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A. Understanding Student Loans

• What type of loan do I have?

  To find out what type of federal government loan you have, visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). NSLDS is now found on the Department’s StudentAid.gov site. You can also click here to help you tell the difference between government and private loans.

• What’s the difference between the two federal loan programs (FFEL and Direct)?

  William D. Ford Direct loans are made directly from the Department of Education to students, without the involvement of a private lender.   Prior to July 2010, there was also a federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL), also known as the guaranteed loan program.  These loans were made by private lenders and guaranteed by the government.  Many of the terms and conditions for the FFEL and Direct loan programs are the same.  However there are some differences in repayment options.  There are still many FFEL loans in the system, but as of July 2010, no new FFEL loans are being made.

• What’s the difference between federal and private loans?

  Federal loans, whether through a bank/private lender or the Department of Education, are funded and tightly regulated by the federal government.  Private loans are not subsidized by the government, and therefore are not regulated as closely. Borrowers should generally maximize their federal loan options before resorting to private loans.

• Who is eligible to take out federal student loans?

  Anyone who is enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other approved program at an eligible school and is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. In addition, in most cases, borrowers must have a high school diploma or equivalency.  There are other criteria, including prohibitions on aid for most incarcerated students and a rule that students convicted under federal or state laws of sale or possession of illegal drugs cannot get federal student aid in certain cases.  Except for PLUS loans, there are no credit checks required as long as other eligibility conditions are met.

• How do I know if I should consolidate?

  Consolidation is used to reduce and simplify monthly payments by rolling multiple loans into one. However, it can also lengthen the period of repayment and therefore increase the total amount you will pay in interest over the life of the loan. In the past, many borrowers consolidated their federal student loans to save money on interest payments.  This “benefit” was not as great after 2006 when interest rates became fixed. You may lose some rights by consolidating. This is most clearly a problem if you consolidate federal loans into a private consolidation loan (you would lose the rights associated with federal loans).

• Can I consolidate with the government more than once?

  Only in rare cases, including if you have new loans to consolidate that were not included in the first consolidation loan, if you are in default on a FFEL consolidation loan or if you want to get into the public service forgiveness program.

• Is it a good idea to get a private consolidation loan?

  Consolidating private loans into a private consolidation loan may be a good idea if you think you can get a better deal. However, it is very dangerous to consolidate federal loans into a private consolidation loan. You will lose your rights under the federal loan programs once you choose to consolidate with a private lender.

• What are the terms and conditions of Stafford loans?

  Stafford loans are for undergraduates, graduate and professional students attending school at least half-time. The fixed interest rate for undergraduate Stafford loans  first disbursed on or after July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2020 is 4.53%. The rate for graduate students is 6.08%.  Most older loans from before July 2006 have variable interest rates. After 2007, the interest rates are fixed, but change almost every year. The Department of Education web site has information about the fees the government charges when you take out a Stafford loan.

• What are the terms and conditions of Perkins loans?

  Perkins Loans (formerly called National Direct Student Loans, and before that National Defense Student Loans) are low-interest loans for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Perkins Loans are originated and serviced by participating schools and repaid to the school. The government does not insure the loans, but instead provides money to eligible institutions to help fund the loans.  If you default on a Perkins loan, it is usually the school that will come after you to collect.  In some cases, the school will assign a Perkins loan to the Department of Education. In 2015, Congress chose not to keep the program. Then, in December 2015, President Obama signed a law temporarily extending the Perkins loan program for two years for eligible undergraduates and one year for eligible graduate students. The Department posted information about the winding down of the Perkins program.

• What are the terms and conditions of PLUS loans?

  PLUS loans come in two varieties:  1) Parent PLUS loans are for parents borrowing for the education of dependent undergraduate children enrolled in school at least half time and  2) “Grad PLUS” loans are available for graduate and professional students. For PLUS loans first disbursed on July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2020, the interest rate is 7.08%.   The Department of Education web site has information about the fees the government charges when you take out a PLUS loan.

• Do I need good credit to borrow a student loan?

  Except for PLUS loans, the government will not look at your credit in deciding whether you are eligible for a loan. Private loans are a different story—the interest rate you get will depend on your credit score.

B. Federal Loan Repayment

• Student Loan Payment Suspension Extended through May 1, 2022: What Borrowers Need to Know

  On December 22, 2021, President Biden directed the U.S. Department of Education to extend the coronavirus-related payment suspension and 0% interest rate on certain federal student loans for an additional 90 days. The payment suspension was due to expire at the end of January, but it is now extended to May 1, 2022.  

  Here’s what borrowers need to know about the extension:

  The Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief states that the terms of the relief will remain the same as the 2020 and 2021 payment extensions.  This means the extension will continue to include the following terms: 

