ARMED FORCES LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM EXTENDED

Harrisburg, Nov. 13, 2003 – Eligibility for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program has been extended, announced state Sen. Connie Williams.

The Program, which provides up to $2,500 in a one-time loan forgiveness payment, is open to student borrowers who served in the Armed Forces in an active duty status between Sept. 11, 2001 and June 30, 2004.

“Through this program, the state is recognizing the bravery, dedication and loyalty of our servicemen and –women,” Williams said.

The program is open to borrowers who are:

• currently residents of Pennsylvania,
• non-residents who left a Pennsylvania school due to a call to active duty,
• Pennsylvania residents who were living in Pennsylvania at the time of enlistment and were in the military continuously through at least Sept. 11, 2001, regardless of current place of resident, or
• Non-residents who attended a Pennsylvania approved institution of post-secondary education, who went directly from this post-secondary enrollment into the Armed Forces of the United States, and were in the military continuously through at least Sept. 11, 2001, regardless of current place of residence.

Borrowers who only served on a two-week active duty assignment for training status during the designated time period are not eligible for loan forgiveness.

The deadline to submit a completed application is Dec. 31, 2004. For more information or an application contact PHEAA at (800) 233-0557 or visit PHEAA’s Web site at www.pheaa.org.