The application for federal student loan forgiveness has officially launched. Here’s what you need to know.
Read more” > Jared Hughes Edited by Credible’s editing process includes rigorous fact-checking by experts to ensure that all content is accurate and up-to-date. This article has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by Ashley Cox. As a Credible authority on personal finance, Ashley has covered topics that include student loans, personal loans, and more. Her work has appeared on Fox Business and Credit Karma.Read more” > Ashley Cox
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The application for federal student loan forgiveness officially launched on Oct. 17, 2022, and will be available for eligible borrowers to access until Dec. 31, 2023.
Borrowers are eligible for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness. Eligibility is determined by your income and whether your loans are owned by the U.S. Department of Education.
Here’s how to access the application and how to determine your eligibility:
You can access the federal student loan debt relief application on StudentAid.gov. The home page displays an Apply Now button. Once you click on it, you’re taken to a simple form with a couple steps:
The form itself should only take you a few minutes to complete. Once you’ve submitted it, a confirmation email will be sent to your inbox.
Learn More: What to Know About the CARES Act and Student Loans
Once the Department of Education reviews your application and determines your eligibility, it’ll work with your loan servicer to process your student debt relief.
The Department of Education may contact you for additional information if it needs to verify your income.
There’s no definitive timeline as to when the student debt relief will be processed, but officials expect a four- to six-week turnaround from the day you submit your application. The Department of Education also urges borrowers to apply by Nov. 15, 2022, so that it can process the debt relief before the student loan payment pause ends on Dec. 31, 2022.
On Aug. 24, 2022, President Joe Biden announced up to $20,000 in forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for non-Pell Grant recipients. In order to qualify for forgiveness, you must:
If your debt is less than $20,000, your relief is capped at your outstanding student loan balance. For example, if you owe $13,000, then the maximum amount of relief you could get is $13,000.
Additionally, student loan forgiveness doesn’t apply to private student loans. But refinancing could allow you to get a lower interest rate.
The student loan refinance companies in the table below are Credible’s approved partner lenders. Because they compete for your business through Credible, you can request rates from all of them by filling out a single form. Then, you can compare your available options side-by-side. Requesting rates is free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and your personal information is not shared with our partner lenders unless you see an option you like.
All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 5EDvestinU Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures
Keep Reading: Up to $20K in Student Loan Forgiveness for Some Borrowers, and Payments Remain Paused
You may be wondering if you received a Pell Grant, especially if it’s been some time since you graduated from college. You can check on the StudentAid.gov website for your Pell Grant history. Here are the steps:
It’s also a good idea to check with your school’s financial aid office if you have more questions about your grants.
In the meantime, you can consider refinancing your private student loans. With Credible, you can easily compare student loan refinance rates from multiple lenders in minutes — without affecting your credit.
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Jared Hughes is a Student Loans Editor and Credible authority on student loans and personal finance.
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