u/rillettesmaster

Please don’t argue about the premise of contract work satisfying PSLF. Usually it doesn’t, yes. My work did. I know. 100%. Everything else here works- timing, repayment plan, consolidation timing. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU

As a solo attorney, I was a contract public defender with the government, meeting 30hr threshold for enough years that between my work there and at the state public defender, I have 120 qualifying payments. Because I was living under a rock, I didn’t realize that the 2023 rule making on contractors made MY PARTICULAR AGENCY count as a qualified employer. So I haven’t certified the last seven of 10 years I could. Obviously, I also didn’t apply at the time on payment 120 (before SAVE injunction) and built a firm, letting the court appointments wane since then.

Everything I can find says that when I apply I have to be with qualified employer. That ship has sailed for a lot of reasons. I see two proposed solutions:

1. shut down my law practice to take some government job (just take my word for it- rolling back to taking court appointments is worse for business than outright shutting down a few months).

2. Certify 118 and buy back an old couple months when my stupid loan server talked me into forbearance many years ago.

What is door number 3??

I feel like I should just slam my loans in forbearance one way or another.

Ok, I posted this but everyone wanted to argue with my premise about contracting. Yes. 100%. Everything else here works- timing, repayment plan, consolidation timing. No arguing with the premise. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU

As a solo attorney, I was a contract public defender with the government, meeting 30hr threshold. I didn’t realize that MY PARTICULAR AGENCY counted as a qualified employer. I know 100% it does. Between that work and time at the state public defender, I’ve got 120 payments made during 120 months. All payments w 30hr week average. I didn’t apply at the time on payment 120 (before SAVE injunction) and built a firm, letting the court appointments wane since then.

I see two proposed solutions:

1. shut down my law practice (in effect killing it) and go be a bus driver for a couple months.

2. Certify 118 and buy back an old couple months when my stupid loan server talked me into forbearance many years ago.

What is door number 3??

I feel like I should just slam my loans in forbearance one way or another.

Nobody told me that the organization (as a contractor) I worked for was a qualified employer until an old buddy talked about his loans being forgiven. I’ve got 120 payments made during 120 months. I didn’t apply.

The spread of nonsense I’ve read says you must work for a qualifying employer when you apply. I’ve tried to find answers.

Does that mean I need to quit my job and go be a bus driver for a month?

And if not, is there any reason that I shouldn’t go into forbearance while I get the certification sorted out?