Heartland ECSI - Your Loan Servicer
Puget Sound has partnered with Heartland ECSI (Educational Computer Systems, Inc), to be the loan servicer for your Perkins Loan. Please complete your deferment/forbearance form and mail directly to Heartland ECSI for processing.

Download a Request for Deferment/Forbearance Form (PDF)

Economic Hardship

Economic hardship deferments can be granted for periods of up to one year at a time, not to exceed a total of three years. Borrowers must provide satisfactory documentation showing that they are within any of the following categories:

  • Receiving an economic hardship deferment for either a Stafford/Direct or PLUS Loan for the same period of time for which the Perkins Loan deferment has been requested
  • Receiving federal or state public assistance (e.g. food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, or state general public assistance)
  • Working full-time (over 30 hours/week) and under the poverty line

Seeking Full-Time Employment

Borrowers may defer repayment up to three years if seeking and unable to find full-time employment. Borrowers must provide satisfactory documentation and register with an employment agency.

In-School

Borrowers may defer repayment if enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an institution of higher education.

Graduate Fellowship Program

Borrowers may defer their loans for enrollment in a graduate fellowship program approved by the Education Department or engaged in a graduate or postgraduate fellowship-support study (such as a Fulbright grant) outside the United States.

Rehabilitation Training

A borrower may defer repayment if he or she is enrolled in a course of study that is part of a Department-approved rehabilitation training program for disabled individuals.

Military

Deferment is available to Armed Forces Reservists and National Guard personnel called to duty and to regular military personnel assigned to duty stations other than their normal stations due to war, military operation, or national emergency.

Forbearance

Forbearance is a temporary postponement of payments. Unlike during deferment, interest continues to accrue on the account during forbearance. Interest may be paid as it accrues or may be deferred.

Forbearance may be granted for a period of up to one year at a time, not to exceed a total of three years.

Borrowers must request forbearance in writing, stating the reason for the forbearance and provide supporting documentation. Forbearance can be granted to borrowers experiencing the following:

  • Financial hardship
  • Poor health, as certified by a physician