Loan Forgiveness for Social Workers

NASW is promoting loan forgiveness for social workers as part of its on-going work to improve working conditions, salaries, and other benefits for members of the profession and to ensure that consumers have access to qualified professionals. NASW will continue its support for proposals to provide loan forgiveness for social workers in child welfare and schools, while also working to secure loan forgiveness and educational supports for social workers in other practice areas. It is important to note that NASW does not determine loan forgiveness eligibility, nor does NASW disperse loan forgiveness funds.  However, NASW does offer scholarships.

Sources of Loan Forgiveness:

The College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 established a new public service loan forgiveness program that will discharge any remaining educational debt after 10 years of full-time employment in public service.

Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at
1-800-433-3243 to see if you are eligible.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LPR). This program offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community-based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site. For more information about the loan repayment program, eligibility requirements, employment opportunities in HPSAs, and NHSC contact information, click here

Higher Education Act   While this debt cancellation program was authorized, Congress has not appropriated funds to pay for the loan forgiveness at this time.  This means you cannot qualify for the program until funds are appropriated for it.  NASW continues to work on getting money appropriated for this important program. 

Additional sources of loan forgiveness are available through the federal government and some through state governments.  Please see the links on the left scroll bar. 

If you are having difficulty paying your loans

Contact your lender immediately.  You may qualify for deferment, forbearance or another form of payment relief.  It is important to take action before you accrue late fees as this may impact your eligibility for payment relief or loan forgiveness programs.

If you are having problems with your loans, you can contact the Department of Education’s Ombudsman Office at 1-877-557-2575.You may also want to read About the Ombudsman. They have provided a printable Self-Resolution Checklist so that you can make sure you've taken all the necessary steps before calling them. After you have gone as far as you can go on your own, you may fill out the online Ombudsman Assistance Request Form.