Military spouses have a lot on their plates. They're often the backbone of the military family, and they do so much that we can't even imagine. Their support is invaluable to our service members, and it's not always easy being a military spouse — especially when you have student loans to worry about too!
These spouses need to be able to take care of themselves financially to survive on their own when military life gets tough. With that said, is student loan forgiveness for military spouses possible?
The Truth
If you're married to a member of our armed forces, you know it's not easy. During deployments, you must balance your typical tasks with those of your partner. You may be asked to relocate frequently, disrupting your work, family, and social life. But, just as your spouse gives up for our country, so do you!
Unfortunately, there are no military spouse student loan forgiveness programs yet, but there are other options. There are many federal programs that can make your loans more manageable that you can take advantage of.
The Alternatives
Even though military spouses are ineligible for loan forgiveness programs, there are other options for eligible military spouses to get aid. Here are some of the top alternatives:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: The PSLF program is available to all public servants, not just military spouses, and requires borrowers to make 120 payments while working for a qualifying employer.
- Federal Income-Based Repayment Plans: These programs can adjust a borrower’s monthly payments according to their income and can, in some cases, forgive the remaining balance if the borrower makes payments for 25 years.
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): This can help reduce the amount of interest accrued on student loans during active duty.
- Student Loan Refinancing: This can be a great choice for military spouses who have good credit and can qualify to refinance their loans with a lower interest rate.
Depending on your situation, you can find several options to help make your student loans more manageable. If you're unsure which program is best for you, it's best to talk with a student loan expert who can help you navigate your options.
Closing Thoughts
If you're married to an active duty member of the military, your student loan situation can be difficult. There’s no federal student loan forgiveness for military spouses at the moment, but that doesn't mean you can't get assistance to make your loans more manageable.
Not all hope is lost. There are ways of consolidating loans or deferring payments until after their service has ended. You can also look into refinancing with a company that offers lower rates.
If you're still unsure of how to tackle your student loans, consider reaching out to a student loan expert who can help you identify the best options for your situation.
We hope this article has helped to answer the question can military spouses get student loan forgiveness and what steps to take next. Remember, there is no harm in applying!