Benefits Connect Login
a member a minister a seminarian or candidate representing an employer representing a congregation on a mid council planning to retire
Plan for retirement Sign up for Call to Health Donate or apply to the Assistance Program Explore job opportunities Make a payment Get support for a life event
Search Menu
What are you looking for?

Employee Vocation Program

The Employee Vocation Program provides educational debt relief to employees of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-affiliated retirement communities who have student loans through a national lender.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, eligibility for the Employee Vocation Program is expanding to include active members who work for any PC(USA)-affiliated employer.

Supporting financial well-being

Our plan members who serve in retirement communities spend their days caring for others, often neglecting their own care, including their financial well-being. Financial stability reduces stress, freeing us to care for ourselves as well as for others.

To support the well-being of our members serving in PC(USA)-affiliated retirement communities, the Board of Pensions has introduced this new program to provide relief from educational debt. It combines debt relief with student loan debt coaching through PeopleJoy, at no cost to the participant.

Student Loan 101 Webinar

EdAssist through PeopleJoy helps Benefits Plan members apply for PSLF. The Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Mission Agency held a webinar on student loan repayment, new loan forgiveness programs, consolidation, and how to get started with EdAssist.

View a recording of the September 20, 2023, Student Loan 101 webinar.

Amount

A total award of up to $25,000 is available.

Eligibility

To qualify, you must:

  • work for a PC(USA)-affiliated retirement community (effective Jan. 1, 2025, any PC(USA)-affiliated employer) at least 20 hours weekly
  • be enrolled in the Medical Plan for at least six months
  • have an effective salary of no more than $80,000 per year
  • have documented debt with a national student loan lender

How it works

The Board will contribute 90% of your minimum monthly payment (MMP) amount until either the maximum total award of $25,000 is reached or your loan balance is fully forgiven, whichever comes first, if you pay your loan servicer a specified amount monthly. You are responsible for paying 10% of your applicable participant contribution. Additionally, you must receive student loan debt coaching from PeopleJoy, an educational debt reduction firm who partners with the Board.

Once accepted into the program, you will be connected with PeopleJoy to begin student loan debt coaching.

Participant contributions will be verified.

Program participation requirements

To remain enrolled in the program, you must:

  • continue to remit your specified monthly amount until your loan balance is fully forgiven
  • continue to meet the eligibility qualifications outlined above

How to apply

Need help?

Call the Board of Pensions at 800-PRESPLAN (800-773-7752) (TTY: 711).

Translations

Resources