  • Covered loans: Relief will continue to apply only to Direct Loans and to any other federal student loans that are currently held by the Department of Education. This means that borrowers with commercially-held Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that are not in default and school-held Perkins Loans will not get relief on those loans under this action. (See info here on how to figure out whether your loans are owned by the Department.)
  • Payment suspension: For covered loans, monthly payments will be automatically suspended through at least May 1, 2022. This means that borrowers will not be required to make payments, though borrowers who want to make payments during the suspension may do so.  
  • Temporary 0% interest rate: For covered loans, the temporary 0% interest rate will continue through at least May 1, 2022. This means interest is not being charged on covered loans during the suspension and borrowers’ balances should not grow during this time.
  • Time in suspension counts toward IDR and PSLF Forgiveness: For borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans (IDR), the months spent in the payment pause will count toward IDR loan forgiveness. The same goes for borrowers working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): borrowers who otherwise meet PSLF requirements during the suspension will receive credit toward the forgiveness clock during the period of suspension. 
  • Extension on time to recertify: For borrowers enrolled in IDR, previous extensions of the payment suspension included pushing out the annual recertification deadline to at least the end of the suspension. This extension should work the same way: according to the Department’s website, the earliest borrowers might be required to recertify is August 2022. Borrowers in IDR should continue to check with their loan servicer and the Department of Education’s website to determine when it will be time to recertify their income. Borrowers can recertify at any time, so those who have experienced a decrease in income may recertify sooner to ensure that they have an affordable repayment amount when payments resume.   
  • Suspension of collection on defaulted loans: For covered loans that are in default, no collection activities should occur through at least May 1, 2022. This means there should be no collection calls, no wage garnishment, and no money taken out of borrowers’ tax refunds or Social Security benefits to collect on defaulted covered loans. Borrowers in default should consider filing their taxes early in 2022 to improve the chances that their tax refunds will be paid out before May 1 –and before any collection and refund seizures may occur.
  • Time in suspension counts toward rehabilitation: For borrowers who enter into a rehabilitation agreement to get their covered loans out of default, suspended payments after the date of the agreement will count toward the required nine payments needed to rehabilitate a loan. Any borrowers who haven’t accrued nine months of qualifying suspended or required payments by the end of the payment suspension will have to begin making payments after the payment suspension ends to complete rehabilitation.

  The Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief contains more details, including a detailed FAQ for borrowers.  

  To access or make the most of this continued relief, here are a few actions borrowers with federal student loans might consider taking: 

  • Borrowers with privately-held FFEL and Perkins loans might consider consolidating into the Direct Loan program to be eligible for the payment suspension and interest pause, and other benefits afforded to Direct loan borrowers (e.g., lower IDR payments under the Revised Pay As You Earn plan). But there are serious potential downsides to consolidation, and some borrowers are not eligible to consolidate, so this is not a good idea or even a possibility for all borrowers. Borrowers can learn more about the pros, cons, and eligibility restrictions for consolidation here. 
  • Borrowers who are not currently in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan should consider whether it makes sense to switch into an IDR plan so that the time in suspension counts towards eventual IDR loan forgiveness. Borrowers who do not want to switch to IDR might consider whether to make voluntary payments on their student loans now, even though payments aren’t required so that they can keep making progress toward paying off their loan and becoming student debt-free. 
  • Borrowers with loans in default should consider filing their taxes early in 2022 to improve their chances that any tax refunds they are entitled to will be paid before the payment pause ends–and thus before the Department may resume seizing tax refunds to collect on defaulted loans.  Borrowers may also consider whether this is a good time to get out of default. More information about how to get out of default is available here. 
• If Payments Resume and Child Tax Credit Benefits Expire, February 1st Will Mark a Fiscal Cliff for Millions of Households in All 50 States

  By Persis Yu and Abby Shafroth | December 22, 2021

  In the coming weeks, tens of millions of American households will face a combination of financial catastrophes: the new Omicron variant rapidly upending our economic recovery, Congress yanking badly-needed Child Tax Credit (CTC) benefits away from working families, and the return after almost two years of debilitating monthly student loan bills. These new hardships will arrive against a backdrop of record-setting increases in the price people must pay for basic goods.

  New research by the Student Borrower Protection Center and the National Consumer Law Center reveals the devastating effect that this upcoming fiscal cliff will have on households in all 50 states. In particular, our analysis indicates that unless the Biden administration changes course, student loan borrowers currently receiving monthly CTC payments will soon be forced to make an average of $400 in monthly student loan payments at the same time as they lose an average of $400 in direct financial support from the federal government. Overall, we find that without immediate action, millions of Americans will see a negative swing in their household finances averaging $800 per month.[1]

  

  This upcoming financial shock will reach borrowers in every corner of the nation, from big cities to small towns and from the mountain West to rural communities in the East. The interactive map below shows the average budgetary swing working families will face on February 1st.

  Without Action by the Biden Administration, Millions of American Families Will Lose An Average of $800 a Month in 2022

  

  Worse, our analysis shows that this upcoming financial shock will have the largest impact on low-income households. Using public data on income levels, student loan balances, Child Tax Credit benefits, and more, we compared how the combination of lost CTC benefits and resumed student loan payments will affect Americans across the income distribution. We found that the upcoming financial cliff will cost the lowest income households an amount equal to more than 38 percent of their income, while it will cost the highest income households an amount equal to less than one percent of their income.[2]

  

  The Biden Administration Has to Act Before It’s Too Late to Prevent Financial Devastation

  Our state-by-state analysis comes on the same day that Fighting Chance for Families released a new poll revealing that almost half of borrowers have no confidence in their ability to make student loan payments should the Biden administration restart payments in February 2022 as planned. This sentiment cut across party lines, being voiced by pluralities of Democrats and Republicans and a majority of independents. At the same time, fewer than 1-in-7 people with student debt reported being “very confident” in their ability to make student loan payments when they come due.

  The data is clear: restarting student loan payments while allowing CTC payments to expire is a kick in the teeth to all working American households. Allowing these costs to coincide as planned will harm millions, particularly those already in the most difficult financial positions, as the omicron variant threatens our already fragile economic recovery. And this is before even considering the massive operational breakdowns that borrowers are already grappling with as they prepare to return to repayment.

  

  COVID-19 is completely indifferent to borrowers’ finances, to the necessity of support for working families, or the massive burden that student loan debt places on Americans. The Biden administration must choose not to be indifferent.

  ###

  Persis Yu is the Policy Director and Managing Counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Persis is a nationally recognized expert on student loan law and has over a decade of hands-on experience representing student loan borrowers.

  Abby Shafroth is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and focuses on student loan and for-profit school issues.

  [1] SBPC calculations based on Student Loan Planner and the Department of the Treasury. Considers only households with student loans that received monthly CTC benefits, and assumes for simplicity that their average student loan payment and CTC benefit reflects that of the public as a whole. Given that these borrowers are likely lower-income, making it likely they would qualify for relatively larger CTC benefits and be more reliant on student loans, the above estimates are likely conservative relative to the true financial hit these borrowers face.

