Nursing Student Loan provisions
Under the provisions described here, your Nursing Student Loan payments may be deferred, reduced, or even cancelled. If you think you meet any of these conditions, contact our loan office at: (509) 527-2333
Deferment of Payments
You may defer making payments on your Nursing Student Loan if one of the following conditions applies. (Interest will not accrue during the period of deferment.)
Continuing Enrollment in School
If you are enrolled at least half-time in a baccalaureate or advance nursing training program that lasts for at least one year, your loan payments may be deferred for up to 10 years. Qualified advanced nursing training programs include:
- Clinical specialty program
- Advanced professional training as a nurse anesthetist
- Certificate or master's degree program in nurse-practitioner training
- Certificate or master's degree program in psychiatric nursing
- Certificate or master's degree program in public or community health nursing
Public Service
Your loan payments may be deferred for up to three years if you serve as follows:
- On a full-time active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps
- As a Peace Corps volunteer
- As a full-time officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service
Reduction of Payments
If you are unemployed or facing financial hardship, your loan payments may be reduced for up to 36 months. You will need to complete a financial statement in order to qualify for reduced payments. Interest will continue to accrue, and you may choose to pay it each month or to pay it in full at the end of your deferment. At that point, your payments may increase so that your loan will be paid off within the ten years required by law.
Cancellation of Loan Debt
Permanent and Total Disability
Your loan debt may be cancelled if you are totally disabled (defined as: unable to work to earn money because of a medically determined impairment that is expected to continue for an indefinite period of time or to result in death).
Death
Your remaining loan debt will be cancelled in the event of your death.
This is only a summary of these provisions, which are subject to change in response to congressional action.