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So far, almost 3.9 million borrowers have gotten their education debt erased, totaling $138 billion in relief . Under the U.S. Department of Education's income-driven repayment plans, student loan borrowers are entitled to get any of their remaining debt forgiven after 20 or 25 years. The companies earn a fee per borrower per month, which advocates say discourages transparency around loan forgiveness opportunities. "Loan servicers were not tracking the number of qualifying payments, and the automatic forgiveness was not occurring," Kantrowitz said. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, denied that the companies benefit by veering from the government's orders.
Persons: Joe Biden, Culver City Julian, Mark Kantrowitz, servicers, Nadine Chabrier, Kantrowitz, he'd, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, Biden, who've, Persis Yu Organizations: Culver City, Culver City Julian Dixon Library, Education Department, U.S . Department of Education, U.S . Department, Center for, Lending, The Education, Finance, IRS, Student Loan, Alliance, Student, Protection Locations: Culver City , California, U.S
Under the U.S. Department of Education's income-driven repayment plans, student loan borrowers are entitled to get any of their remaining debt forgiven after 20 years or 25 years. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, refuted that the companies benefit by veering from the government's orders. Shortly after Fox heard that his student loans were forgiven, he received a payment from the government for $56,801. When he told people he was still paying off his student debt, they scratched their heads. Over the decades, based on Fox's records which CNBC reviewed, he paid around $200,000 to his federal student loans.
Persons: Marlon, George, servicers, Nadine Chabrier, Fox, he'd, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, I've, Marlon Fox, overpayments, Biden, Debbie Organizations: Biden, U.S . Department, Center for, Lending, The Education, Student Loan, Alliance, Palmer College of Chiropractic, CNBC Locations: forbearances
But converting federal student loans into private debt can lead to the loss of a number of consumer protections, experts warn. Federal loans have more safeguardsThe most important thing to keep in mind when considering refinancing your federal student loans is that, should you move forward, your debt will be transferred to a private company, and become a private student loan. "Private student loans don't have the same benefits as federal student loans," Kantrowitz said. While federal student loan rates reset annually for new loans, they're fixed once disbursed. Federal student loan borrowers don't need to refinance to get a slightly better rate, Kantrowitz pointed out: Most student loan servicers will offer a 0.25% interest rate deduction when you sign up for automatic payments.
Persons: haven't, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, Betsy Mayotte, I've, servicers Organizations: Student Loan, Alliance, Finance, cryptocurrency, U.S . Department of Education, Federal Reserve, The, Student Loan Advisors, Federal Locations: U.S, Mayotte
Some student-loan borrowers are logging into their accounts and seeing it in forbearance. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you recently logged into your student-loan account and were surprised to see it placed in forbearance, you're not alone. Over the past few days, student-loan borrowers primarily serviced by MOHELA have logged into their accounts to see their loans were no longer in active repayment. Still, the borrower's account continues to show a payment due with interest accruing, according to documents reviewed by Insider. AdvertisementAdvertisementWas your student-loan account placed on administrative forbearance without any notice?
Persons: servicer, , MOHELA, servicers, forbearance, Scott Buchanan, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Richard Blumenthal, Scott Giles Organizations: Department, Service, Public, Student Loan, Locations: forbearance, MOHELA, Sens
A shutdown could worsen the repayment challenges student-loan borrowers are experiencing. AdvertisementAdvertisementA government shutdown is once again looming, and it's threatening an already precarious return to repayment for student-loan borrowers. Thousands of federal workers would be furloughed, meaning Americans could face delays with customer service in programs like Social Security, along with student-loan repayment assistance. Even before federal student-loan payments officially resumed in October, borrowers were experiencing severe delays getting help from their student-loan servicers due to hours-long hold times and issues processing paperwork. Further limiting the number of customer service representatives available in the event of a shutdown would place a greater strain on borrowers.
Persons: , Mike Johnson, Johnson, Rosa DeLauro, Scott Buchanan Organizations: Service, Washington, Democratic, Social Security, Management, Education, Education Department, Federal, Aid, Student Loan,
The Education Department is strengthening oversight by withholding pay from one servicer, MOHELA. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department made one thing very clear this past week: Student-loan companies cannot get away with bad behavior. It's unclear at this point how withholding pay from a servicer would impact its operations, and whether the impact would trickle down to borrowers. AdvertisementAdvertisementWith Republicans holding a majority in the House, it's unlikely Federal Student Aid will see boosted funding in the upcoming year. Buchanan noted that he's still determining how exactly withholding pay would impact operations and added that he's "not making any excuses for the mistakes here."
