Public Service
To qualify for a Public Service Deferment you must be one of the following:

• An active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan that was made before July 1, 1993, or who had an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan made before July 1, 1993, when he or she obtained a loan disbursed on or after July 1, 1993. The deferment is also available to a PLUS borrower if that borrower has a PLUS Loan that was disbursed before August 15, 1983. For loans with disbursement date on or after July 1, 2001, a deferment is available for a period of up to three years while the borrower is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency or is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war, or other military operation or national emergency.
• Serving full-time as an officer in the Commissioned Corps of The Public Health Service. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loan borrowers and Federal PLUS loans made before August 15, 1983. The time limit is 3 years, this limit is combined with any time spent in a deferment due to Armed Forces or NOAA.)
• On active duty in the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loans made after July 1, 1987 and before July 1, 1993. The time limit is 3 years, this limit is combined with any time spent in a deferment due to Public Health Service or Armed Forces.)
• Serving in the Peace Corps. (For borrowers with loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is 3 years.)
• A full-time paid volunteer in the Action Programs. (For borrowers with loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is 3 years.)
• A full-time paid volunteer for a Tax-Exempt Organization. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is 3 years.)

Do not use this form if all of your outstanding Federal Family Education Loan Program loans were made on or after July 1, 1993.

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Updated: 07/15/2008