SERVICE Act

What H.R. 2829 does, in plain terms

Strengthening Efforts for Relief and Vital Incentives for Community Service and Engagement Act or the SERVICE Act This bill makes changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Under the current PSLF program, the Department of Education (ED) must cancel the balance of interest and principal due on a borrower's Federal Direct Loans after the borrower makes 120 monthly loan payments while employed in a public service job and, at the time of loan forgiveness, the borrower is employed in a public service job. Among other changes to the PSLF program, this bill reduces from 120 to 96 the number of monthly payments required for loan forgiveness; expands qualifying monthly payments, deferments, and forbearances allowed under the PSLF program; removes the requirement that a borrower must be employed in a public service job at the time of loan forgiveness; establishes a reconsideration process for borrowers who have their initial PSLF application denied; and prohibits interest capitalization on loans after deferment or forbearance. The bill directs ED to (1) establish an online portal that provides borrowers with information on loans and the PSLF program, and (2) establish and regularly update a database listing public service jobs. The bill allows an eligible teacher to use the same teaching service to qualify for both the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program and the PSLF program. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on the feasibility of establishing data matching agreements for PSLF that allows borrowers to forgo requesting employment certification from their employer.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.