Free Indeed, The Sweet Victory

Hey ya’ll I’m Candace,  

It has been a process to say the least but by God’s grace and favor, it’s over! My student loan balance of $100,644.72 has been forgiven. New Balance is $0! 

I’ll start by saying I am NOT an expert. I am just here to share my experience, process, and takeaways for anyone walking down the same path. 

I first heard about the loan forgiveness program in grad school. Somewhere I heard you had to make 120 on time for 10 years so I was dead set on not missing a payment no matter what and ensuring that I paid it on time. I asked God to please help me to be able to stay at my same job for several reasons, one being so that things would go smoothly when getting final signatures and another because I really liked the agency I worked for. 

I am a social worker at a non profit agency. I graduated from grad school May 2009 and started the loan repayment process in December 2009. Initially, the loan servicer wanted me to pay $999 per month, but I said ooh no. They ended up consolidating my loans and putting me on an income based repayment plan (IBR). I have been on this plan for the entire time. Then I received my first new payment plan in February 2010. I began paying every month on time. My loans went from a servicer I can’t remember (maybe Direct Loans) to Great Lakes to U.S. Department of Education to FedLoan Servicing. 

Takeaways so far :

1. Consolidate if you can for 1 lump sum payment
2. Get on an income based repayment plan 
3. Sign up for PSLF program ASAP
4. If you can get your loans under FedLoan Servicing 

The consolidation helped lump everything together and the repayment plan helped the payments to work within my budget so I could afford to live, have fun, save, and pay these loans off. 

Every year I would apply after I filed my taxes to remain on the IBR plan. They would change the amount and the due date most years for when my loan payment was due. While waiting for the changes I continued to pay the previous amount by the previous due date. Within this time they switched me to several loan servicers, finally ending at FedLoan Servicing as I mentioned above because I was in the forgiveness program. I assumed I was in PSLF but I wasn’t.

Takeaway #5. Don’t assume.

One night I had a dream that my student loans were paid off about 9.5 years in. So the next day I called to see how far I was, thinking I should have paid about 114 payments out of 120. Well when I called they said I only made 66 payments. I went back and forth with frustration about how that’s possible. She said the loan company could send me a list called “Payment History”. This detailed my payment history and all discrepancies. Here I am thinking everything is all copasetic. Wrong. I cried a bit in frustration and then proceeded to pray and wait for the form to arrive. Anyhow, I got the form about 2 months after I requested it, annoying.

Takeaway #6. Everything takes a long time with FedLoan with the exception of phone calls. They answer pretty quickly all the time. 

So I got the form and highlighted all the times they said I didn’t pay on-time or missed a payment because 1. I made sure to pay all my payments on time and 2. I made sure not to skip ANY payments. They also said I had 3 forbearance’s. Even on forbearance I payed each month while waiting for the new payment schedule. I called and was told I could get documentation together to dispute the disagreements but I should dispute the months during forbearance or else I wouldn’t be eligible for forgiveness. I cried again because that meant 6 months extra I had to pay. I thought to myself, if I had known I would have paid then. Long story short, it didn’t matter.

I took my Payment History 10 page form to church and went up for prayer with it. I said God I had that dream it was paid and I’ve been faithful to follow the rules I was told. On March 23, 2020 I put a request into my friends on the YouVersion Bible App for prayer and explained the scenario:

“I received my final output of all my student loan payments. There are a few discrepancies. I’m asking that you pray with me as I compile the documents of proof & that the Fed Loan Dept will correct their errors and forgive ALL my loans. I have been paying on time for the allotted time necessary for forgiveness. I believe that paying any amount more than I am supposed to is a devour in my finances. I have brought my tithes & offering faithfully into the storehouse. 

Malachi 3: 10- 12 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land, ”Says the Lord of hosts.

I compiled the documents during quarantine. I paid March 2020 and then 2 days later  It was announced that we didn’t have to pay for x amount of time. I was like yes God, my loans should have ended now and now I don’t have to pay. I was excited because my payments were about to be over $300! I was hoping that I could get all of my documents compiled and sent in. Well while I was compiling them, I ordered a printer because the libraries were shut down. Well, after a month I was contacted by Dell that they were refusing me my money because they were not making them at the moment. 

Takeaway #

7. Keep detailed records of your payments and exchanges with the various loan servicers you deal with. 

8. Get a second opinion from a different representative. The first lady I spoke to said I couldn’t dispute payments paid during the forbearance however, the remaining Reps said I could send in all my info. So I did after asking them to record what they said lol

Luckily when complying my documentation I had the very first paper record up until I went full electronic then I had email paper trails that I saved in a specific folder electronically. This made it relatively easy to locate documents. I printed bank statements and everything. Well, I was ready to print but I had no printer. I spent about 2-3 weeks searching high and low for a printer that was under $200. Well, I lost that battle and paid almost $60 to print 60+ pages and then another $20 just to mail it in because it was too large to fax or upload to FedLoan Servicing. Of course, I was asking my friends on the Bible App to pray with me along the way. One of my requests on August 21, 2020:

“Good Afternoon! 

I spoke with the government today. All of the discrepancies are in review. They reported that as of 8/18! The gentleman on the phone said that the review can take up to a year and to keep paying. He said if the review isn’t complete by next July 2021 that I can apply then. I explained that I should have my 120 payments currently and why would I pay over. He said to check back in a few months. He then proceeded to say that any money over the 120 qualifying payments will be refunded once the review is over. I said Sir that’s like 5 grand… that money is prepared to paying off my car. Long story short is I would love for you all to continue to pray for a speedy review. I’m a firm believer in God’s word and His faithfulness to prove Himself true. I am not going to get discouraged. Thanks family! “

Some more takeaways #

9. Request yearly Payment History forms do you can dispute issues in real time and not hold up your forgiveness 

10. Pray, pay your tithes along the way, and get you some praying friends

11. Send your PSLF form in yearly or more as it gets closer to the loan forgiveness date. 

I forgot to mention that I had not sent in my PSLF for in some time so the 66 payments went to about 80, but still far from the 114 at that time.  So since then I worked with my agencies amazing finance rep to sign my PSLF forms regularly. 