  [2] SBPC calculations based on the Congressional Budget Office, the Washington Post, People’s Policy Project, and the Education Data Initiative. Assumes 10 years remaining in repayment at the restart point. Assumes 10 years remaining in repayment at the restart point. Assumes a single head of household with two children under 6.

  **The full blog post is available at https://protectborrowers.org/if-payments-resume-and-child-tax-credit-benefits-expire-february-1st-will-mark-a-fiscal-cliff-for-millions-of-households-in-all-50-states/

• ICYMI: President Trump Vetoed Congress’s Bipartisan Vote to Repeal Department of Education’s 2019 Regulations

  On March 11, 2020, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution to preserve student loan borrower protections put in place in 2016 (often called the “borrower defense rule or rules”) and to overturn new rules from the current U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) that would strip away those protections and make it nearly impossible for borrowers harmed by school misconduct to get relief. 

  But, late Friday afternoon, President Trump vetoed Congress’s bipartisan resolution. Unfortunately this means that the harmful new rules preventing student borrowers from getting relief will likely go into effect as scheduled on July 1, 2020.

  The new rules, published in September 2019, were harshly criticized by student borrower advocates because they put debt relief out of reach for many students harmed by school misconduct or closures.  The rules give schools the green light to use unfair and predatory recruiting practices to exploit potential students for their financial aid money. 

  The Education Department predicted that harmed students would receive $512.5 million less in student loan relief each year under its new rules. And, the rules allow schools to hide their misconduct by using forced arbitration clauses within enrollment contracts to keep students’ complaints of illegal conduct out of court. Congress recognized that these new rules would hurt students and taxpayers and, with bipartisan support, passed legislation pursuant to the Congressional Review Act to strike the new rules so that the more effective 2016 regulations would be left in place.      

  President Trump’s veto of that bipartisan legislation means that the new rules will likely go into effect July 1, impacting the future of higher education and borrowers’ rights.  Most of the changes to student relief rights will only apply to new loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020, meaning borrowers taking on new loans will be heavily impacted by this rule. A summary of how the new rules will limit borrowers’ rights is available here. Other rules will continue to apply to federal loans borrowed prior to July 1, 2020; information about relief for these older loans based on school misconduct or closure is available on our website.

  But some changes will kick in sooner and may hurt student borrowers who already have student loans. The implementation of the new rules will have two immediate consequences for borrowers who already have loans and who have been harmed by their school.

  First, the new rules roll back student borrowers’ rights to have their federal student loans automatically cancelled if their school closes after July 1, 2020, but before they can complete their studies. The 2016 regulations currently in effect protect students by automatically discharging or cancelling the federal student loan debt of students who were not able to complete their program of study because their school closed, as long as they did not re-enroll in the same program at another school within 3 years. But under the new rules, students attending any school that closes after July 1, 2020, will be stuck with their loans unless they proactively seek out and apply for a closed school discharge.

  The timing of this regulatory change is particularly problematic, as there may be a wave of school closures coming due to the COVID-19 crisis, and many harmed students will be left with student loan debt and no degree or job.  Sadly, many students are unaware that they can apply to cancel their federal loans after their school has closed, and some only realize their eligibility for a discharge after they consult a student loan lawyer. In too many parts of the country, there is limited or no access to student loan lawyers, especially for low-income borrowers. (We have a list of student loan lawyers for low-income borrowers on our website.) As a result of the regulatory rollback, thousands of borrowers will struggle while carrying unaffordable debt that should have been automatically discharged.  

  Second, the new rules roll back provisions that protect students’ right to their day in court when schools commit misconduct. The forced arbitration provisions, passed as part of the 2016 borrower defense rule, require that if schools choose to participate in the federal student loan program, then they have to agree to give students access to the courts to hold the school accountable for any illegal conduct relating to their federal loans. The Department’s new regulations struck those provisions. This means that, after July 1, 2020, schools may opt to resume their use of forced arbitration clauses in contracts with students and force students into the secretive world of arbitration without facing any consequences from the Department. 

  The CARES Act provides limited, temporary relief for some federal student loan borrowers, but it was silent on the issues affected by the new rules. After July 1, 2020,  borrowers will have a significantly more difficult time getting a just outcome when their school has harmed them. 

  Congress, which stood up for student borrowers in a bipartisan way in attempting to stop these new rules from going into effect, should not submit to defeat in the face of the President’s veto. Congress still can and should protect students by voting to override the veto, and by enacting legislation to further protect America’s students from the devastation of predatory school fraud and closures. 

• How can I make payments relative to my income?

  There are a number of income-driven repayment plans to choose from depending on the type of loan you have and when it was disbursed.

• Can I switch to a more affordable repayment plan?

  Yes. Borrowers with Direct Loans may change plans at any time by notifying their servicers.  FFEL loan holders must allow you to switch at least once each year, but most will let you change more often if necessary.

• What does my payment cover?

  Your payment goes first to accrued late charges or collection costs, then to any outstanding interest, and finally to outstanding principal.  More info. for federal loans.

• How do I get back into repayment if I have defaulted on a federal loan?

  The best ways to repay out of default are through consolidation or rehabilitation.

• How is interest calculated?

  Interest on all federal loans is calculated on a simple daily basis. The Department of Education’s web site includes detailed information to help borrowers understand interest rates on federal student loans.

• What is a grace period?

  A grace period is the waiting period after graduation or withdrawal from school and before repayment begins.

• How can I postpone repayment?

  The government programs and some private lenders allow you to either get a deferment or forbearance to postpone repayment.

• What is a deferment?

  This is a postponement of repayment that is available only if you are not in default. The government has deferment programs for specific circumstances such as economic hardship, military service and unemployment. Interest does not accrue on subsidized loans during deferment periods.

• What is forbearance?

