The Human Face of Student Debt

[sanantone]

Not that it matters too much, but loan forgiveness can't be sought when all else fails.

Why not? If you can't find a good-paying job and think it will take you 20-30 years to pay off your loan, then get a public service or some other approved occupation in order to have your loans forgiven after 120 payments.

In order to qualify, you have a perfect payment history for those 10 years and continued employment in an approved job before you can apply.

I don't see how this contradicts what I said. You need to have 120 payments while working for an approved organization or in an approved occupation. The payments while in an approved job do not have to be consecutive, so you can take longer than 10 years to make the 120 qualifying payments. Also, you have to be on an income-driven repayment plan. If you are late or don't pay the full required amount for one billing cycle, then that one payment will not count as a qualifying payment. However, your other on time and full payments will still count.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans...ic-service