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The federal government did not reauthorize the Federal Perkins Loan Program. No further Perkins Loans will be awarded. This section will only provide information about repayment.

Loan Exit Counseling

All Federal Perkins Loan recipients are required to complete Loan Exit Counseling. Loan Exit Counseling is a tool used to educate student borrowers on their rights and responsibilities as a Federal Perkins Loan borrower.

Once students drop below half time enrollment (less than 6 credits) they will receive an letter with the instructions to complete the Federal Perkins Loan Exit Counseling online at Heartland ECSI.

Deferments and Forbearance

Deferment and forbearance allow students to temporarily postpone Federal Perkins Loan payments.   You can apply for deferment or forbearance by completing the appropriate form.  Please visit Heartland ECSI forms page for a list of options and the PDF forms.

Consolidation

In addition to deferments, your Federal Perkins Loan may be eligible for consolidation. All of your federal loans may be combined into one convenient payment that is often lower than the sum of your individual payments. Since consolidation is not the best alternative for everyone, it is recommended to review the pros and cons of consolidation before making a decision. You can visit the federal student loans website to complete a federal loan consolidation application.

Repayment

Repayment begins nine months after graduation or when enrollment drops below half-time (five credits or less per semester). This loan payment is separate from other federal or alternative loans. Payments are sent and processed through our servicer Education Computer Systems Inc.

ECSI
PO Box 718
Wexford, PA 15090
1-888-549-3274

If you are having difficulty making your payments, please contact ECSI at the number above or a Student Accounts representative at 412-392-3410.