the 120 required payments. It is recommended to submit this form annually or whenever changing employers to ensure accurate payment counts. Information needed for this form includes the employer’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), employment start and end dates, and contact details for an authorized official to certify employment.

Submitting the PSLF form can be done electronically via the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov, which can generate a pre-filled form for employer signature. Borrowers can also download the PDF form and submit it by mail or fax to their loan servicer. After submission, the servicer reviews the employment and payment history, then updates the borrower’s qualifying payment count.

Borrowers can track their qualifying payments by logging into their account on StudentAid.gov. Once 120 qualifying payments have been made and certified, borrowers must submit a final PSLF application to request forgiveness of their remaining loan balance. This final application is also part of the PSLF & TEPSLF Form, where the borrower indicates they are applying for forgiveness.

For TEPSLF, the process begins after a borrower has applied for PSLF and received a denial specifically because their payments were not made under a qualifying repayment plan. To initiate a TEPSLF request, the borrower must send an email to a designated address, typically provided by Federal Student Aid. This email should clearly state the borrower’s interest in being considered for TEPSLF and include their identifying information. The Department of Education will then review the borrower’s payment history against TEPSLF criteria and notify the borrower of the decision.