Experts discuss the end of the federal student loan payment pause, challenges borrowers face, and new programs to assist. Practical advice on restarting repayment and choosing appropriate plans. Focus on income-driven repayment plans and the new safe plan for low-income borrowers. Discuss challenges faced by loan servicers and the need for accountability.
Millions of borrowers are facing the resumption of student loan payments and accruing interest after a three and a half year pause, causing concern and stress for borrowers who must navigate repayment.
Borrowers are advised to start by updating their contact information, identifying their loan servicer, and determining the repayment plan that suits them best, using the Department of Education's loan simulator to calculate monthly payments and long-term interest.
Deep dives
The Return of Student Loan Payments
After a three and a half year pause on federal student loan payments, millions of borrowers are now facing the resumption of payments and accruing interest. Many borrowers adjusted their budgets without loan payments and used the extra money for other debts or investments. However, the end of the pause has caused concern and stress for borrowers who must now navigate repayment. The expected loan forgiveness plans were struck down by the Supreme Court, leaving borrowers uncertain about their balances. This situation will have ripple effects on the economy.
Understanding Repayment Options
As student loan payments return, borrowers are advised to start by updating their contact information on the government's student aid website. Additionally, borrowers should identify their loan servicer as some major servicers have changed during the pandemic. Then, borrowers need to determine the repayment plan that suits them best. The Department of Education's loan simulator can assist borrowers in calculating their monthly payments and the long-term interest paid under different plans. The new safe plan is recommended for borrowers with inconsistent incomes as it offers affordable payment options and waives interest when the required payment doesn't cover it.
Challenges and Solutions for Borrowers
Many borrowers are frustrated with loan servicers' slow response times and difficulty in obtaining accurate information. This is partly due to budget cuts and limited staffing at the Office of Federal Student Aid. Borrowers are advised to take action before the repayment deadline to avoid excessive hold times. If borrowers encounter issues or receive wrong information, they should file a complaint with the FSA Ombudsman to ensure a timely resolution. For older borrowers, there is a silver lining as the Department of Education is retroactively crediting previous payments towards loan forgiveness, providing relief after years of repayment.
After three and a half years, the pause on federal student loan payments is coming to an end. Getting more than 40 million borrowers back into repayment will be an enormous challenge, especially because many students who graduated when the pause was already in place have never made a payment.
We put borrowers' questions to two experts: NPR Education correspondent Cory Turner, and Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program, a non-profit funded by New York State to help residents navigate repayment of their student loans.