:: Public Service Deferment ::
This deferment is for the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Contact your loan servicer to discuss your options and download a Public Service Deferment Request Form PDF. You must continue making your payment until you're notified that a deferment has been granted.
Eligibility Criteria
Maximum Time Limit: 3 years
To be eligible for this deferment, you must have an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS loan first disbursed before Aug. 15, 1983. The 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. You may be granted the maximum deferment length for any combination of eligible service.
Armed Forces Deferment
This deferment generally applies only to an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Personnel 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
To qualify for this deferment, you must request it from your lender and provide them a statement from an authorized official of the USPHS certifying you're a full-time officer in the Commissioned Corps of Public Health, the date your service began and the date it's expected to end.
Peace Corps Deferment
To qualify for this deferment, you must request it from your lender and provide them a statement from an official of the Peace Corps program certifying you've agreed to serve as a volunteer on a full-time basis for at least one year, the date your service began and the date it's expected to end.
ACTION Program 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. To qualify for this deferment, you must request it from your lender and provide them a statement from a volunteer program official certifying you've agreed to serve as a volunteer on a full-time basis for at least one year, the date your service began and the date it's expected to end.
Tax-Exempt Organization Volunteer Deferment
The Tax-Exempt Organization Volunteer Deferment is intended to cover full-time paid volunteer service with a tax-exempt organization the U.S. Department of Education has determined to be comparable to service as a Peace Corps or ACTION volunteer. To qualify for this deferment, you must request it from your lender and provide them a statement from a volunteer program official certifying you've agreed to serve on a full-time basis for at least one year as well as other criteria not mentioned here. The deferment form outlines additional eligibility requirements.
NOAA Corps Deferment
To qualify for this deferment, you must request it from your lender and provide them a statement from an authorized NOAA Corps official certifying you're on active duty status in the NOAA Corps, the date your service began and the date it's expected to end.
