Despite pressure from progressive Democrats, the Biden administration has been mute on total student loan forgiveness. Progressive Democrats have urged Biden to issue an executive order wiping away millions of borrowers’ debt. But they have been on the student loan reform for a while now.
The government has concentrated on student loan reform for existing programs that include built-in student loan forgiveness.
Here’s what you need to know about the current student loan reform when it might affect you.
The Most Recent Information About The Student Loan Reform
While the Biden administration has remained silent on the possibility of a broad cancellation of student loans, it has already forgiven billions of dollars in federal student loans by amending current forgiveness schemes.
Here’s what you need to know about the current relief efforts and how they may affect your balance.
Student Loan Reform: Navient To Receive Over $1 Billion In Loan Forgiveness
Several claims of dishonest and discriminatory lending practices against Navient, a student loan servicer, were addressed in a $1.85 billion settlement. Attorneys from 38 states and the District of Columbia claimed that the servicer issued exploitative private loans and forced borrowers into costly forbearance periods.
Navient will be compelled to forgive $1.7 billion in private student loans for 60,000 borrowers who took out private loans for for-profit institutions under the terms of the settlement deal.
Borrowers do not need to take any more action to get the payments or forgiveness at this time.
In spring 2022, the settlement administrator will send a postcard to affected federal borrowers, and private borrowers will get a notice from Navient regarding the student loan cancellation by July 2022.
Biden Extended Loan Payment Relief Through May
President Biden announced in December 2021 that the student loan payment holiday, which was slated to expire in January 2022, would be extended for another 90 days. The Education Department has prolonged the forbearance period until May 1, 2022, citing the omicron variant’s effects as the rationale.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona also promised debtors that the extension would be used to strengthen accountability in loan servicing and prepare servicers for the return to regularly scheduled payments.
Biden Extends Loan Payment Again
This week, the Biden administration announced that the federal student loan payment moratorium had been extended until August 31, 2022. Thanks to this extension, borrowers of federal student loans will have an extra four months to repay their loans.
Interest accrual and payments on federal student loans and collecting actions on defaulted loans will be halted until August. In a news release, the Education Department stated that the delay is required to “provide for a responsible phase-down of pandemic assistance.”
The department also said that borrowers with delinquent or defaulted student loans would be able to re-enter repayment in good standing. In addition, it will use this period to improve federal servicer accountability.
Student Loan Reform: What This Change Means For Student Loans
Borrowers can continue to defer federal payments until August 31. Still, they can also choose to make interest-free payments, which will reduce the overall principal balance once interest starts accruing again in September.
Borrowers who choose not to make payments to the federal government should prepare a repayment plan and investigate their relief alternatives before the August deadline.
Student Loan Reform: Is Large-Scale Loan Forgiveness Possible?
Several Democratic members of Congress have long called for universal student debt forgiveness for all federal student loan borrowers, and Biden ran on the promise in 2020. Biden ordered a legal assessment in April 2021 to determine his ability to eliminate student loan debt by executive action.
The review’s findings have remained unpublished for nearly a year.
“The fact that it’s taking so long shows it won’t be as straightforward as people think,” says Mark Kantrowitz, a top national student loan expert. “If the evaluation finds that you do have the authorization, they should be able to do it rather fast.”
Things might get complex if Biden doesn’t have the administrative authority to impose forgiveness without the approval of Congress. “Coming up with an increase in revenue and decreases in expenditures to match the forgiveness costs will be the limiting issue,” Kantrowitz argues.
While no timetable has been set, Kantrowitz believes the forthcoming midterm elections will create a sense of urgency. Everything will finally come down to the conclusions of the legal review in terms of student loan cancellation soon.
7 Major Student Loan Reform In 2022
1. The Cost Of Student Loans Will Rise
In 2022, student loans are likely to become more expensive. And that’s because this year, interest rates are likely to rise. The Federal Reserve stated its plan to raise interest rates in 2022, which may do so numerous times.
As a result, student loans may have higher interest rates. However, most current federal student loans will be unaffected because their interest rates are fixed and will not alter.
