Still Time to Apply for the Partial Loan Repayment Program for FY2025 for Social Work Graduates Working in IL Schools and Municipalities

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is currently accepting applications for their School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program through June 30, 2025. For those eligible, the program provides an award of up to $6,500 to assist in paying eligible loans, particularly for those of minority applicants who are underrepresented in the field as as school and municipal social workers. This program was an NASW-Illinois Chapter initiative and was funded thanks to major advocacy from Illinois State Senator Karina Villa.

To be eligible for the program, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen

• Be an Illinois resident

• Have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan (includes Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, consolidation loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans, and other types of government and institutional loans used for education expenses) and haven't received this grant before.

• Be an individual holding a degree in social work  who is currently employed, and was so employed, for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application (for example: "August 7, 2023 – August 6, 2024”) by:

  • an Illinois public elementary school,

  • an Illinois public secondary school, or

  • a city, village, or incorporated town in the state of Illinois, excluding social workers employed by police departments.

• Not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

For more details on eligibility and how to apply, click the links below.

• Program Information: https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/SMSWSLRP.html

• Program Application: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/applying-for-financial-aid/applications/index.html

• Application Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Do you work for an Illinois county, are employed by municipal police departments, or have received this grant already and therefore are not eligible? Good News! NASW-IL is working with State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, LSW and Sen. Karina Villa, MSW to remove these restrictions and to increase the amount of the grant via HB3511. You can help our efforts by taking action today here: Action Center