I’m now 5 months in under the pandemic payments (where we did not have to pay on the loans if you chose not to, but they counted towards PSLF). In September 2020, I called FedLoan to ensure they received my documents and where they were in the process of reviewing. They told me they filed my loan forgiveness review documents in the wrong category so the process needed to start again. Oh great, not really! 

I sent a few more prayer requests out on the Bible App. January 25, 2021 I sent this out:

“Hello Everyone! 

Thank you for praying and following me on this journey to forgiveness! It’s a ride. So I called again today. My loans are still under review  but they have 111 payments calculated. She asked me to send in an update and that will be another 5 months so 116 months. She informed that around 117/118 months they send the student loan forgiveness application in. Obviously it the review comes back before May then they will send me the application right away (there are 14 payments under review 3 of which I know have already been approved. Due to the forbearance that we are under the payments or  non payments count. Please keep praying for swift review and I don’t have to wait till May to officially hit 120 months of payments. Believing for student loan forgiveness swiftly 🙌🏾🙏🏾”

Well I kept waiting and went on about my life not paying because the no payment extension continued to be granted. Some think it’s just a coincidence but I know it was God working for me. When the world’s system fails you, and you’ve been sowing into Gods system, it always prevails. As my dear friend Dr. Nichole Griffin says “God for the win”. 

I kept sending out prayer requests. I continued to stand on Gods Word! I knew that dream was a confirmation of what was to come and an unction to check on my stuff. 

Takeaway #12. Your going to need patience.

April 27, 2021

“So today is the day I am supposed to file for loan forgiveness! Everything was set and confirmed and verified via my account. I have an awesome prayer and time with the LORD. Later, I check my email around 1am before I go to bed (normally don’t). I see an email from the government that came in at 11:18 randomly saying I don’t qualify. I’ve been at the same employer with the same population for over ten years to ensure no problems. But yesterday as I posted a song give me faith like David, give me hope like Moses and give me a heart like David Lord be my defense I should of known. In the women’s lounge it’s been on my heart to stir a revival. But I will NOT be shaken. I know who fights for me and I KNOW what the WORD of God says. So please keep me in prayer as I call them this morning. Thinking it’s a mistake”

It happened to be a general email and I was still eligible. The same day I sent in my official PSLF loan forgiveness application and was told it could take 2 weeks to 6 months. That night, two of my friends and I went out to celebrate for dinner my official last payment which was $0 and the final application. I was hoping that on my birthday in June I would have the letter, but nope.  At the end of June beginning of July something told me to check my account. I just thought it was a fleeting thought because every time prior I checked my account, it was no change. Another friend and I were celebrating a late birthday dinner on July 3rd. I got the unction to check it again. This time we were waiting for food, so I did. OMGosh my balance said $0. Praise Jesus! Apparently as of June 25, 2021 I was officially student loan debt FREE!! 

Takeaway #

13. Get you some friends that will celebrate with you even before you get the full blessing. 

14. You have to check your account regularly because sometimes you will not get a email notification right away. I did get notified most of the time but for when it truly mattered in my mind, I didn’t until weeks later.

So, I ended up not paying anything from April 2020 until June 2020 🙌🏽. God is faithful to rebuke the devour. I apparently am eligible to ask for March’s payment back since that month we didn’t have to pay. I give all the credit to Him for his faithfulness. When the worlds system doesn’t hold up its end of the deal, God’s always faithful to every tittle of His Word! 

Thank you God, thank you government, thank you friends, and thank you job! 

Okay here are some helpful things to note based on my experience. I suggest you call your loan servicer to verify that these details are applicable to you. (PS. See the link attached to the photo above to my ministry page. Please note the PSLF program info is in the highlight entitled “Malachi 3:10-12“.)

1. I paid my tithes and offering faithfully

2. I paid my loans every month on time whatever the payment was. I realized if I filed my yearly update they would occasionally change to the payment due date and that caused it to appear as if I paid it late (which I never did). Call and ask your loan servicer if payments count during the transition. No need to pay if it doesn’t count toward PSLF unless you just want to. 

3. I recommend that you consolidate if you can prior to starting your payments. I have heard some say if you start on a repayment plan you can’t consolidate without forfeiting the payments already made. 

4. Apply ASAP for a income based plan and then get attached ASAP to fed loan servicing PSLF program.

5. Most of the hiccups/discrepancies were prior to my fed loan transfer. When I finally asked for clarity my accounts with the previous loan entities had already closed my acct. I kept detailed info for the ten years of every payment I made (initially it was paper not electronic).

6. Request an update yearly on how many eligible payments you have made this way you can get ahead of any discrepancies as they can take 3 months to a year to correct. 

7. File tax info on time and get it in. Don’t do forbearance if you can help it as it messes up stuff. They changed my payment schedule which they said they had to do it and so it screwed me over even though I paid those months.

8. It was helpful that I stayed at the same job the entire time. It isn’t a requirement just made things easier. See next point.

9. I recommend sending PSLF updates regularly from your employer to FedLoan Servicing. I say send it at least yearly. I did not do this during most of my journey, but wish I had. Sometimes companies close, people leave and things change so staying up to date is best.

I pray this helps and/or encourages you on your journey wherever you are in the process.