How I got $158,000 in student debt forgiven
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was an absolute gamechanger for me as a nurse working for Public Health. I graduated from nursing school in 2012 and have had some unconventional nursing jobs (not always client-facing), so I wasn’t sure if it was going to even work to apply for the program.
The first time I completed the paperwork, I was overwhelmed and not even sure I was doing it right. But it was so reassuring and encouraging to be able to see my qualifying payments counting down on the website. I set myself a reminder in my calendar to complete a new form each year. It took me 10 minutes to complete the form and send it to the HR folks who could confirm my employment.
I had borrowed way too much money for nursing school (I went to a private school and had to borrow for living expenses on top of tuition). It seemed like I would be paying off my loans until after retirement. But as promised, 10 years after I entered the PSLF program, I got the magical notification that my loans were forgiven -- $158,000.
The impact was enormous and immediate. My loan forgiveness happened to arrive the same week we were buying our first home which was absolutely welcome as we were nervous about a mortgage.
The truth is that the 10 years is going to pass whether you are working on loan forgiveness or not. We do this work because we care. Might as well make it count! We give so much to our patients, our families, and our communities. It is ok to let someone give back to you. You’ve earned it!
Jen Morgan is a nurse with Public Health – Seattle & King County.
How to access the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Despite attempts by the Trump administration to make the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) harder to access, the program still exists. But the repayment landscape has changed significantly. Changes embedded in H.R 1 (the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill) mean that as of July 1,2026, borrowers who choose or are placed into the Tiered Standard Plan, or who have a parent PLUS loan, cannot participate in PSLF.
These changes are confusing, but the AFT, our national union, has guidance for accessing PSLF and offers free online student debt clinics for members to walk through student debt repayment options.
The AFT has been a major force behind preserving the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and helping members access it.
The AFT has repeatedly fought in the courts to preserve the program. In March 2025, the AFT joined a lawsuit to force the Trump administration and Department of Education to continue processing new and already-approved applications for student debt relief. In a settlement, the Department of Education agreed to resume processing PSLF and Income-Driven Repayment relief.
This year, AFT joined a lawsuit aimed at stopping a new rule that would have allowed the Secretary of Education to disqualify government and nonprofit employers that disagree with the Trump administration’s policies. On June 30, a day before the new rule was to go into effect, a district judge ordered a stop to the new rule.
In a press release the AFT President, Randi Weingarten, noted: “For years, the AFT has fought to ensure the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness was a promise kept. PSLF was created by a Republican president and Democratic senators to help attract and retain teachers, nurses, firefighters and many more who’ve dedicated their careers to helping others.”