Persons: , Joe Biden's, MOHELA, Scott Buchanan, Jared Bass, Bass, servicers, Buchanan, he's, It's, it'll Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Department, Federal Student Aid, Student Loan, , Education, Center, American Progress, Federal, Aid
Student-loan company MOHELA said on its website that it's transitioning borrowers to a new platform. The switch could mean up to 30-day delays in posting new payments. MOHELA borrowers will have to establish a new account on the platform, and its mobile app will no longer be available once the transition is complete. The announcement of this change comes less than a month after federal student-loan payments resumed following an over three-year pause. For borrowers on auto debit with their payments, MOHELA also said it'll have a new name on its new platform: auto pay.
Persons: MOHELA, , Joe Biden's, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, it'll, Nelnet —, Nelnet Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Student Loan, , The Education Department
Olivier Douliery | Afp | Getty ImagesAmberlee McGaughey, a librarian in Pennsylvania, was not worried about the restart of student loan payments. In August, she applied for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program with her loan servicer, MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority. Around 7% of student loan borrowers are now more than $100,000 in debt. "The government has made all these announcements, and it's really confusing to people," said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. Her original student loan bill of $483, which was listed as due on Oct. 20, wasn't affordable for her.
Persons: Miguel Cardona, Kamala Harris, Olivier Douliery, she's, MOHELA, couldn't, Ella Azoulay, Carolina Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Scott Buchanan, Joe Biden, he'd, didn't, Biden, servicers, Braxton Brewington, Sarah Cluff, Sarah Cluff Still, servicer, Cluff, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Nelnet, Joe Popevis, NelNet, Popevis, Servicers, Brewington, Amberlee, Jane Fox, Fox, Buchanan, Rocky, they'll Organizations: Washington , D.C, Afp, Getty, Public, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, CNBC, Finance, Biden, Student, Protection, Carolina, Education, Consumer, Student Loan, Alliance, U.S . Department of Education, Valuable Education, Education Department, MOHELA, SAVE, Legal, Association of Legal Locations: Washington ,, Pennsylvania, Missouri, U.S, New York, servicers
Borrowers do not need to enroll in the on-ramp period, the U.S. Department of Education says. Loans that don't qualify include private student loans and commercially held Federal Family Education Loans. Forgoing payments or making only partial payments during the on-ramp period means you'll likely have a larger bill in a year. For that reason, Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, said he hoped borrowers weren't thinking this is just another payment pause. If you can afford to make your student loan payments, most experts recommend that you do so to avoid ending up with a larger bill when the on-ramp period ends.
Persons: they'll, Scott Buchanan, servicers, Buchanan, didn't, Mark Kantrowitz, Joe Biden's, Braxton Brewington, Biden Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Family, Student Loan, Alliance, CNBC, Department of Education, Supreme
Student-loan borrowers are entering uncharted territoryThe Education Department has never had to reenter 28 million people into payments at the same time. Plus, federal servicers' technology may not be up to the task. In contrast, federal student-loan servicing has been contracted out to five companies, and the government doesn't have the resources to fully keep tabs on the industry. "So there really were deep-rooted structural problems in the loan programs on the policy design but also on the execution side," Kvaal said. As the years went on, the GAO continued to identify flaws in student-loan programs that were hurting borrowers.
Persons: Greg Ogden, Ogden, I've, servicer, he's, he'd, We're, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, James Kvaal, , Kvaal, Barack Obama's, Obamacare, servicers, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, servicer MOHELA, MOHELA, Biden, Virginia Foxx, she's, Cardona, it's, Foxx, Carolyn Fast, Joe Biden's, Buchanan, Warren, Pamela Herd, Herd, Melissa Emrey, that's, Miguel Cardona, we're Organizations: Public, Education Department, Department, Student Loan, , GOP, The Century Foundation, Federal Student Aid, Georgetown University, Medicare, Student Aid, Office, Biden, Social, Education, Consumer Financial, Emrey, Federal, Aid Locations: servicers, Arras
Six Democratic lawmakers requested the Education Department look into student-loan company MOHELA. They said they're concerned with paperwork delays that could force borrowers who qualify for PSLF relief back into repayment. Federal student-loan payments are resuming on October 1. "With the restart of repayments, these issues are likely to worsen for borrowers," the lawmakers said in the letter. "Borrowers who are eligible to have their debt cancelled under the PSLF program should not be forced back into repayment due solely to MOHELA's processing delays, which cause difficult financial situations for so many borrowers.
