Social Workers & Public Loan Forgiveness

Today, hundreds of thousands of social workers, teachers, nurses, and other public service professionals face financial uncertainty. We were promised student loan forgiveness in exchange for years of service to our communities and our country. But after rising to the moment, working on the frontlines through a national pandemic, serving in our communities, delivering healthcare, and in some cases risking our lives, we have been denied debt relief and left behind.

Now, for the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Education is asking for people like us to share our stories about public service and debt forgiveness. This is our chance to make the case directly to President Biden and Secretary Cardona that Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is broken and that only sweeping action to deliver debt relief can right a decade of wrongs by the Department and the student loan industry.

That is why NASW will be partnering with the Student Borrower Protection Center to host a webinar highlighting what social workers need to know about managing their student loans, information on accessing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, and to learn about getting involved in a campaign to restore the promise of PSLF.

The webinar will feature brief remarks from NASW organizational leaders, first-hand testimony from social workers about their struggles with student debt, and the opportunity for participants to ask questions. The webinar is taking place on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, from 6:00-7:00pm Eastern Time, and we are excited to invite you to attend and help amplify with social workers!

The Department’s public inquiry into the PSLF program offers renewed hope for public service workers. For the first time, the federal government is asking those of us who depend on the program to help decide what comes next. It's imperative that social workers make their voices heard and share their experiences participating in the PSLF program.

Join us Wednesday, September 15 to learn more about this incredibly important program, and how you and other members can help shape its future.

If you cannot attend the webinar, but would like to advocate on student loan debt, please share your story about participating in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.