  This is a temporary postponement of repayment.

• Does interest accumulate during forbearance?

  Yes.

• Does interest accumulate during deferment and grace periods?

  For subsidized federal loans, no. For unsubsidized loans, yes. However, this grace period “interest subsidy” was eliminated for Direct subsidized loans made on or after July 1, 2012 and before July 1, 2014.

• Is repayment relief available for military service?

  There is a government deferment program for certain military service members as well as other programs for members of the military or National Guard serving on active duty.

C. Private Loan Repayment

• Is repayment relief available for private loan borrowers?

  There is no specific federal law that requires private loan creditors to offer relief. If you are having trouble with a  private loan, you should request a copy of your loan agreement to see whether the lender promised you any particular type of relief. You can also contact your lender to try to negotiate flexible repayment and other loan modifications.

• Do private loans have flexible repayment plans?

  Most do not, but it depends on the lender.  Some private lenders also offer deferments on private student loans.

D. Student Loans and Bankruptcy

• Is it possible to discharge student loans in bankruptcy?

  Yes, but it is much more difficult than discharging other types of unsecured debt like credit cards. You have to prove “undue hardship.”

• Are all student loans treated the same in bankruptcy?

  Most student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy unless you can prove “undue hardship”, but there are a few exceptions to this rule. More info.

• How do I apply to discharge student loans in bankruptcy?

  In addition to filing the regular bankruptcy petition in court, you also have to file a separate case, called an adversary proceeding. Learn more.

• What if I already filed bankruptcy, but my student loans weren’t discharged?

  You can reopen your bankruptcy case at any time to try to discharge the student loans. There should be no additional filing fee to reopen a case for this purpose.

• Should I consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

  In some cases, yes. In a chapter 13 case, you submit a plan to repay your creditors over time, usually from future income. These plans allow you to get caught up on mortgages or car loans and other secured debts. If you cannot discharge your student loans based on undue hardship in either a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy, there are still certain advantages to filing a chapter 13 bankruptcy. One advantage is that your chapter 13 plan, not your loan holder will determine the size of your student loan payments. You will make these court-determined payments while you are in the Chapter 13 plan, usually for three to five years. You will still owe the remainder of your student loans when you come out of bankruptcy, but you can try at this point to discharge the remainder based on undue hardship.

• How long does bankruptcy information stay on my credit report?

  The fact that you filed for bankruptcy will be on your credit report for ten years.

E. Loan Cancellation

• Over 323,000 Borrowers to Receive Automatic Student Loan Discharge! Are You Eligible?

  In August, the Department announced that it would automatically discharge the loans of over 323,000 disabled borrowers. These borrowers were identified through a matching program with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This announcement follows the Department’s 2019 decision to automatically discharge the loans of veterans with a service-connected disability. The VA auto discharge program is done under a separate matching program with VA.

  This is good news for disabled borrowers struggling with student debt. Congress created the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) program to discharge the federal student loans of all eligible disabled borrowers.  These are borrowers who, because of their disability, cannot engage in gainful employment to pay back their student loans. However, the Department created rules that made it harder for these borrowers to get the relief they are entitled to by law. The rules required borrowers to submit a TPD application with documents verifying their disability. The Department created three pathways to apply for a TPD discharge:

  • Based on a borrower’s social security disability status,
  • Based on a borrower’s VA service-connected disability status, and
  • Based on a disability certification by a physician

  In addition, after being granted a discharge, borrowers had to report their income yearly for three years. Failing to comply with the reporting requirement resulted in the reinstatement of the previously discharged loan.

  Only borrowers identified through the SSA matching program qualify for auto discharge

  In 2016, the Department created a matching program with SSA to identify borrowers who qualify for a TPD discharge based on their disability status. These borrowers are within SSA’s medical improvement not expected category (MINE). Before the Department’s auto discharge announcement, these borrowers had to submit a TPD application even though the Department knew who they were and had access to their information through the matching program. Going forward, these borrowers will no longer have to apply to have their loans discharged. The Department will automatically discharge their loans after receiving their qualifying disability information through the matching program.

   How will I know when my loans are auto discharged? 

  The Department started the auto discharge process for the first group of loans last month. It expects to completely discharge all eligible loans by the end of this year. All discharges will be free from federal taxes—borrowers will not have to pay federal income tax on the debt that was discharged. However, some states may tax the discharged amount as income.

  Borrowers identified through the matching program will receive a letter from the Department informing them that their loans have been approved for automatic discharge. Those borrowers who wish to opt out for any reason will have the option to do so.

  I am a veteran, but I did not get auto-discharge through the VA matching program; what should I do?

  Veterans whose loans were not auto discharged under the VA matching program may receive automatic loan discharge under the matching program with SSA if they receive Social Security benefits, and SSA has found them to be totally and permanently disabled and not likely to improve.

  If a Veteran believes that they are eligible for a TPD discharge based on their service-connected disability but did not receive an automatic discharge under the VA matching program and does not qualify for auto discharge under the SSA matching program, they should submit a TPD application to Nelnet for discharge based on their service-connected disability. Their application should attach VA documents showing that they have a service-connected disability that is 100% disabling or are unemployable due to a service-connected disability.

  I am not eligible for the VA or SSA matching programs; what should I do?  

  Borrowers who do not qualify for auto-discharge are not entirely out of luck. They can still apply for a disability discharge by submitting a TPD application to Nelnet. The application must include the completed physician certification form verifying their disability. The certification form is on the second page of the TPD application.

  What about the income reporting requirement?

  In addition to the auto discharge policy, the Department announced that it was indefinitely suspending the burdensome yearly income reporting requirements for TPD discharges. This means borrowers will not risk reinstatement of a discharged student loan due to the reporting requirement.

  Are there more changes coming to the TPD Program?

