Public Service Deferment
You must have have an outstanding balance on a Federal Family Education Loan Program that was made before July 1, 1993, or had a balance that was made before July 1, 1993, at the time you obtained a loan disbursed on or after July 1, 1993.
A public service deferment is intended to cover service in the U.S. Armed Forces, Peace Corps, United States Public Health Service (USPHS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and service as a full-time paid volunteer. A borrower may be granted a maximum of 3 years of deferment for any combination of service in the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Commissioned Corps of Public Health and NOAA.
Maximum Time Limit: 3 years
Eligibility Criteria
Armed Forces Deferment - This deferment generally applies only to an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has an outstanding FFELP loan that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or has a PLUS loan that was first disbursed before August 15, 1983. Borrowers enlisted in a reserve component of the Armed Forces or the National Guard (while on active duty status in the Army or Air Force Reserves) may qualify for this deferment if serving full time for a period expected to last at least one year or if serving under an order for national mobilization.
Public Health Service Deferment - This deferment is available to a borrower only if he or she has an outstanding FFELP loan that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS loan first disbursed before August 15, 1983. To qualify for this deferment, the borrower must request it and provide the lender with a statement from an authorized official of the USPHS certifying the dates the borrower's service began and is expected to end and that the borrower is serving as a full-time officer in the Commissioned Corps of Public Health.
Peace Corps Deferment - This deferment is available to a borrower only if he or she has an outstanding FFELP loan that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS loan first disbursed before August 15, 1983. To qualify for this deferment, a borrower must request it and provide the lender with a statement from an official of the Peace Corps program certifying that the borrower has agreed to serve as a volunteer on a full-time basis for at least one year and the dates on which the borrower's service began and is expected to end.
ACTION Programs Deferment - An ACTION Program deferment is intended to cover full-time paid volunteer service with an organization participating in a program authorized under Title I of the Domestic Volunteer Act of 1973. This deferment is available to a borrower only if he or she has an outstanding FFELP loan that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS loan first disbursed before August 15, 1983. To qualify for this deferment, a borrower must request it and provide the lender with a statement from an official of the volunteer program certifying that the borrower has agreed to serve as a volunteer on a full-time basis for at least one year and the dates on which the borrower's service began and is expected to end.
Tax-Exempt Organization Volunteer Deferment - A tax-exempt organization volunteer deferment is intended to cover full-time paid volunteer service with a tax-exempt organization that the U.S. Department of Education has determined to be comparable to service as a Peace Corps or ACTION volunteer.
This deferment is available to a borrower only if he or she has an outstanding FFELP loan that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS loan first disbursed before August 15, 1983. To qualify for this deferment, a borrower must request it and provide the lender with a statement from an official of the volunteer program certifying that the borrower has agreed to serve on a full-time basis for at least one year as well as other criteria not mentioned here. Please download the deferment form for additional requirements for qualifying for this deferment.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps Deferment - To qualify for this deferment, a borrower must request it and provide the lender with a statement from an authorized official of the NOAA Corps certifying the dates the borrower's service began and is expected to end and that the borrower is on active duty status in the NOAA Corps.
Deferment Form Instructions
Download a copy of the Public Service Deferment Form