Office of Business Operations

Perkin Loan | Law Enforcement or Correctional Officer

Full-time, full year employment in law enforcement or corrections qualifies some Federal Perkins Loan borrowers for cancellation of their loan.

Full-time, full year employment in law enforcement or corrections qualifies some Federal Perkins Loan borrowers for cancellation of their loan.

QUALIFYING EMPLOYMENT:

The agency:  

  1. Your employer must be a local, state, or federal agency.
  2. The agency must be publicly funded and its activities must pertain to crime prevention, control, or reduction, or to the enforcement of the criminal law. Such activities include, but are not limited to, police efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals; activities of courts having criminal jurisdiction and related agencies; activities of corrections, probation, or parole authorities; and problems relating to the prevention, control, or reduction of juvenile delinquency or narcotic addiction. Agencies primarily responsible for enforcement of civil, regulatory, or administrative laws are ineligible.

Your position:

  1. Your position must be considered essential to the agency's primary  mission.
  2. You must be a full-time employee, and a sworn officer or person whose principal responsibilities are unique to the criminal justice system.
  3. Your position must be directly involved with the enforcement of criminal law.

Persons whose responsibilities are supportive (typing, filing, custodial, foodservice, accounting, maintenance, etc.) are not eligible regardless of where these duties are performed.

TO RECEIVE POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION: Fill out and sign your form, have an official certify your employment information, and return the form to this office with a copy of your official job description. A determination of whether or not you qualify will be made in this office after the receipt of your completed form.

General process: The postponement is the first step in the cancellation process. It stops all billings and keeps your account from going past due until the end of this twelve-month period.  The cancellation is the second and final step in the process. By requesting cancellation, you are telling us you have now completed the year of service and are now eligible to have a portion of your loan forgiven (cancelled).

IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLETE YOUR YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT: Your postponement is then considered a deferment. You will need to send verification of your last date of employment, and we will use that as your deferment end date. There is a six-month grace period following this deferment in which no interest accrues and no payments are due.

Rates of cancellation: 15% of the original principal balance, plus interest for the first and second year, 20% for the third and fourth years, and 30% for the fifth year. If you continue in eligible employment and file all your forms, your loan would be cancelled in full at the end of five years.