  The Department is seeking to make the TPD discharge process less burdensome for disabled borrowers. Through the ongoing 2021 Affordability and Student Loans Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, the Department has proposed:

  • Eliminating the three-year post-discharge yearly income reporting requirement,
  • Expanding the number of SSA categories that would allow borrowers to qualify for TPD discharge to include borrowers on SSA’s compassionate allowance list, borrowers in SSA’s Medical Improvement Possible Category (MIP), and borrowers within the MINE category who move on to SSA’s retirement file, and
  • Accepting TPD Certification from licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

  These proposed changes were discussed earlier this month during the first session of the rulemaking committee. For the first time, the disability community has a representative on the committee. Borrowers are encouraged to share their stories with the committee through public comment at the end of each committee meeting. The second session of the rulemaking is scheduled for November 1-5, 2021. Please click here for more information on registering to watch the committee’s meetings or to submit a public comment during the meetings.

   

• What Would Student Loan Cancellation Mean to You?

  Today, Congresswoman Pressley, in partnership with Congresswomen Omar and Adams and Chairwoman Maxine Waters, introduced a House companion to Senators Schumer and Warren resolution calling upon President-Elect Biden to cancel $50,000 of federal student loan debt for each borrower. This House resolution demonstrates continued momentum and growing Congressional support for the urgency of administrative student debt cancellation. On the campaign trail, President-Elect Biden promised to provide wide-spread cancellation to all federal student loan borrowers (here at 1:10, here at 16:22, here at page 26, here). 

  Student debt makes existing systemic inequities and racial disparities worse and prevents economic recovery from reaching already marginalized groups who are still reeling from the effects of the Great Recession even as they navigate the worst of the COVID-19 health crisis. Extensive research has shown that Black borrowers and other borrowers of color tend to have more difficulty in student loan repayment and more often default than their white peers because of past and ongoing racial discrimination. Abusive debt collection practices seize critical safety net funds, such as Social Security and the Earned Income Tax Credit.  With no time limit on collection, these practices can follow borrowers to the grave. These factors indicate that student debt cancellation will reduce a substantial burden that is felt most acutely by Black and Latino borrowers.

  Legislative debt cancellation proposals have ranged from a minimum of $10,000 for a subset of economically distressed borrowers to total cancellation. Importantly, President-Elect Biden does not need Congress to provide student loan cancellation. Existing law already gives the Department of Education the authority to cancel federal student debt with the stroke of a pen. 

  As the National Consumer Law Center and Center for Responsible Lending wrote in our recent report, Road to Relief, more than 75% of borrowers would be debt-free with $50,000 of cancellation, and almost 50% of borrowers would be rendered debt-free with even $20,000 in cancellation. In both scenarios, the household budgets of the remaining millions of borrowers in repayment would experience substantial relief. For instance, if $20,000 were cancelled per borrower, we could eliminate the loan burden of an estimated 79% of federal borrowers who are currently in default, and reduce by an average of almost one-third the remaining debt burden of those in default whose balances are not zeroed out.

  Broad, universal debt cancellation should be provided for all federal student loan borrowers (including PLUS loan borrowers and those with commercially- or institutionally-held loans) so that the benefits of cancellation reach the most vulnerable borrowers. 

  How much debt do you have? How would student loan cancellation impact you? Share your story.

• More Dream Center Students Can Now Get Closed School Discharges

  By: Senya Merchant and Alex Elson of the National Student Legal Defense Network (Student Defense)

  This post originally appeared as an article on defendstudents.org and has been edited into a studentloanborrowerassistance.org blog post. Borrowers seeking further assistance may contact Student Defense at info@defendstudents.org.  

  Following lawsuits brought by former students of the Art Institute of Colorado, the Illinois Institute of Art, and the Art Institute of Michigan, the Department of Education recently agreed to expand eligibility for cancellation of federal student loans for former students of these schools. It did so by extending the time period that students would be eligible for a “closed school discharge.”

  This post offers information on closed school discharge eligibility for students who attended Dream Center-owned schools, as well as Parent PLUS borrowers who took out loans for such students. The Department of Education extended the eligibility date to qualify for closed school relief depending on which school the student attended. This is the current lay of the land: 

  • Illinois Institute of Art, Art Institute of Colorado, and Art Institute of Michigan: If you (or your child) attended any of those schools after they lost accreditation on January 20, 2018—and if you otherwise meet the criteria to receive a closed school discharge (including that the student did not graduate or complete a comparable program by transferring credits)—you are eligible for a complete discharge of your federal loans taken out to attend the school and a refund of payments made.  You can apply today by filling out this form and sending it to your student loan servicer. 

  • All other Dream Center-owned schools: If you attended any other Dream Center-owned school on or after June 29, 2018—and if you otherwise meet the criteria to receive a closed school discharge (including that the student did not graduate or complete a comparable program by transferring credits)—you are eligible for a complete discharge of your federal loans taken out to attend the school and a refund of payments made. You can apply today by filling out this form and sending it to your student loan servicer.   

  MORE INFORMATION

  Former students who obtained federal student loans to attend Dream Center schools in 2018 should keep in mind the following:

  1. Eligibility: As explained above, in order to be eligible for relief, borrowers must have been enrolled or on an approved leave of absence from the school on or after: January 20, 2018 (for Illinois, Colorado and Michigan AI students) or June 29, 2018 (for all other Dream Center-owned schools).  Borrowers must also otherwise be eligible for a closed school discharge: they must not have completed their program or a teach-out for a similar program, or completed a comparable program at any other school after transferring their Dream Center credits over.

  2. Process: Your loan servicer is supposed to send you a notice with the above information and a copy of the closed school discharge application, but you do not need to wait to apply. Simply fill out THIS FORM and send it to your servicer.
  3. Beware: Borrowers should beware of third-party companies and student debt relief scams that advertise assistance with student loans, including assistance with closed school discharge. Applying for closed school loan relief is free – you just need to fill out the form linked to above. More tips on applying are available here.

