March 06, 2024

Warren Announces State of the Union Guest: Benadette Manning

A former Boston Public School teacher whose student debt was canceled by President Biden

NEW DATA: Thanks to improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) made by the Biden administration, more than 17,000 public servants in Massachusetts like Benadette have received relief. Before 2021, only 200 borrowers in the Bay State had their student debt canceled through PSLF.

Boston, MA — Today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced that Benadette Manning will be her guest to the State of the Union. Benadette is a parent and former Boston Public School teacher who got her student debt canceled thanks to President Biden's fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). 

“Benadette’s story is a powerfully important reminder that hard-working people in Massachusetts and across the country are getting their student debt canceled thanks to policy changes delivered by President Biden,” said Senator Warren. “People like Benadette – a parent, former Boston Public School teacher, and community leader – inspire my work to cancel student debt for as many people as possible. I’m deeply grateful that Benadette is sharing her story and coming to Washington for the State of the Union address.”

"I am honored to be Senator Warren's guest for the State of the Union this year. Raising four young children while serving as a public school teacher was not always easy. Getting my student loans canceled by President Biden was a tremendous weight off my shoulders, allowing me to pay off my car loans and finally retire. After a couple of attempts to get relief, I want people to know that they can also get their student debt canceled through the Biden administration and to hold onto hope. I also want to thank the Student Debt Crisis Center for all their work to help people access relief," said Benadette Manning.

Benadette Manning is a mother of four, a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a former Boston Public School teacher. Early on in her teaching career, Benadette barely had the money for food and rent as she supported her four young children. As a result, she eventually stopped paying her student loans, incurring over $7,000 in penalties as a “collection cost.” After working 12-hour days and picking up side jobs to make ends meet, in 2005, she started paying her student loans again. 

Benadette applied for PSLF twice, and her application was denied both times. However, a former student of Benadette's told her that he was able to get his student debt canceled thanks to President Biden's work to reform PSLF. With help from the Student Debt Crisis Center, Benadette applied for the PSLF waiver and, when her application was granted, got her remaining $26,000 in student debt canceled. Locally, she has become known as a “PSLF ambassador” and has helped several other teachers receive cancellation through the PSLF waiver. In her retirement, Benadette has founded a nonprofit that helps teach children how to swim.

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