Some earlier federal student loans, on the other hand, have variable interest rates that can fluctuate as interest rates rise.
If interest rates rise, private student loans with variable interest rates may also alter. Finally, if the Fed raises rates in early 2022, you may have to pay a higher interest rate on a new federal student loan 2022.
2. Suspension Of Student Loan For 4 Months
In 2022, payments on federal student loans will be suspended for the initial four months. This means you won’t have to pay back your federal student loans until May 1, 2022.
There will be no new interest accrual on your federal student loans with 0% interest rates. Finally, if you have a defaulted student debt, you will not have your salary or Social Security checks garnished.
However, this only applies to federal student loans; private student loans should be paid regularly.
3. Student Loan Form: Loan Forgiveness May Be Simpler To Obtain
In 2021, the Education Department announced significant improvements to many federal student loan forgiveness programs, making more borrowers eligible for loan forgiveness in 2022 and beyond.
The PSLF program was one of the most significant changes. After making 120 consecutive qualified payments, public employees can have the remainder of their federal student loan forgiven through the PSLF program.
Qualified borrowers who apply for the program will be allowed to apply more of their student loan payments toward the balance under the temporary extended PSLF waiver.
According to the Biden administration, the current PSLF change will bring 550,000 borrowers two years closer to having their student loans forgiven.
To qualify, borrowers having Federal Perkins Loans and FFELP must combine into the Direct Loan program by October 2022.
If you have loans that aren’t eligible for cancellation, such as private student loans, refinancing for better terms may be a good idea.
4. A New Loan Servicer Will Come On-Board
Granite State Management & Resources, FedLoan Servicing, and Navient are special student loan servicers who left the federal student loan servicing industry.
Borrowers with these institutions’ loans will have their loans automatically moved to a new servicer.
If your student loans have been transferred to a new servicer, you should have already received emails from the Financial Student Aid Office (FSA). The government started notifying borrowers of changes in student loan servicers in November.
Your loan terms, including the due date, monthly payment, and interest rate, will not change if your student loan servicer changes. If you’re unhappy with your current loan terms, you can refinance while interest rates on student loans are approaching all-time lows.
If you refinance your student debt to a lower interest rate, you may be able to cut your monthly payment, pay off your debt faster, and save money on interest throughout the loan’s life.
5. Student Loan Cancellation Is Possible
In 2022, student loans may be canceled. Progressives in Congress and student loan advocates all around the country wish for it. President Joe Biden could cancel more student loans on a targeted basis. However, there is no assurance.
Since becoming president, Biden has canceled $12.7 billion in student loans. If Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer get their way, Biden may approve a large-scale student loan cancellation of up to $10,000.
It’s also possible, although unlikely, that Congress adopts bipartisan legislation providing more excellent student loan relief, including some loan forgiveness. One thing is sure: you should not anticipate all of your student loans to be forgiven. It’s also feasible that student loan forgiveness will be a factor in the Democrats’ midterm election loss.
6. Refinancing Student Loans At Record Low Rates Is Possible.
Refinancing student loans is now possible at record-low rates. This is fantastic news for student loan debtors who seek a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, or both. Rates as low as 1.74 percent are available.
You can select a variable or fixed interest rate and a payback term of 5 to 20 years when refinancing your student loans. Private or federal student loans, or both, can be refinanced.
You should keep your federal loans and only refinance private loans if you think you’ll require federal benefits such as income-driven repayment, public service loan forgiveness, forbearance, or deferment.
If you’re more concerned with saving money and paying off your student loans faster, student loan refinancing can save you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, depending on your loan balance.
7. Payments On Student Loans Will Be Simpler
Student loan repayments will be more straightforward in 2022. Biden and the U.S. Department of Education are working to make student loan repayments more straightforward and less cumbersome for borrowers.
Biden has extended student loan relief three times and recommended student loan borrowers undertake these three things to aid them. In addition, Biden wants to make it easier to enlist in income-driven repayment schemes like PAYE, ICR, IBR, and REPAYE, among other things.
Biden also wants to provide borrowers of student loans additional time to recertify discretionary income and to allow them to self-report their income for Direct Loans.
