With federal Student Loan Forgiveness barely making any headway, states have started taking it upon themselves to aid some of the most needed professionals to rid themselves of that burden. This is especially important in states with high cost of living that are in need of specific workers like teachers or medical personnel that are being driven away by the comparatively low salaries and high expenses.

One of these states is New York, which according to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is offering to help repay student loans for some of its workers. To qualify for these repayments, you must be a U.S citizen and a resident of the state of New York. The deal may not be as sweet as some might think, as some taxes may be owed on this repayment as in some cases it could be considered income.

Student Loan Forgiveness New York

For now, the program is only available to some fields:

Licensed social workers

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning July 2025 and it will help licensed social workers working in critical human service areas in the state. Some of the requirements are:

• Be a social worker professionally licensed to practice in New York state and have worked full-time as a licensed social worker in a critical human service area for at least 35 hours per week during the calendar year prior to your application
• Have an outstanding balance on an eligible student loan debt

Not all the debt will be repaid through this program, there is a maximum award of $26,000, but if the remaining loan amount is not as high, only the loan will be repaid. The payment will not be a lump sum, but it will be paid over a period of four years as $6,500 for each annual period of qualified service completed until the loan is paid or the maximum amount is reached.

Nursing faculty members

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning November 2024 and some of the qualifications include:

• Being a registered nurse licensed to practice in New York state or nursing faculty or adjunct clinical faculty or those employed at a nursing school located in New York
• Being a state resident for 12 continuous months prior to application

The maximum amount the state will repay is $40,000, paid in $8,000 annual installments over five years or until the eligible student loan is repaid.

District attorneys and indigent legal services attorneys

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning July 2025 for those who have worked as full-time as a district attorney, assistant district attorney, or indigent legal services attorney in New York state for between four and nine years. The maximum award is $20,400 that will be paid annually in $3,400 installments for a maximum of six years until the loan is repaid or the maximum amount is reached.

Child welfare workers

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning November 2024 for those who agree to provide direct care services at a New York state-licensed child welfare agency for a minimum of five years and have lived in the state for at least 12 months prior to applying. Those eligible must have a degree from a state college or university obtained no more than two years prior. The maximum amount awarded is $50,000 for a five-year period in $10,000 installments or until the debt is paid.

Teachers

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning January 2025 for teachers in hard-to-staff districts or who teach in subject shortage areas in the state. To qualify they must be a certified teacher in New York state, employed full-time in an elementary or secondary school in the state and a state resident for 12 continuous months prior to application

The maximum amount awarded is $20,000 which will be paid over a period of four years $5,000 per year until the maximum amount is reached or the debt is paid.

Farmers

Applications for this program will be accepted beginning November 2024 for recent college graduates who pursue a career in farming in New York state. Those who wish to apply must have obtained an undergraduate degree from an approved state college or university and be within the first 10 years of operating a farm, on a full-time basis in New York state that produces an agricultural product. They must also agree to operate a farm in New York state on a full time basis for at least five years.

The maximum amount awarded is $50,000 for a five-year period in $10,000 installments or until the debt is paid.

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