Deferment & Cancellation Information
Deferment of Loan Payments
Under certain circumstances, the borrower can receive a deferment or forbearance on his/her loan. During a deferment, the borrower is allowed to postpone payment on the loan temporarily, and no interest accrues. Deferment may be allowed under certain conditions, such as unemployment.
Deferments are not automatic. The borrower must apply for deferment through the school holding the loan by using the request form provided by that school. The deferment request must be filed on time, or late charges may apply. For more details on deferment, contact the Whitworth Student Loan Office.
A borrower who is temporarily unable to meet his /her repayment schedule but is not eligible for a deferment may be eligible for forbearance for a limited and specific period. During forbearance, payments are postponed or reduced. Interest continues to accrue, and it becomes part of the borrower's responsibility.
Forbearance is not automatic. It may be granted in up to 12-month periods for up to three years. Forbearance must be applied for in writing through the school. Documentation must be provided to support the request for forbearance. Scheduled payments must continue being made until there is notification that deferment or forbearance has been granted.
Cancellation
A loan can qualify for cancellation under certain conditions, provided the loan is not in default; for example, if a borrower dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled, the loan can be cancelled. See below for the list of cancellation conditions. For more information, contact the Whitworth Student Loan Office.
The U.S. Department of Defense may, as an enlistment incentive for students serving as enlisted persons in certain specialties of the U.S. Armed Forces, repay a portion of a borrower's student loans. This is not a cancellation. A borrower who thinks s/he qualifies should contact his/her recruiting officer.
If you have questions about terms regarding Federal Perkins Loans, repayment, deferment, forbearance, or cancellation, please contact the Whitworth Student Loan Office. Only Whitworth may grant deferment, forbearance, or cancellation, or may make other decisions concerning the loan.
Perkins Discharge/Cancellation Summary
| Cancellation Condition | Amount Forgiven | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Borrower's total and permanent disability or death. | 100 percent | Death certificate |
| Full-time teacher in a designated elementary or secondary school serving students from low-income families | Up to 100 percent 15 percent years 1 and 2 20 percent years 3 and 4 30 percent year 5 |
Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time special education teacher (includes teaching children with disabilities in a public or other non-profit elementary or secondary school) | Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time qualified professional provider of early intervention services for the disabled | Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time teacher of math, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or in other fields designated as teacher shortage areas | Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time employee of a public or non-profit child - or family - services agency providing services to high-risk children and their families from low-income communities | Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time nurse or medical technician who works directly with patients and is licensed or certified in the state the borrower is practicing in. See below for a list of allied professions |
Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Service as a full-time law enforcement or corrections officer | Up to 100 percent | Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Full-time services as a staff member in the education component of a Head Start Program | Up to 100 percent 15 percent per year |
Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Service as a VISTA or Peace Corps volunteer | Up to 70 percent 15 percent years one and two 20 percent years three and four |
Service qualifies for deferment also |
| Service in the U.S. Armed Forces | Up to 50 percent in areas of hostilities or imminent danger | Service qualifies for deferment also |
As of Oct. 7, 1998, all Perkins Loan borrowers are eligible for all cancellation benefits regardless of when the loan was made or the terms of the borrower's promissory notes. However, this new benefit is not retroactive to services performed before Oct. 7, 1998.
Accrediting Agencies for Allied Health Professionals
| Agency | Profession(s) |
|---|---|
| Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) | Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Assistant |
| American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) | Genetic Counselor |
| American Orthoptic Council (AOC) | Orthopist |
| American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) | Physical Therapist Physical Therapist Assistant |
| Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) | Anesthesiologist Assistant Athletic Trainer Cardiovascular Technologist Cytotechnologist Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Health Information Administrator Kinesiotherapist Medical Assistant Medical Illustrator Ophthalmic Medical Technician/Technologist Orthotist/Prothetist Perfusionist Respiratory Therapist (Advanced) Respiratory Therapist (Entry Level) Specialist in Blood Bank Technology Surgical Technologist |
| Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the America Dietetic Association | Dietetic Technician Dietitian/Nutritionist |
| Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) of the American Dental Association | Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Dental Laboratory Technician |
| Commission for Opticianry Accreditation | Opthalmic Dispensing Optician Opthalmic Laboratory Technician |
| Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Referred Educational Programs (CACREP) | Marriage and Family Counselor/Therapist Mental Health Counselor Substance Abuse Counselor |
| Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology | Audiologist Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Council on Accreditation of the National Recreation and Park Association | Therapeutic Recreation Specialist |
| Council on Rehabilitation Education | Rehabilitation Counselor |
| Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Radiation Therapist Radiographer |
| Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) | Nuclear Medicine Technology |
| National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) | Clinical Lab Technician/Med Lab Tech - AA Clinical Lab Technician/Med Lab Tech - Certificate Clinical Lab Scientist/Medical Technologist Histologic Technician/Technologist Pathologists' Assistant |
| National Association for School of Music (NASM) | Music Therapist |
| American Pharmaceutical Association | Pharmacist Pharmacy Technician |