PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses (SLRN) + PSLF: What Hospital Nurses Need to Know

If you’re a nurse in Pennsylvania, you may have received an email saying:

“Congratulations! You have been selected for participation in the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses (SLRN) Program…”

The email is real — and the program can provide up to $7,500 in student loan relief for your nursing work during 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Before you accept the award, it’s important to understand how SLRN works and how the payment may affect Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Key Takeaways

• SLRN is a real PA program offering up to $7,500 in student loan relief for nurses.
• Payments are lump-sum and do not count as extra PSLF payments.
• Large payments may push your due date forward, which can pause PSLF progress if unnoticed.
• Most nurses should accept SLRN, since it reduces loan balance at no cost.
• Continue monitoring and making payments to stay on track for PSLF.

What Is the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses (SLRN)?

SLRN is a Pennsylvania state program that offers:

• Up to $2,500 per qualifying year of work
• A maximum benefit of $7,500
• Limited funding on a first-come, first-served basis until October 1, 2026

If you received the email, you’re being asked to complete final verification steps so PHEAA can send payment to your loan servicer.

How SLRN Could Affect Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

SLRN is helpful — but the lump-sum payment can influence your PSLF progress if you’re not aware of how it’s applied.

1. PSLF Counts Monthly Payments, Not Lump Sums

PSLF requires 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
A large SLRN payment does not give extra payment credits.

2. A Lump-Sum Payment May Change Your “Payment Due” Status

Some loan servicers apply large payments by moving your due date forward, temporarily showing that no payment is required.

3. SLRN Is a Good Benefit — Just Monitor Your Account

Most nurses should take SLRN. It lowers your balance and costs you nothing.
If you’re pursuing PSLF, simply keep an eye on your payment due date and continue making qualifying payments as needed.

PHEAA vs. PSLF Servicing: Why You’re Hearing from Different Entities

To keep things simple:

• SLRN → State program, administered by PHEAA
• PSLF → Federal forgiveness program, serviced by the U.S. Department of Education

These programs are separate, but the way SLRN is applied to your loans can affect how your PSLF progress is tracked.

How PeopleJoy Helps Nurses

PeopleJoy supports hospital nurses by:

• Explaining how SLRN fits into your overall forgiveness strategy
• Helping with employer documentation
• Reviewing PSLF progress and spotting inconsistencies

Bottom Line for Pennsylvania Nurses

If you received the SLRN email:

• It’s legitimate
• It’s valuable financial relief
• You should likely take it
• Just stay aware of how the payment affects your monthly PSLF-qualifying payments

With a little attention, you can benefit from SLRN today and keep moving toward long-term loan forgiveness.