Public service organization
Public service organization means:
(i) A Federal, State, local, or Tribal government organization, agency, or entity;
(ii) A public child or family service agency;
(iii) A non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(iv) A Tribal college or university; or
(v)
(A) A private organization that provides the following public services: Emergency management, military service, public safety, law enforcement, public interest law services, early childhood education (including licensed or regulated child care, Head Start, and State funded pre-kindergarten), public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, public health (including nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations, as such terms are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), public education, public library services, school library or other school-based services; and
(B) Is not a business organized for profit, a labor union, or a partisan political organization.
(c) Borrower eligibility.
(1) A borrower may obtain loan forgiveness under this program if he or she -
(i) Is not in default on the loan for which forgiveness is requested;
(ii) Is employed full-time by a public service organization or serving in a full-time AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position -
(A) When the borrower makes the 120 monthly payments described under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section;
(B) At the time of application for loan forgiveness; and
(C) At the time the remaining principal and accrued interest are forgiven.
(iii) Makes 120 separate monthly payments after October 1, 2007, on eligible Direct loans for which forgiveness is sought. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section for a borrower in an AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position or who qualifies for partial repayment of his or her loans under the student loan repayment programs under 10 U.S.C. 2171, 2173, 2174, or any other student loan repayment programs administered by the Department of Defense,, the borrower must make the monthly payments within 15 days of the scheduled due date for the full scheduled installment amount; and
(iv) Makes the required 120 monthly payments under one or more of the following repayment plans -
(A) Except for a parent PLUS borrower, an income-based repayment plan, as determined in accordance with § 685.221;
(B) Except for a parent PLUS borrower, an income-contingent repayment plan, as determined in accordance with § 685.209;
(C) A standard repayment plan, as determined in accordance with § 685.208(b); or
(D) Except for the alternative repayment plan, any other repayment plan if the monthly payment amount is not less than what would have been paid under the Direct Loan standard repayment plan described in § 685.208(b).
(2) If a borrower makes a lump sum payment on an eligible loan for which the borrower is seeking forgiveness by using all or part of a Segal Education Award received after a year of AmeriCorps service, or by using all or part of a Peace Corps transition payment if the lump sum payment is made no later than six months after leaving the Peace Corps or if a lump sum payment is made on behalf of the borrower through the student loan repayment programs under 10 U.S.C. 2171, 2173, 2174, or any other student loan repayment programs administered by the Department of Defense,, the Secretary will consider the borrower to have made qualifying payments equal to the lesser of -
(i) The number of payments resulting after dividing the amount of the lump sum payment by the monthly payment amount the borrower would have made under paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section; or
(ii) Twelve payments.
(3) The Secretary considers lump sum payments made on behalf of the borrower through the student loan repayment programs under 10 U.S.C. 2171, 2173, 2174, or any other student loan repayment programs administered by the Department of Defense, to be qualifying payments in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section for each year that a lump sum payment is made.
(d) Forgiveness Amount. The Secretary forgives the principal and accrued interest that remains on all eligible loans for which loan forgiveness is requested by the borrower. The Secretary forgives this amount after the borrower makes the 120 monthly qualifying payments under paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) Application.
(1) After making the 120 monthly qualifying payments on the eligible loans for which loan forgiveness is requested, a borrower may request loan forgiveness on a form provided by the Secretary.
(2) If the Secretary determines that the borrower meets the eligibility requirements for loan forgiveness under this section, the Secretary -
(i) Notifies the borrower of this determination; and
(ii) Forgives the outstanding balance of the eligible loans.
(3) If the Secretary determines that the borrower does not meet the eligibility requirements for loan forgiveness under this section, the Secretary resumes collection of the loan and grants forbearance of payment on both principal and interest for the period in which collection activity was suspended. The Secretary notifies the borrower that the application has been denied, provides the basis for the denial, and informs the borrower that the Secretary will resume collection of the loan. The Secretary may capitalize any interest accrued and not paid during this period.