Biden also recommended modifying income-driven repayment programs. For example, as a presidential candidate, your monthly student loan payment is only 5% of your discretionary income (rather than the current 10-20 percent of income).
What Student Loan Reform Mean Depending On Your Current Situation
1. If You Have Federal Loans But Facing Financial Difficulties
The continued forbearance allows you enough time to adjust your federal loan payments and avoid defaulting on your loans. Talking to your servicer today has no risk or drawback. You should be well-prepared for when this expires.
If you know, you’ll have trouble repaying the loan, talk to your servicer about an income-driven repayment plan, which caps payments at a percentage of your income and extends the repayment term.
Your payout could be zero if you don’t have a job. If your income has changed since you first enrolled in IDR, recertify it.
2. Payments On Your Federal Loans Are Still Possible
If the recession hasn’t damaged your funds, now is a good moment to set financial priorities. Consider making installments to reduce your overall debt depending on your original repayment strategy.
Your payments will be put to any accrued interest first, followed by the principal, but any payment will help you decrease the required amount you’ll pay during the loan’s term. You’ll need to notify the servicer because your loans are in automatic forbearance.
Other financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt or building an emergency fund, can also be accomplished.
3. You Want To Apply For Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Borrowers of federal student loans pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness do not have to make payments until the program is completed. As long as you’re still working full-time for a qualified employer, all months of nonpayment will count toward the 120 payments required to qualify for PSLF.
4. When Your Federal Loans Are In Default
According to the U.S. Education Department’s April extension statement, when payments resume, all defaulted or delinquent student loan debtors will be returned to “good standing,” according to the U.S. Education Department’s April extension statement. In addition, until six months after payments resume, all collection operations on federal student loans are halted.
5. When You Have Private Student Loans
Private student loan relief may be available from your lender in the form of a payment halt or lower payments. While some lenders’ structured relief agreements are set to expire in 2020, several are willing to extend or provide extra relief.
Inquire with your lender regarding further payment reductions or deferments. For financial difficulty, you can also apply for current loan modification programs. Unlike government loans, these will differ from lender to lender, but interest will continue to accrue.
Because most lenders don’t make payment pauses or loan modifications automatic, Mayotte adds that you’ll probably have to apply for private debt relief on your own.
Student Loan Reform: Other Loan Forgiveness Options Available To You
1. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Eligibility requirements must be met. Over two years, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to 60% of your “total outstanding, qualifying, nursing education loans.” After that, you can ask for a third year to have another 25% of your loans forgiven.
2. Student Loan Forgiveness For Doctors
For a certain amount of time, you must be a specific doctor. However, several schemes provide forgiveness to doctors who meet specific criteria.
3. Loan Forgiveness For Lawyers
Several state-based relief schemes exist to assist qualified lawyers in receiving forgiveness. For example, the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program can forgive up to $60,000 of your student loans.
4. Forgiveness Via AmeriCorps
If an AmeriCorps member is also awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, they are eligible for 100% forgiveness.
5. Income-Driven Repayment Plans
You must have eligible federal student loans. Four typical income-driven repayment schemes require you to pay a portion of your “discretionary income” for 20 to 25 years before your debts are erased.
6. Loan Forgiveness For Military Personnel
You must be a veteran or a qualifying member of the military. There are several options for getting forgiveness, and qualified borrowers can get up to 100% of their debt forgiven.
7. Teacher Loan Forgiveness
You must work in a qualifying job at an eligible institution for at least five years. Then, depending on the subject you teach, you may be able to get up to $17,500 forgiven.
Final Thoughts
The student loan reform isn’t over yet. There will be more updates in the future. But, in the meantime, it’s essential to know that borrowers who hold Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) or Federal Perkins loans that the Education Department does not control are not eligible for automatic forbearance. You must consolidate your debts into a federal direct consolidation loan to qualify for the forbearance. When you consolidate your debts, any unpaid interest will be capitalized or added to the principal balance. Contact your loan servicer to find out how consolidation may affect your total repayment amount, interest rate, and loan balance.
