What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
The Federal Government has a program specifically for people who work for nonprofit, government or public sector employers. The University of Pittsburgh is considered one of those employers. If you work for one of these employers, have Direct Loans, and make 120 monthly on-time payments, you may be eligible to have your remaining federal student loan debt forgiven tax-free through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Entering into PSLF or another forgiveness program requires a commitment to see it through to the end. Switching to an income-driven repayment plan (required if you are working towards PSLF) may actually cause your student debt to increase over time, which can be problematic unless you get forgiveness at the end. If you know you will not be working full-time in a non-profit for 120 months, then forgiveness may not be the right path for you. Individuals may want to consult their personal tax or legal adviser before making any decisions regarding the status of their student loans.
Applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Current Employees
We encourage current employees to utilize the free services offered through our partnership with TIAA and public benefit company Savi to provide current University faculty and staff assistance in navigating repayment plans and federal student loan programs, such as the PSLF program. If you would like to apply for PSLF through Savi, please visit our Student Loan Assistance page for guidance and directions. For current employees who do not wish to enroll in the free Savi Essential Service Benefit to complete their PSLF, please follow the steps outlined under the "Former Employees" section.
Former Employees
Former University employees, or those wishing to apply directly for PSLF without enrolling in Savi, will need to obtain employment verification documentation through the University's Office of Human Resources as part of the application process, using the following steps.
Completing the PSLF Application - Electronic Submission
Please submit an online inquiry to the Office of Human Resources, selecting the “Service Area” of Human Resources and the “I Need Help with…” as Employment Verification. In the “Subject,” please state PSLF, and in the “Description,” summarize that you are inquiring about employment verification to complete your PSLF application.
A representative will respond to your inquiry via email and provide you with your employment history. Once you receive your employment history, you will need to complete a PSLF form as follows. Note: You will need to fill out a separate form for each of your qualifying employment periods.
- Log in to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website using your account username and password (FSA ID).
- For University employees/former employees, follow the instructions on the website to complete your application.
Please use the following employer information to fill in your application when prompted:
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 25-0965591 Employer Name: University of Pittsburgh Employer Address: 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260 - For Medical Health Sciences Foundation employees/former employees, follow the instructions on the website to complete your application.
Please use the following employer information to fill in your application when prompted:
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 11-3708851 Employer Name: Medical and Health Sciences Foundation or University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Medical Employer Address: 3708 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 - Digitally sign your form in the PSLF Help Tool, then request your employer’s electronic signature.
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Employer’s Email Address: PSLF@pitt.edu
Once you complete the PSLF form, it will be sent to PSLF@pitt.edu. An OHR representative will complete their section of the form and sign the required portion. If they have any questions, they will reach out via your original inquiry.
Completing the PSLF Application - Manual Submission
Please submit an online inquiry to the Office of Human Resources, selecting the “Service Area” of Human Resources and the “I Need Help with…” as Employment Verification. In the “Subject,” please state PSLF, and in the “Description,” summarize that you are inquiring about employment verification to complete your PSLF application.
A representative will respond to your inquiry via email and provide you with your employment history. Once you receive your employment history, you will need to download, print, and complete your PSLF Application. Note: You will need to fill out a separate form for each of your qualifying employment periods.
- For University employees/former employees, use the following employer information to complete your application:
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 25-0965591 Employer Name: University of Pittsburgh Employer Address: 4200 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260 - For Medical Health Sciences Foundation employees/former employees, use the following employer information to complete your application:
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 11-3708851 Employer Name: Medical and Health Sciences Foundation or University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Medical Employer Address: 3708 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
After completing your printed form(s), please submit them to the University of Pittsburgh, Office of Human Resources, Craig Hall, 200 S Craig St., Pittsburgh.
You may drop them off in person, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the counter off the main lobby in Craig Hall. An OHR representative will fill out their section of the form and sign the required portion. If they have any questions, they will contact you through your original inquiry. Once the form is completed, a representative will notify you via email that your document is ready for pickup.
Questions?
For general questions about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.