The overwhelming burden of student loan debt has been growing more and more unmanageable for students over the past several years and it is no exception for social workers. This is why the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is promoting loan forgiveness for social workers who are having difficulty paying back their loans, but it comes with a price.

Listed below are some of the frequently asked questions on student loan forgiveness:

1. I am having difficulty repaying my loan, what should I do?

If you are having difficulty paying your loans, you need to contact your lender immediately so that you are not charged late fees or lose your eligibility for payment relief or loan forgiveness programs. You may be able to qualify for deferment, forbearance or another form of payment relief as well, so talk to you lender and see what they can do for you.

2. How do I know if I’m eligible for loan forgiveness?

You can find out if you are eligible for loan forgiveness by contacting the U. S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or you can go to http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/. However, NASW does not determine eligibility for loan forgiveness nor do they give out funds, however they do offer scholarships to those interested.

3. Will I be guaranteed funding if I qualify for loan forgiveness?

Funds are available only on a first come, first served basis and are subject to appropriations only if congress makes the funds available.

4. If I am eligible, how much funds will I receive?

If you qualify, you will receive up to $2,000 per year of service for a maximum of $10,000 over a five year period and the amount received is determined by Congressional appropriations.

5. Are there any other programs that help social workers with loan repayments?

Yes. The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LPR) is another federal program that helps social workers. In exchange for two years serving in a community-based approved site that has a shortage of health professional or Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), this program will offer fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay their outstanding student loans. You can also visit their website at http://www.socialworkers.org/loanforgiveness.

6. Who is eligible for the loan forgiveness program?

All eligible borrowers, interested in the loan forgiveness program must be employed full-time in an occupational area where there is a “national need” to include the following:

• Child Welfare Workers
• Dentists
• Early childhood educators
• Foreign language specialists
• Highly qualified teachers serving students who have limited English proficiency, low-income communities, underrepresented populations
• Individuals employed in applied sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics
• Librarians, Nurses, Nutrition professionals, Public sector employees, Occupational therapists, School counselors, Speech-language pathologists and audiologists, Superintendents, principals and other educational administrators.

If you are a social worker with a substantial amount of loan to pay back, you should definitely think about loan forgiveness. It will require a few years of commitment, but it is well worth it.