Reboot Your Life: Tampa Student Loan and Bankruptcy Attorney Blog
Urgent 10/31 deadline for PSLF
We have learned that not only must the employer certification be dated 10/31 or before, but borrowers must use the PSLF HelpTool to download and sign the PSLF application by end of day 10/31. We recommend doing so as soon as possible to avoid any technical problems.
The application itself can be mailed or faxed after 10/31, but must be signed with a date of 10/31 at the latest.
We are trying our best to keep up with ever changing guidance from various sources including the Department of Education.
Tips on using the PSLF Help Tool: have your FSA username and password handy. You’ll also need a W-2 or your employer’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).
How to access the HelpTool: https://studentaid.gov/pslf/
Signature: Digital signatures from you or your employer must be hand-drawn (from a signature pad, mouse, finger, or by taking a picture of a signature drawn on a piece of paper that you then scan and embed on the signature line of the PSLF form) to be accepted. Typed signatures, even if made to mimic a signature, or security certificate-based signatures are not accepted.
If you are a client and have any trouble accessing the PSLF Help Tool, please email Barbara, Kat, and Jeremy with your phone number and someone will call you back promptly to walk you through it.
If you don’t have access to a computer, please get us your FSA username and password, and we’ll log on the PSLF Help Tool with you on the phone if possible.
If you prefer not to do that, please fill out, print and sign/date (10/31 or before) the attached PSLF application and fax it to us at 813-258-5911 AND to Mohela at: 866-222-7060. Using the Help Tool is much preferred however and easy to do by the 10/31 deadline.
Mohela is the new PSLF servicer who will be doing the review even if they haven’t yet received the loans following a consolidation or loan transfer. We were waiting for the transfer to occur first, but can no longer wait due to this guidance.
Using the PSLF Help tool will also help to prioritize your application by getting advanced approval of your employer as well as giving the Department a heads up for your application.
Here are screen shots and additional tips: https://studentaid.gov/articles/become-a-pslf-help-tool-ninja/ .
Tips to Obtain a Timely Employer Signature: The biggest problem for an employer is reviewing your personnel files for your starting and ending dates and confirming that you were a full-time employee. It will help if you write that in the form in advance, so that the employer need only sign and date for 10/31. The employer will know whether it is tax-exempt and its primary purpose of business and can easily fill that in. Most employers will receive many copies of this certification. They should also be aware of the 10/31 deadline and should be able to prioritize signing this by that deadline.