<p>I've been going to the same community college off and on for about 8 years. I have lupus, and sometimes my illness affects my grades/schoolwork. A few years ago I got really sick and had to drop out halfway through the semester, which resulted in me being required to pay back the money I received from my pell grant. I was making small monthly payments at first, but then I got sick again and missed a month of payment. I tried reinstating my payment plans, but was told that the only way to get my financial aid back is for me to pay off the remaining balance - which is $1000. I am on disability, get paid monthly, and don't even get paid $1000 a month. I've tried talking to my schools financial aid department to see if there was any way to get some kind of payment forgiveness or something because of my illness, and they told me there was nothing they could do for me. I don't know where to turn or who to talk to. Trying to continue school without any financial aid, while on disability, becomes harder and harder every semester. I want to quit half the time because I can't afford all my books, getting to school is impossible sometimes, and I seem to be going further and further into debt trying to pay my way through school on top of my medical bills. If anyone can shed some light on my problem for me I would really be grateful.....help?</p>
<p>Off the top of my head- you might research the lupus related non profits and see if you can apply for funding to pay it off so you can continue your education.</p>
<p>[Lupus</a> Organizations You Should Know About](<a href=“http://www.achieveclinical.com/news/lupus-organizations/]Lupus”>http://www.achieveclinical.com/news/lupus-organizations/)</p>
<p>What are you planning on doing once you are done with school? Will you be able to put your degree to use somehow, or will you continue on disability? If you won’ be able to work, it seems silly to continue going into debt for an education you won’t profit from in the end.</p>
<p>teachandmom - why would you respond to my post if you’re going to be negative? I have been sick my entire life, but I have never and will never let my illness rule my life. So yes, I am going to continue my goal towards achieving a college education. Your advice would be to tell someone like myself to just give up trying to live their lives as normally as possible. My road in life may be hard, but I’m going to keep working towards it - even with my building debt. I have been through things you could never hope to survive, and come back from dying more times than I can count. As for what I plan to do with my degree - I plan to teach, however I can. Even if it’s just substituting, teaching part time, or being a tutor. You should never discourage someone from achieving their goals, no matter how impossible they may seem. From your username I’m guessing you’re a teacher - I truly hope you don’t give this sort of advice to your students.</p>
<p>Does the state department of vocational rehabilitation help folks on disability achieve vocational goals? You might want to contact them.</p>
<p>My first concern is that you won’t be able to work, and therefore, you won’t be able to pay back debt. That concerns each and every person. You said you get further and further into debt on top of your medical bills. Tax payers will be supporting you in all liklihood given your illness. If you default on education loans that hurts tax payers too. If you can’t afford your education, maybe it is something you should put off until you can. I am just trying to be realistic, instead of handing you rose colored glasses to put on. There are many, many jobs you could do without any degree, yet you are on disability. Will you get miraculously healthier when you have a degree? Why can’t you support yourself now as you go to school part time?</p>
<p>I am a teacher, and have a severe auto-immune disease that makes me exhausted until I ache and hurt and need to sleep. Teaching is strenuous if you do it right. It isn’t as easy as a desk job; you are part entertainer, always “on”, dealing with many children and parents and colleagues every day. Sometimes I wish I had a nice quiet job at a desk in an office where I could just close the door when I feel lousy. I have had two docs ask if I would consider applying for disability. My answer, “Absolutely not, until I can’t function anymore and do my job the way it should be done to the best of my ability.” When I can’t do the best for my students, then it will be time.</p>
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Normal people pay back what they owed.</p>
<p>Anyway, you
Yes, if you become a teacher after schools, your student loans may be forgiven under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
See [Public</a> Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service#what-is-the-public]Public”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service#what-is-the-public)</p>
<p>DVR does help- however funds are pretty tight.
For instance someone interested in medicine/ OT /PT , is likely to be recommended for training to be a nurses aide.
If you are interested in teaching, you might get approved for a 6 week certificate in child care.</p>
<p>However, they do bring up a good point, I understand the desire for a college degree, but you will also need to be employed to pay back your loans.</p>
<p>Your education will not be very satisfying, if you arent able to use it- so keeping in mind what fields are more flexible than others and which allow part time work will make you happier in the long run.</p>
<p>If you are interested in tutoring, you undoubtably already have skills for that since some high school students save money for college that way.
Howabout working as a tutor to save money to take more classes?</p>
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<p>My concern is how much of this time have your been getting aid as a full time/part time student. Now that there are caps on the number of terms you can receive Pell/TAP, you may exhaust your eligibility for FA before you finish the degree</p>
<p>I had to repay part of my pell grant. I had to drop for medical reasons as well. I worked through my community college to provide a payment plan for the remaining debt. Understandably, they get less $$$ in the end if they send it to a creditor. I had about 1200 to pay back, and I decided to break those payments into increments of 300. </p>
<p>If you’re on state assistance, often they have education programs. They want to “rehabilitate” you towards gainful employment. If you can pick a suitable program that isn’t too stressful, you may find help there. I know lupus is incredibly difficult to live with.</p>
<p>You should also look into the new Pell eligibility rules. </p>
<p>[Recent</a> Changes to the Student Aid Programs | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/about/announcements/recent-changes]Recent”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/about/announcements/recent-changes)</p>
<p>Teachersmom was just giving out the advice that we’re all hesitant to give. Sometimes the reality is harsh. If all else fails, you can arrange to sit in on seminars and other educational forums to keep your brain in shape. I know it’s tough, but all of us have limits. We need to provide sustainable and prosperous futures for ourselves. Sometimes the paths we choose aren’t fitting with the way our feet decide they’re going. </p>
<p>Stay positive. </p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
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