Brad Roae is a state representative from the Sixth District.

Question: Is there any help available for members of the armed forces who served in the Middle East and are now having trouble paying their student loans?

Answer: Yes. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has extended the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program to provide a one-time loan forgiveness benefit to servicemen and servicewomen.

The program was created to recognize the bravery, dedication and loyalty of servicemen and servicewomen who served in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. This program has since been extended seven times.

The program provides a one-time loan forgiveness benefit of up to $2,500 for student borrowers who served in the Armed Forces in an active duty status between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2007.

Applicants must have an eligible, non-defaulted loan such as a PHEAA Guaranteed Loan, an AES Stafford, Consolidation, PLUS, or SLS loan. These loans must be disbursed on or before Sept. 31, 2007.
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Eligible applicants must meet one of three following criteria:

z A current resident or a state resident who was living in Pennsylvania at the time of enlistment and was in the military continuously through at least Sept. 11, 2001, regardless of current residence.

z A non-resident of Pennsylvania who left a Pennsylvania-approved institution of post-secondary education due to a call to active duty.

z A non-resident of Pennsylvania who enlisted in the military immediately after attending a Pennsylvania-approved institution of post-secondary education.

Applications for the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness program can be downloaded online at my Web site. If a borrower is overseas and cannot complete the application, a signature by the power o attorney will be accepted with supporting documentation.

Applications must be completed and returned to PHEAA by Dec. 31, 2007.

More information, including applications for the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program, is available at RepRoae.com.

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