  HOW DID THIS CHANGE COME ABOUT?

   In October of 2019, former students at the Art Institute of Colorado and the Illinois Institute of Art (which included the Art Institute of Michigan), represented by the non-profit legal advocacy group Student Defense, sued the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos in federal court in Washington DC. Court documents revealed that the Department continued to provide federal student aid to the schools after learning that they were unaccredited, and therefore ineligible to receive federal student funds.

  On the eve of a deadline in the Student Defense case, the Department agreed to a central demand in the litigation: to extend the closed school discharge date back to the date the schools lost accreditation: January 20, 2018. Students who were enrolled on or after this date and are otherwise eligible for a closed school discharge can now apply for and receive a full discharge and refund of any payments made on the federal student loans used to attend those schools. This applies to both student and parent borrowers.

  Borrowers seeking further assistance may contact Student Defense at info@defendstudents.org.

   

  *Nothing in this blog post should be construed as legal or financial advice.

• Is it possible to cancel (also known as discharge) a federal student loan?

  Yes, in limited circumstances. In some cases, you can cancel a loan due to serious problems with the school you attended.  Other cancellations are available if you work for a certain period of time in a public service job.  This includes military service members.  Another category is for borrowers with serious disabilities or after a borrower dies so that the debt is not passed on to the borrower’s estate.

• Does it matter what type of loan I have?

  Yes. Some discharge options are only for certain federal loans. Some loan holders may cancel private loans in limited circumstances.

• How do I apply for a loan discharge?

  The government has developed forms for different types of discharge for you to fill out and send to your loan holder.

• Can I discharge my student loans if I am dissatisfied with the school I attended?

  No, but you may qualify for a school-related discharge if the school closed while you were there or if the school falsely certified your eligibility for a loan. You may have other remedies if you were dissatisfied with your school, including state student tuition recovery funds and raising defenses to repayment based on school-related legal violations.

• Is there a discharge for military service?

  Yes, in the Perkins loan program.  Full-time military service also counts toward public service forgiveness.  More info. on programs for military.

• Will collection stop while I’m waiting for a reply to a discharge application?

  Yes. In most cases, loan holders are required to stop collecting once they receive a completed discharge application. You can also request forbearance so that collection stops while you are gathering information for your application.  However, the government says that it has the right to continue Social Security offsets while the application is pending.  You may ask for a hardship suspension.

• Is evidence of a Social Security or Veteran Affairs disability decision sufficient to qualify for a student loan disability discharge?

  For V.A., yes, if you have been determined to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition.  For Social Security, in some cases yes as of July 1, 2013.  Borrowers receiving Social Security disability benefits in the “medical improvement not expected” category can provide proof of these benefits instead of submitting a certification from a physician.

• Am I eligible for job-related loan forgiveness programs?

  There are several job-related discharges that will cancel all or a portion of your federal loan if you work in certain professions, such as teaching. Some states also have loan forgiveness programs.

• Can I cancel my loan if I’m working in a public service job?

  Yes, if you are eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program. The Department of Education administers this program. You must have a Direct Loan to be eligible. Borrowers with other federal government loans can consolidate with Direct Loans in order to obtain this benefit. In order to qualify, you must not be in default and you must have made 120 monthly payments (10 years of payments) on your loans AFTER October 1, 2007. You must be employed in a public service job at the time of the forgiveness and must have been employed in a public service job during the period in which you made each of the 120 payments.

• Can I get my federal loans canceled if I pay for a certain period of time, but am not working in a public service job?

  Yes.  The government will cancel any remaining balance if you make payments through an income driven repayment plan.  Depending on the plan, the time period is either 20 or 25 years.  At this point, unless the law changes, the canceled amount will likely be considered taxable income.  However, you may not have to pay taxes if for example, you can show that you are insolvent.  It is a good idea to consult a tax professional for more information.

• Will my student loan be discharged if I die?

  If you have federal government loans, yes. This means that your estate will not have to pay back those student loans. Survivors can apply for a death discharge to cancel a borrower’s federal student loans.

  Parent PLUS loans may be discharged if the student for whom the parent received the loan dies.  Also, the death of both parents with a PLUS loan (assuming both took out the loan) is grounds for the “death discharge.” The death of only one of the two obligated parents does not cancel a PLUS loan.

  There is no administrative discharge for private student loans if you die. Private loan debts will be handled the same way as other debts. That means that they will be part of your estate. This estate settlement process (also called probate) varies by state.  Some private lenders will use their discretion and agree to discharge loans when a borrower or co-borrower dies.

• Can private student loans be canceled?

  Yes, but only if the private lender has a cancellation program. Most do not, but some have announced full or partial cancellations due to death and disability.

F. Default and Delinquency

• Student Loan Payment Suspension Extended through May 1, 2022: What Borrowers Need to Know

  On December 22, 2021, President Biden directed the U.S. Department of Education to extend the coronavirus-related payment suspension and 0% interest rate on certain federal student loans for an additional 90 days. The payment suspension was due to expire at the end of January, but it is now extended to May 1, 2022.  

