Public Student Loan Forgiveness; a Reality or Scam?

PSLF was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007 under the "College Cost Reduction and Access Act." By definition I should qualify; however, I am continuously being asked to apply for it, then I go from being accepted and then they say they have no record of my applications, that of course I have copies of. I resend them and then begins the story of well, your start date is 2015 because that is when you consolidated your loans.

I had 2 student loans because according to my College FAFSA, I was eligible for half of my cost to be subsidized which meant I only had to pay interest on the other half as long as I kept the 2 loans. Thus, when I consolidated my loans, being advised that I would qualify for PSLF, so the interest being applied to my new single loan wouldn't matter because my balance would go away.

I have 20 years experience working for the same urban low poverty public school system, I have to apply for Income Based Repayment (IBR) due to my low salary and then my lender reminds me about PSLF. I always say, "think I am in the PSLF program," however, with all the rules of such program, hardly any of my years qualified. Then they begin to look into my account. I earned my Master's Degree while working in the public school district, adding teaching licenses that opened doors to many great teaching opportunities.

I have had economic hardships and had to apply for periods of deferment, usually only for a few months when I have no money to send them, so who knows what any of that means to my actual PSLF status. Another teacher in building said he was told that our school didn't qualify because our students actually graduate from their Home High Schools; so far I have not been told this. My low salary with a rise in all of my other bills, the fact that I am a single mom & homeowner has caused me to request a new monthly due date so that I can try to make a monthly on time payment and not go into deferment.

Since, 2015 I send payments to my consolidated student loan and the balance stays the same. I am frustrated with this broken system that says they are for you, but in all actuality the opposite is happening. In October of 2018, I applied for the new, "Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness" (TEPSLF) to have my PSLF application investigated, at this time they do not think I am eligible at all. I have to call them next week to look into my account. At this time, I will bring up all of my copies of my previous applications, so who knows what will be determined this year. Regardless, I continue to look for employment that can pay me more so that I can afford to pay off my student loans.

I am tiring of all of these systems and empty promises. I will keep figuring out my income, as I always do. I have no regrets of my work experiences or the college degrees that I have earned.
This is my PSLF story. I was a non traditional college student, who worked and continues to work 2 jobs. I'm just living the dream, with a trail of debt that follows me.