Persons: MOHELA, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Secretary Miguel Cardona, they've, Angus King, Alex Padilla, Ed Markey, Cory Booker, Cardona, Katie Porter, Joe Courtney, Scott Giles, that's, Scott Buchanan, servicers — Organizations: Democratic, Education Department, Federal, Service, Secretary, Public, MOHELA, Department, Student Loan, Locations: Wall, Silicon, New Jersey, PSLF, Sens
Experts told Insider lack of broad debt relief and high inflation could contribute to the challenges. After more than three years, President Joe Biden officially ended the pandemic pause on federal student-loan payments, with waived interest, on Friday. "Before the pandemic, borrowers were already choosing between meeting their own basic needs and making their student-loan payments. "The more resource-strapped a servicer is and the more resource-strapped FSA is, the heightened concerns we have for that treatment of borrowers and just for the accuracy on the part of servicers giving information to borrowers," Hall said. In the meantime, the department recommends borrowers make their payments and wait for Biden's new plan for broad debt relief.
Persons: Joe Biden, she's, it's, Carolyn Fast, servicers, Biden, Stephanie Hall, Hall, Scott Buchanan, , there's Organizations: Service, The Century Foundation, Education Department, An Education Department, Center for American Progress, Department, Student Loan, , Management, Federal, Aid, Federal Student Aid Locations: Wall, Silicon
A new servicer, for someMillions of federal student loan borrowers will have a different servicer when payments resume in October. Impacted borrowers should get emails about the change, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. Borrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Another repayment optionFederal student loan borrowers can now sign up for the Biden administration's new loan repayment plan, and they could be enrolled in it by the time the bills resume. If your student loan servicer can't process your application for the SAVE plan by the time payments resume, it should place you in a temporary forbearance.
Persons: Julia Amaral, they'll, Granite State —, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, FAFSA, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, servicer, Biden, they're, Joe Biden Organizations: Istock, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Student Loan, Alliance, Finance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services, Biden, Valuable Education, Public, Education Department Locations: That's, Pennsylvania, Granite State, MOHELA, Missouri, StudentAid.gov
Mementojpeg | Moment | Getty ImagesLook out for notices about the changeScott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, said impacted borrowers should get emails about the change. Higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz has been tracking the transfers. Borrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Accounts with Great Lakes Higher Education, Kantrowitz said, should be managed by Nelnet going forward. Also, Kantrowitz said, "whenever there is a change of loan servicer, there can be problems transferring borrower data."
Persons: Scott Buchanan, servicers, Buchanan, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, You'll Organizations: Student Loan, Alliance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services Locations: MOHELA, Missouri, Granite State, StudentAid.gov
Some student-loan borrowers are running into hurdles leading up to the payment resumption. Insider spoke to borrowers with inaccurate monthly statements and incomplete debt relief. Jess's incorrect monthly payment statement is just one of the challenges borrowers are facing as President Joe Biden's Education Department and federal student-loan companies work to transition millions of borrowers back into repayment. This announcement was part of the department's one-time account adjustment to get relief to borrowers who have reached the repayment threshold. "Right now, House Republicans are pursuing an appropriations bill that cuts $22.5 BILLION from education," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote on X last month.
Persons: Jess, couldn't, Jess —, , she's, there's, Joe Biden's, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, Buchanan, we've, Karin Smith, Smith, I'm, It's, haven't, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Student Loan, , Education Department, The Education Department, House Republicans, Republican Locations: Wall, Silicon
But, Kantrowitz said, "borrowing private loans may be a sign of overborrowing, so they should do so with caution." Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal and private lenders, said private student loans can fill the gap for those who've exhausted federal aid and scholarships. "We almost always advise against private loans," Mayotte said in an earlier interview. She also described severe terms private lenders may enforce. watch nowAs Mayotte pointed out, many private lenders require students to get a cosigner who is equally liable for the debt.
Persons: Carlo Prearo, Max, Kantrowitz, Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, Betsy Mayotte, there's Organizations: Istock, Getty, U.S . Department of Labor's, Student Loan, Alliance, The, Student Loan Advisors Locations: Mayotte
Borrowers who are being transferred to a different servicer should receive alerts via email, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. These notices will explain any steps you'll need to take, he said, and include information on your new servicer. watch nowBorrowers previously with FedLoan should be transferred to MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, he said. Borrowers can check who their new servicer is by logging in to StudentAid.gov., Kantrowitz said. Also, Kantrowitz said, "whenever there is a change of loan servicer, there can be problems transferring borrower data.
