How to get out of student loan debt without paying:
- Income-driven repayment plans – Have you heard about these repayment plans? They reduce your monthly payments from 10 to 20 percent of your income in the next 20/25 years. The remaining loan balance is then forgiven. Although it might take some time, this route can really help you get free of your debt.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness – This program works for those who work in the public sector. Government employees and people who work for a nonprofit organization fit in this area. If you’ve made 120 qualifying payments and you’ve worked full time for a qualifying employer, the rest of your direct loan will be forgiven.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness – This opportunity is for teachers who work five consecutive years at a low-income elementary or secondary school, or those who have jobs at an educational service agency. They qualify for forgiveness of up to $17,500 of their Direct Loans or Stafford Loans.
- Perkins Loan Cancellation – The Perkins Loan cancellation or discharge applies to teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and a few others. While cancellation can happen over the course of five years, the discharge could happen when it comes to bankruptcy, death, or disability.
- Closed school discharge – If your school closed while you were still attending, or even soon after you withdrew, you qualify to have your federal student loan discharged.
- Discharge options – Your loans could be discharged in the event of death, permanent disability, or bankruptcy.
