Borrowers with some types of federal student loans have until today to consolidate their loans to qualify for full student loan cancellation or credit toward cancellation. The Education Department is expected to conduct a one-time adjustment in the summer but borrowers who want to be considered for the adjustment have to submit a request to consolidate their loans by Tuesday.

This one-time adjustment is meant to show a more accurate payment count for student loan borrowers.

Here’s what you need to know:

WHICH TYPES OF LOANS NEED TO BE CONSOLIDATED?

Borrowers with these types of loans must consolidate first to take advantage of this one-time adjustment:

— Commercially managed Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) loans

— Parent PLUS loans

— Perkins loans

— Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program loans

You can learn more about the one-time adjustment at studentaid.gov.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

The deadline to consolidate your loans is Tuesday.

WHAT IS LOAN CONSOLIDATION?

If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into one loan with fixed interest. If you decide to consolidate your loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can do so for free. Once you have consolidated your loans, you will have one monthly payment instead of multiple payments a month.

HOW DO I APPLY TO CONSOLIDATE MY LOANS?

You can apply to consolidate your loans at studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation. The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. Once you consolidate your loans, you will be eligible for the adjustment.

WHEN WILL I HEAR BACK IF MY LOANS ARE CANCELLED OR I RECEIVED CREDIT?

The Education Department is currently adjusting borrowers’ accounts and expects to finish by July 1.

The post The deadline to consolidate some student loans to receive forgiveness is here. Here’s what to know appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

If you’ve ever tried going on a weekend trip outside of the city during the summer, then you know it can be a major headache: it’s nearly impossible to avoid the Friday-through-Sunday traffic both into and out of the city. 

Luckily, if you’re looking to get to nature without the hassle, a great alternative is just about to make its yearly debut. Following a successful run the past couple of years, Amtrak is bringing back the beloved Berkshire Flyer, a seasonal train that takes New Yorkers straight to the Berkshires, Massachusetts’ most stunning natural region filled with hills, lakes and open fields.

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The Berkshire Flyer will depart from Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station every Friday starting June 21 through September 2 and return to New York City on Sundays. The trip takes about four hours in total, including stops at worthwhile destinations like Poughkeepsie and Hudson. 

On board, passengers will enjoy free WiFi. They will also be able to bring along two personal items and a couple of carry-on bags each.

The last stop on the train is Pittsfield, Massachusetts, located at the heart of the Berkshires. From there, you can drive to Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,489 feet above sea level, where you can chill out in a spa. Perhaps, simply stay put in Pittsfield to dive into the town’s cultural exploits and farm-to-table culinary scene. 

For the first time, the Berkshire Flyer will also include a train that will go from Manhattan to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings, in case you want to spend the entire week there.

Fair warning, though: throughout the past few years, passengers have had to deal with plenty of delays throughout the season.

Recently, though, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy secured $8 million to funnel into rail improvements, hoping to make the Berkshire Flyer smoother and more efficient, according to The Berkshire Eagle. 

More people than ever are expected to embark on the journey this summer, so make sure to get your tickets in advance on Amtrak’s website. 

* This article was originally published here