If you’re an active-duty military member, you may be eligible for a soldier loan. These loans allow active-duty service members to pay off their student loans with a lower interest rate than they could if they took out a traditional loan. Many specialist companies managed these loans and charged high interest rates. The new military lending act is intended to prevent this and keep rates low. Read on to find out more about soldier loans. And don’t forget about the new programs for paying down your student loan as a service member!
Benefits of a soldier loan
A soldier loan may provide a way for a current or former member of the military to make monthly payments on their debt. Military members are often under tremendous financial pressures, from medical bills to a lack of resources when transitioning back to civilian life. These loans can be used for a variety of purposes without collateral. Besides making payments on your debt, you can also use these funds for debt consolidation, home improvements, credit card refinancing, and more. These loans may provide a much-needed financial boost to current military members who need it most.
As a member of the military, your credit score is an important part of evaluating your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances, you may have a lower credit score than those who apply for conventional mortgages. Fortunately, there are several lenders that can work with you despite your past credit history. Boosting your score will increase your chances of getting approved for a loan and qualify you for lower rates. Lenders like SoFi and Upgrade offer loan programs for military personnel with low credit scores.
The SCRA protects service members from being harassed or victimized by creditors. The law limits interest rates for certain financial obligations to six percent a year. Additionally, you’ll have to provide the creditor with a copy of your military orders or other appropriate indicators of your service. These benefits can make it easier to obtain the funds you need to pay off debts without facing the risk of being turned down or being sued by creditors.
LendingClub also offers reduced-interest personal loans. Active-duty military members and veterans can apply for a low-interest loan. They are typically offered at 6% or less. While most personal loan companies do not allow co-borrowers, some do allow them. Joint personal loans can be an excellent option if you have no credit. Benefits of a soldier loan include the fact that they provide lower interest rates, and a 0% or 1% interest rate on personal loans.
Interest waived on federal student loans for active-duty service members
The U.S. Department of Education recently waived interest rates on federal student loans for 47,000 service members. Applicants must apply for the waiver and submit appropriate documentation, but only a few have taken advantage of the opportunity. This new policy allows service members to focus on their careers and come home. However, only 4,800 service members received the waiver in 2019.
Another way to get your student loans forgiven is to join the military. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives your student debt after you have made 120 qualifying payments. This is not available for all military members, but the public service forgiveness program can help if you are serving in a combat zone or other high-need area. To qualify, you must complete a qualifying repayment plan that uses income-driven payments and meet the job criteria. After 10 years, you can get your interest waived on federal student loans.
If you’re a service member, you can get a reduced interest rate on your federal student loans based on your income and family size. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) limits the interest rate for active-duty service members to six percent. In order to receive this reduction, you must request it in writing and submit a copy of your military orders. Once you begin active-duty, the interest rate for all federal student loans will drop to six percent.
The DOD can help you with your finances as well. You can also apply for grant funds for a child of a deceased parent. If you’re a service member who doesn’t qualify for the Pell grant, consider establishing a power of attorney. The power of attorney enables the holder to sign important documents on behalf of the principal. If you’re unsure who will be signing your loan documents, contact the military’s legal assistance office on your base. Providing the name of a trusted friend or relative can also help you to avoid any mistakes and problems with the loan.
The Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Service Members Act, also known as HEROES, waives the requirements for qualifying for these benefits. This law was passed in 2003 and enacted by the U.S. Congress as a way to reduce debt and increase access to college. The waivers were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 12, 2003, and now apply to loans disbursed after the deadline of October 1, 2008. Additionally, borrowers with existing FFEL loans may opt to consolidate into a Direct loan program to take advantage of these benefits.
As a part of the COVID-19 initiative, the Department of Education waived interest charges on federal student loans for active-duty servicemen until September 1, 2022. The SOFI does not qualify for FEDERAL LOAN PAYMENT SUSPENSION or INTEREST WAIVER. However, borrowers may receive additional credit for payments made after the PSLF deadline in October 2022.
Programs that help pay down student loans for service members
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) has a few benefits for active-duty military members who are trying to pay off their student loans. First, the Act caps interest rates at 6% while a service member is on active duty. Lower monthly payments will enable service members to pay off their loans faster. Moreover, the Act applies to loans taken after August 14, 2008, and before the service member begins active duty.
In addition, the PSLF program requires service members to sign up for an income-driven repayment plan. This plan involves making monthly payments based on a family’s income. This type of payment plan will have a chance to result in loan forgiveness after twenty to twenty-five years of regular payments. Additionally, service members are eligible for protection under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), passed by the Bush Administration in 2003.
For service members who are employed as a judge advocate general, the Air Force’s JAG Corps can help them pay back their student loans. The program awards up to $65,000 in student loan assistance to qualifying JAG officers over three years. The Coast Guard’s Loan Repayment Program, meanwhile, offers up to $30,000 in student loan assistance for those who qualify. In total, programs that help pay down student loans for service members include the PSLF, the PSLA, and the income-based loan repayment program.
There are many different programs for service members, including a Health Professions Loan Repayment Program for qualified service members. The active duty program provides up to $40,000 in loan forgiveness each year for three years, while the reserve members can receive up to $50,000 in loan assistance over three years. The National Guard program also offers loan assistance for qualified service members. To qualify, members of the National Guard must have six years of service and score at least fifty on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT).
Another program to help service members pay off their student loans is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Those in the public service field can receive loan forgiveness through PSLF after 120 qualifying payments. This program is not just available for service members, but also for non-military workers. To qualify for PSLF, applicants must have a qualifying federal student loan, work for a qualifying employer for ten years, make 120 on-time payments for 120 months, and remain employed for at least 10 years. Those who qualify will be freed from their outstanding loan debt and won’t have to worry about paying taxes on the forgiveness.
The Army Student Loan Repayment Program allows eligible members of the military to defer payments on their student loans while on active duty. During this time, the Department of Education pays the interest on the Direct Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans. While this deferred repayment period isn’t enough to pay off the loans faster, the service member will not have to worry about interest accruing during the pause in payment. Another option is the Income-Driven Repayment Plan (ILRP), which allows military service members to make their payments more affordable.