  Here’s what borrowers need to know about the extension:

  The Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief states that the terms of the relief will remain the same as the 2020 and 2021 payment extensions.  This means the extension will continue to include the following terms: 

  • Covered loans: Relief will continue to apply only to Direct Loans and to any other federal student loans that are currently held by the Department of Education. This means that borrowers with commercially-held Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that are not in default and school-held Perkins Loans will not get relief on those loans under this action. (See info here on how to figure out whether your loans are owned by the Department.)
  • Payment suspension: For covered loans, monthly payments will be automatically suspended through at least May 1, 2022. This means that borrowers will not be required to make payments, though borrowers who want to make payments during the suspension may do so.  
  • Temporary 0% interest rate: For covered loans, the temporary 0% interest rate will continue through at least May 1, 2022. This means interest is not being charged on covered loans during the suspension and borrowers’ balances should not grow during this time.
  • Time in suspension counts toward IDR and PSLF Forgiveness: For borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans (IDR), the months spent in the payment pause will count toward IDR loan forgiveness. The same goes for borrowers working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): borrowers who otherwise meet PSLF requirements during the suspension will receive credit toward the forgiveness clock during the period of suspension. 
  • Extension on time to recertify: For borrowers enrolled in IDR, previous extensions of the payment suspension included pushing out the annual recertification deadline to at least the end of the suspension. This extension should work the same way: according to the Department’s website, the earliest borrowers might be required to recertify is August 2022. Borrowers in IDR should continue to check with their loan servicer and the Department of Education’s website to determine when it will be time to recertify their income. Borrowers can recertify at any time, so those who have experienced a decrease in income may recertify sooner to ensure that they have an affordable repayment amount when payments resume.   
  • Suspension of collection on defaulted loans: For covered loans that are in default, no collection activities should occur through at least May 1, 2022. This means there should be no collection calls, no wage garnishment, and no money taken out of borrowers’ tax refunds or Social Security benefits to collect on defaulted covered loans. Borrowers in default should consider filing their taxes early in 2022 to improve the chances that their tax refunds will be paid out before May 1 –and before any collection and refund seizures may occur.
  • Time in suspension counts toward rehabilitation: For borrowers who enter into a rehabilitation agreement to get their covered loans out of default, suspended payments after the date of the agreement will count toward the required nine payments needed to rehabilitate a loan. Any borrowers who haven’t accrued nine months of qualifying suspended or required payments by the end of the payment suspension will have to begin making payments after the payment suspension ends to complete rehabilitation.

  The Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief contains more details, including a detailed FAQ for borrowers.  

  To access or make the most of this continued relief, here are a few actions borrowers with federal student loans might consider taking: 

  • Borrowers with privately-held FFEL and Perkins loans might consider consolidating into the Direct Loan program to be eligible for the payment suspension and interest pause, and other benefits afforded to Direct loan borrowers (e.g., lower IDR payments under the Revised Pay As You Earn plan). But there are serious potential downsides to consolidation, and some borrowers are not eligible to consolidate, so this is not a good idea or even a possibility for all borrowers. Borrowers can learn more about the pros, cons, and eligibility restrictions for consolidation here. 
  • Borrowers who are not currently in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan should consider whether it makes sense to switch into an IDR plan so that the time in suspension counts towards eventual IDR loan forgiveness. Borrowers who do not want to switch to IDR might consider whether to make voluntary payments on their student loans now, even though payments aren’t required so that they can keep making progress toward paying off their loan and becoming student debt-free. 
  • Borrowers with loans in default should consider filing their taxes early in 2022 to improve their chances that any tax refunds they are entitled to will be paid before the payment pause ends–and thus before the Department may resume seizing tax refunds to collect on defaulted loans.  Borrowers may also consider whether this is a good time to get out of default. More information about how to get out of default is available here. 
• Student Loan Payment Suspension Extended through September 30, 2021: What Borrowers Need to Know

  On January 20, 2021, his first day in office, President Biden directed the U.S. Department of Education to extend the coronavirus-related payment suspension and 0% interest rate on certain federal student loans. This relief had been set to expire on January 31, 2021. Hopefully, this is the first of many actions Biden takes to fulfill his campaign promises to struggling student loan borrowers. 

  Here’s what borrowers need to know about the extension:

  The President’s announcement did not include many details, but the Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief states that the student loan relief will last “at least through Sept[ember] 30, 2021.” Attorneys with the National Consumer Law Center have been told by people who work at the Department as well as its loan servicers that the terms of the current coronavirus student loan relief put in place in 2020 will remain the same under this extension. That means the extension will continue to include the following terms: 

  • Covered loans: Relief will continue to apply only to Direct Loans and to any other federal student loans that are currently owned by the Department of Education. This means that borrowers with commercially-held Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) and school-held Perkins Loans will not get relief on those loans under this action. (See info here on how to figure out whether your loans are owned by the Department.)
  • Payment suspension: For covered loans, monthly payments are not required during this extension and will be automatically suspended through at least September 30, 2021. Although payments are automatically suspended, borrowers who want to make payments during the suspension may do so and should contact their servicer or visit their servicer’s website to do so.  
  • Time in suspension counts toward IDR and PSLF Forgiveness: For borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans (IDR), the suspended payments will count toward IDR loan forgiveness, so not making payments on covered loans during the suspension will not delay eventual forgiveness. The same goes for borrowers working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): borrowers with a Direct Loan working full-time for a qualifying public service employer during the suspension will receive credit toward PSLF or TEPSLF for the period of suspension as though they made on-time monthly payments in the correct amount while on a qualifying repayment plan. 
  • Extension on time to recertify: For borrowers enrolled in IDR, previous extensions of the payment suspension included pushing out the annual recertification deadline to at least the end of the suspension. This extension should work the same way. Borrowers should continue to check with their loan servicer and the Department of Education’s website to determine when it will be time to recertify their income. Borrowers can recertify at any time, so those who have experienced a decrease in income can recertify sooner to ensure that they have an affordable repayment amount when payments resume.   
  • Suspension of collection on defaulted loans: For covered loans that are in default, no collection activities should occur through at least September 30, 2021. This means there should be no collection calls, no wage garnishment, and no money taken out of borrowers’ tax refunds or Social Security benefits to collect on defaulted covered loans.
  • Time in suspension counts toward rehabilitation: For borrowers who enter into a rehabilitation agreement to get their covered loans out of default, the suspended payments will count toward the required nine payments needed to rehabilitate a loan. Any borrowers who haven’t made or been given credit due to the payment suspension for all of the nine required payments by the end of the payment suspension, will have to begin making payments after the payment suspension ends to complete rehabilitation.
  • Temporary 0% interest rate: For covered loans, the Department has temporarily set interest rates at 0% through at least September 30, 2021. This means interest is not being charged on covered loans during the suspension and borrowers’ balances should not grow during this time.