Persons: Berk, Scott Buchanan, Kantrowitz, Buchanan, You'll Organizations: Istock, Student Loan, Alliance, Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, EdFinancial Services, Lakes Higher, Federal Services Locations: MOHELA, Missouri, Granite State, StudentAid.gov
Borrowers may be down to their last few months without a student loan payment. "The most likely scenario is repayment restarts in September," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers, also said lenders are actively preparing for the bills to restart in September. Readjusting your budget to include a student loan payment again may not be easy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to be more prepared.
Persons: Mark Kantrowitz, Scott Buchanan, servicers, Biden Organizations: Biden, U.S . Department of Education, Student Loan, Alliance, Finance, House Democrats, Social
Three companies that serviced federal student loans — Navient , the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (also known as FedLoan) and Granite State — all said they'd be ending their relationship with the government. Impacted borrowers should get multiple notices, said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. But if you can afford it, the standard repayment plan is just 10 years. To calculate how much your monthly bill would be under different plans, use one of the calculators at Studentaid.gov or Freestudentloanadvice.org, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit. If you do decide to change your repayment plan, Mayotte recommends submitting that application with your servicer before payments turn back on.
Roxanne Dougherty, 31, is waiting for a $5,000 refund on her student-loan payments. The Education Department directed Insider to guidance on refunds posted on Federal Student Aid's website. "No one is taking the time to help me or to listen to me when it comes to MOHELA," Dougherty said. "It just seems like there's something in it for them to not help," Dougherty said. Are you still waiting for a refund on your student-loan payments?
Currently, after 20 years of payments on undergraduate student loans, any leftover debt is forgiven on the existing REPAYE Plan. However, under the Biden administration's proposal, those with original student loan balances of $12,000 or less may get their loans forgiven after just 10 years. watch nowPreviously, a borrower who made $40,000 a year would have a monthly student loan payment of around $151. The new option should be available to borrowers with undergraduate and graduate student loans, although undergraduate borrowers will have lower payments. Once the new REPAYE Plan is available, borrowers can call their student loan servicer to enroll in the option, or apply at StudentAid.gov.
Silverkblack | Istock | Getty ImagesIn the new student loan repayment plan proposal rolled out this month by the Biden administration, more borrowers could see their monthly payments drop to $0. The new REPAYE plan could officially be available July 1, 2024, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Yet under the new proposal, those who have fallen behind may be able to sign up for the income-based repayment plan, another one of the income-driven repayment plan options. Borrowers will need to enrollOnce the new REPAYE plan is available, borrowers can call their student loan servicer to enroll in the option, or apply at StudentAid.gov. The pandemic-era relief policy suspending federal student loan bills and the accrual of interest has been in effect since March 2020.
With the legal blows to President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan mounting, it's possible that the administration could extend the payment pause on the monthly bills yet again, experts say. "I'm sure they have to be considering it as an option," said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, a trade group for federal student loan servicers. If the president's policy remains blocked in the courts by the end of the year, higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said, "the Biden Administration is likely to further extend the payment pause." Federal student loan payments have been on pause since March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. The U.S. Department of Education closed its student loan forgiveness portal last week after a federal judge in Texas called Biden's plan "unconstitutional" and struck it down.
Kjerstin Laine, 30, owes over $110,000 in student debt from undergraduate and graduate programs. But interest means she's barely paid it off, and Biden's forgiveness is just a drop in the bucket. For Laine, a 30-year-old who has over $110,000 in student debt, the $20,000 in forgiveness she's set to get from President Joe Biden's plan is just a drop in the bucket. Her situation points to the larger structural issues underpinning the student debt crisis, where first-generation and lower-income students take on huge debt burdens to get ahead and up their earnings but still find themselves buried under ever-growing balances. The company that manages the entire Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio — MOHELA — isn't making matters any easier.
Student-loan borrowers in public service have reported issues reaching their loan company, MOHELA. Regardless of who is to blame for the long hold times, it's leaving Nathan in a financially precarious situation. "I'm not even trying to call and ask about the student loan forgiveness. 'Restarting payments is a massive concern'Neither Kate nor Nathan know how much they will have to pay monthly once student-loan payments resume in January. While Nathan and Kate are grateful for the broad debt relief, their primary concern is ensuring their time spent working in public service is accounted for.
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