US student loan repayment application

Hi all!

I think this is the right place to post this. Effectively, I've just re-applied for a payment plan for my student loans back in the US. I have a job in the UK, and I submitted my US tax return for this coming year as proof of my gross annual income.

They got back to me to ask for further proof of my income for the application, and I'm a bit confused on what my next step should be. They've said I need to submit one of three things:

 - W2 (current year)
- Pay stubs (indicate weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)
- Letter signed and dated from your employer and must include:
        - Gross income
        - Pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)
        - SSN and/or name
*All forms of income documentation must include your SSN or name. With the exception of W2s, all forms of income documentation must be dated within the last 90 days.

Since my employer is in the UK, all my proof of income will be in £ not $. My tax return is the only thing I have which actually converts my gross income into $ and has my SSN. Everything else would be in £ and have my National Insurance number.

I just wondered if I could source some wisdom on here before I have another call with them tonight. I can submit my payslip from Feb 2019 today but again it's £ and doesn't have an SSN (does have my name so could be fine?). What do you think would work? Anyone else had to deal with a similar issue as well?

Is there a phone line you can ring (even if it costs money, unfortunately) so that you can speak to an agent and explain the situation? I know that I ended up ringing them to sort mine out, but I did it back in the US when i was home for a visit.

You can use Skype to call the US for a pretty reasonable rate

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

You can use Skype to call the US for a pretty reasonable rate

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Yep, “cheap as chips”. I’ve used Skype for international calling for many years.

If they have a 1800 for you to call it will be free on Skype. Just remember to change the country code.

You can also supply the with the information they require, as best as possible, with a covering letter reminding them that you live overseas and are paid in foreign currency.  When I had to intercede for persons overseas at my last job in the USA, we had to include an exchange rate printed out at the time of submitting information. The govmt. agency would then confirm that themselves.

If they are not happy with that, they'll let you know. If you can supply a pay stub, which might be easiest, be sure to write on it how often you are paid.Otherwise, a letter from your employer would work. You will want to hand-write your SSN on the letter & the pay stub.

Thought of the day. Send the currency conversion within the last 90 days that is the most favorable to you. They may use it, or they may google the currency conversion tables on the day they process your application. Or they may go back to the official US conversion amount for the year in question.... But it never hurts to stack the deck in your favor if it would mean more than a few dollars a year.

just wanted to add i've done my repayment forms for 6 years with GBP rather than USD. I handwrite what the exchange rate is, and thus what my earnings are, along with my SSN, on my PAYE or payslips and it's always worked just fine.

this year I did have to call up and have them confirm it, but other than that call, it was fine.