  The Department of Education’s webpage about coronavirus relief contains more details, including a detailed FAQ for borrowers.  

  To access or make the most of this continued relief, here are a few actions borrowers with federal student loans might consider taking: 

  • Borrowers with privately-held FFEL and Perkins loans might consider consolidating into the Direct Loan program to be eligible for the payment suspension and interest pause, and other benefits afforded to Direct loan borrowers (e.g., lower IDR payments under the Revised Pay As You Earn plan). But there are serious potential downsides to consolidation, and some borrowers are not eligible to consolidate, so this is not a good idea or even a possibility for many borrowers with ineligible loans. Borrowers can learn more about the pros, cons, and eligibility restrictions for consolidation here. 
  • Borrowers who are not currently in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan should consider whether it makes sense to switch into an IDR plan so that the time in suspension counts towards eventual IDR loan forgiveness. Borrowers who do not want to switch to IDR, which may include high-income borrowers who may pay more under an IDR plan, might consider whether to make voluntary payments on their student loans now, even though payments aren’t required, so that they can keep making progress toward paying off their loan and becoming student debt-free. 
  • Borrowers with loans in default should consider whether this is a good time to get out of default. In general, there are two ways that borrowers can get out of default: loan rehabilitation and consolidation. The payment suspension, which affords credit toward the nine required payments to rehabilitate out of default, may ease and lower the cost of rehabilitating out of default. Additionally, borrowers eligible to consolidate out of default might find now a good time to do so, as they could take advantage of the payment suspension after emerging from default and begin earning credit toward IDR or PSLF forgiveness if eligible for those programs. Be advised that you are entitled to get out of default through rehabilitation only once per loan.  There are also limits on how many times you can consolidate. More information about how to get out of default is available here. 
• What is the difference between default and delinquency?

  Delinquency means that you are behind on payments. Once you are delinquent for a certain period of time (usually nine months for federal loans), your lender will declare the loan to be in default. The entire loan balance will become due at that time.

• What are the consequences of defaulting on federal student loans?

  You are not eligible for new loans and grants. The government can also seize tax refunds, garnish wages without a court order, take a portion of Social Security payments, and charge very large collection fees.  Learn more.

• How many payments do I have to miss before I default on a federal loan?

  In most cases, you have to miss nine months of payments before you will be in default.

• How does default occur on a private loan?

  It depends on the grounds for default listed in the loan agreement. You can usually go into default on a private loan as soon as you miss a payment.

• How can I avoid going into default?

  You can postpone repayment through deferment or forbearance — or with a private loan, through any other way you can negotiate with your lender. You can also try to switch to a more affordable repayment plan.

• How do I get back into repayment from default?

  The best ways are through consolidation or rehabilitation.

• What are the differences between rehabilitation and consolidation for federal student loans?

  Rehabilitation requires that you make nine reasonable and affordable payments in a ten month period.  You can get out of default faster through the Direct Loan consolidation program.  There are pros and cons to both rehabilitation and consolidation.

• Will the government or private lenders ever agree to settle student loan debt?

  Sometimes, but they usually require a large lump sum payment.

G. Collections

• What special powers does the government have to collect student loans?

  The government can seize tax refunds, wages, and even certain federal benefits like Social Security, all without first getting a judgment in court. In some states they can revoke professional licenses. More info.

• Is there a limit on how much the government can take?

  Yes, there are some limits. For example, in an administrative wage garnishment, the government can take no more than 15% of your disposable wages. No matter what, you get to keep an amount equal to 30 times the minimum wage (now $217.50/week). With Social Security offsets, the government cannot take SSI payments. They can take Social Security disability or retirement benefits, but no more than 15% of the total benefit. No matter what, the first $750/month cannot be taken.

• Is there anything I can do to challenge government collection actions?

  Yes. You have the right to request an administrative hearing. You may also be able to reduce or suspend collection if you can prove that collection will cause great hardship.

• Do private loan lenders have the same collection powers?

  No. Private loan lenders have less collection powers than the government.

• Is there a time limit on how long student lenders can come after me to collect?

  Not for collection of federal loans, but there is a time limit on private loan collection. The time limits for private loans vary by state, but are usually about six years after default.

• What rights do I have if a collector is bothering me?

  You have the right to be free from harassment and abuse and to send a letter to request that the collector stop contacting you. More info.  It is also a good idea to file a complaint about problems with collection agencies.

• Can collection fees be added to my loan balance?

  Yes, but there are limits on how much government lenders can charge you. The amount of private loan collection fees must be described in the loan contract.

• Will I be sued for collection on my student loan?

  The government has the right to sue, but rarely does so because there are so many ways the government can come after you without suing. Private lenders also have the right to sue and may be more likely to do so because they have fewer collection powers than the government.  Learn more.

• Will the government or lender be able to collect from me if I am sued and lose my case?

  It depends on whether you are “collection proof.” This means that your assets and income are small enough to be protected by federal and state law from seizure by creditors.

• Are there special protections against collection for military service members?

  Yes. In particular, the Service member Civil Relief Act  gives relief to service members facing collection action. These protections cover lawsuits against active duty service members.  Learn more.

H. Additional Resources

• How can I find a lawyer to help me?

  There are limited legal resources to assist student loan borrowers, but some options do exist.  There are organizations in every state and most communities which provide free legal help to people whose incomes fall below certain amounts.

• Does the Department of Education offer assistance?

  The Department of Education has an ombudsman office to help borrowers and a number of helpful publications and other resources.  The Department also posts answers to frequently asked questions from consumer advocates. The  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has a student loan ombuds office and other student loan resources.

• Are there books about student loan problems?

  The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Law book contains a very detailed analysis of legal issues and student loans.