Federal student loan debt affects more than 43 million people in the United States. For University of Colorado faculty and staff, may offer relief, but the process of applying for and maintaining a PSLF repayment plan can be complex and challenging.
CU is announcing a new partnership between our retirement plan provider TIAA and the social impact tech company Savi, which can help CU employees determine their PSLF eligibility and conquer their debt burden.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about our partnership with Savi, who are experts in the federal loan forgiveness program,鈥� said Michelle Martinez, CU鈥檚 director of strategic benefits initiatives. 鈥淪avi is here to help, and if you鈥檙e eligible, you don鈥檛 want to miss out on this opportunity.鈥�
Savi is a tool that acts as a guide for borrowers who want to discover their eligibility for loan forgiveness, then successfully apply for and maintain their payment plans. The PSLF program includes an income-driven payment plan that can reduce a borrowers debt repayment by $150 per month on average.
After 120 months of successful payments, borrowers can have their remaining balance forgiven鈥攖ax free.
All employees with student debt should try Savi
The PSLF application requirements and documentation can be complex and inflexible. The smallest error can result in a rejection, and the follow-up requirements and annual reporting can derail an approved repayment plan.
Denied?
If you applied for Public Service Loan Forgiveness in the past and were denied, don't overlook this opportunity to verify your eligibility through Savi.
Because of the complexity of the application process, people who have applied for PSLF and were denied shouldn鈥檛 overlook this opportunity to verify their eligibility through Savi.
Savi empowers borrowers to find out if they qualify鈥攆or free. From there, eligible faculty and staff can choose to , or to initiate the application process, as well as help manage their follow-up and annual reporting requirements, for a $60 annual fee.
鈥淚 understand the application process can be overwhelming, and a denial may have happened because of an unknown error. This is why I encourage everyone with a student loan to apply,鈥� Martinez said.
Borrowers should apply before Oct. 31
This year, it鈥檚 crucial for borrowers to act quickly to assess their eligibility and apply for PSLF. In October 2021, the requirements and benefits for PSLF were broadened to include Perkins, FFEL and DL loan programs and allowing payments made before consolidation to count toward the 120-month benchmark.
These expanded options will expire Oct. 31, 2022.
鈥淭丑别 is a life-changing opportunity for public servants to be able to take advantage of,鈥� said Lindsay Clark, the director of external affairs for Savi.
鈥淢any student loan borrowers [who] have put in years and decades of work are finally receiving the forgiveness they deserve and have earned with this temporary opportunity. Borrowers should be sure to use Savi to see if they鈥檙e eligible for immediate forgiveness or to get their ducks in a row before Oct. 31.鈥�
Repayment is based on income
Debt forgiveness is a considerable opportunity for long-term financial relief, but the consolidation and repayment schedule borrowers receive through PSLF also provides near-term relief.
The PSLF repayment plan includes income-driven calculations to determine a borrower鈥檚 monthly payments. As of Dec. 31, 2021, the projected debt savings for borrowers on a PSLF repayment plan averaged $1,800 per year.
鈥淓ven as debt payments are paused, student loan debt continues to be a profound source of stress for many borrowers,鈥� said Snezana Zlatar, head of advice solutions at TIAA. 鈥淥ur solution helps people know they are on track to eliminate their student loans entirely.鈥�
鈥淟owering monthly student loan payments through Savi or eliminating the student loan debt altogether means more household income for individuals that can be allocated toward long-term financial goals, such as saving for a secure retirement.鈥�
Learn more about Savi and get started
Savi has two service options available to CU employees:
- Free Student Loan Checkup: Quickly see your repayment plan options and potential savings upon entering your personal information into Savi鈥檚 tool.
- Savi Essential Service: Apply for PSLF, track payments toward forgiveness, get convenient eFiling, one-on-one assistance, reminders and more for a $60 annual fee.
TIAA and CU have established online resources to help employees learn more about Savi, what they鈥檒l need to start the loan checkup process and find options to pursue PSLF through Savi鈥檚 Essential Service or on their own.
Visit and to explore your options.
Faculty and staff can use this empowering new resource anytime but may have a substantially greater debt relief opportunity if they apply before Oct. 31. Borrowers should get started with Savi鈥檚 Free Student Loan Checkup as soon as possible to determine their eligibility and have time to gather their information and apply for PSLF ahead of the Oct. 31 cutoff.
