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☆ Biden administration extends key deadline for student loan forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Department of Education is giving borrowers more time to meet a key student loan forgiveness deadline. "The Department is working swiftly to ensure borrowers get credit for every month they've rightfully earned toward forgiveness," U.S. Borrowers pursuing the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program can also receive additional credit from the payment count adjustment, as long as they certify their qualifying employment for those months. The payment count adjustment is an attempt to rectify longstanding issues for student loan borrowers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also found borrowers were needlessly steered into expensive forbearances, during which interest accrues and credit toward forgiveness is paused.

Persons: —, Biden, Education James Kvaal, weren't Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Education, Finance, Public, Government, Office, Consumer Financial Locations: U.S, deferments

☆ The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, offers no relief from high borrowing costs — what that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"If Americans want lower interest rates, they're going to have to do it themselves," he said. "Going forward, mortgage rates will likely continue to fluctuate and it's impossible to say for certain where they'll end up," noted Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree. Auto loansEven though auto loans are fixed, payments are getting bigger because car prices have been rising along with the interest rates on new loans, resulting in less affordable monthly payments. Student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected. Interest rates for the upcoming school year will be based on an auction of 10-Year Treasury notes later this month.

Persons: Brett House, aren't, Matt Schulz, Schulz, Jacob Channel, there's, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Columbia Business School, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ Israeli Supreme Court orders government to stop funding religious schools that defy enlistment
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Mick Krever | Lauren Izso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Israeli Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the government to stop funding religious schools whose students defy the country’s mandatory military service, posing one of the most serious threats to date for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition. Netanyahu relies on two Ultra-Orthodox parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism – to maintain a governing coalition. But the exemption has never been enshrined in a law that the Supreme Court views as equitable, and for years has been carried out by patch-work government mandates. After decades of rulings on the subject, the Supreme Court told the government that it was illegal for the government to both fund yeshivas and exempt their students from conscription. In a ruling late Thursday, the Supreme Court said that starting on April 1, the government could no longer transfer funds to yeshivas whose students did not receive legitimate deferments.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Benny Gantz, “, Ariyeh Deri, ” Young, Yitzhak Goldknopf, ”, Gantz Organizations: CNN, Shas, United, –, National Unity Party, Justice, Court Locations: Israel, The State

☆ The Fed holds interest rates steady. What that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates, but even then they will only ease off extremely high levels. That's up from 4.4% when the Fed started raising rates in March 2022 and 3.27% at the end of 2021, according to Bankrate. Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae, expects mortgage rates will end the year at 6.4%, but that won't provide much of a boost for would-be homebuyers. If rates come down and it ramps up demand and there's no supply, the only thing that happens is that home prices go up." Once the Fed cuts rates, "that gives people a little more breathing room," Drury said.

Persons: Brett House, Ted Rossman, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, Duncan, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Columbia Business School, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ The Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates just yet, here's what that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Interest rates took the elevator going up; they are going to take the stairs coming down," he said. Annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates but even then, they will only ease off extremely high levels. "The reality of it is, a lot of borrowers are paying double-digit interest rates on those right now," McBride said. Federal student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers aren't immediately affected by the Fed's moves. But undergraduate students who take out new direct federal student loans are now paying 5.50% — up from 4.99% in the 2022-23 academic year and 3.73% in 2021-22.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Greg McBride, McBride, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, that's, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury Organizations: Reuters, Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ Americans making student loan payments have up to 36% less saved for retirement
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The study examined the retirement savings habits of more than 50,000 participants between 2017 and 2019 to see how student loan payments affected their contributions. While a higher salary does correlate with higher 401(k) balances and contribution rates overall, it doesn't close the gap between those making student loan payments and those who aren't making such payments. For employees earning less than $55,000 a year, those without student loan payments had balances about 4.5% higher on average than those with student loan payments, regardless of tenure. Lower earners were also less likely to reduce their contributions when they started making student loan payments. "[It's] less disposable income that [borrowers] have, so it's likely a fear reaction," Sam Silberstein, a certified financial planner and certified student loan professional with Student Loan Planner, tells CNBC Make It.

Persons: aren't, Sam Silberstein Organizations: Research Institute, CNBC

The law has been activated in the wake of the army’s biggest setbacks since the countrywide conflict erupted after the takeover. The rout inspired resistance forces in other parts of the country to launch their own attacks. The military government’s forces were stretched thin by the recent upsurge in resistance activity. The 2021 military takeover was met by widespread nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. But the confrontations escalated into violence after security forces used deadly force against the protesters, giving birth to organized armed resistance that has spiraled into civil war.

Persons: —, extendable, Aung, Suu Kyi, Zaw Min Tun, ”, Min Tun Organizations: Service Law, State Administration Council, National Unity Government, Frontier Myanmar Locations: BANGKOK, State, Suu, Myanmar, Rakhine, Bangladesh, Maj, Zaw, Yangon

Trump told a crowd in Conway, South Carolina, as he and Haley held events across the state ahead of its Feb. 24 Republican primary. Michael Haley began a yearlong stint in June with the South Carolina Army National Guard. Haley is being deployed as a staff officer with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which the National Guard says is providing support in the Horn of Africa. “Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: GILBERT, S.C, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley’s, wasn't, Trump, Haley, He’s, ”, Michael, Sen, John McCain, weren’t, Michael Haley, Trump's, Nikki Haley's, Melania Trump, “ Donald, Haley’s surrogates, Chris Wooten, —, Pollard Organizations: National Guard, Republican, South Carolina Army National Guard, 218th, Enhancement Brigade, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Conway , South Carolina, Vietnam, Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, America

☆ How to figure out your timeline to student loan forgiveness, as more borrowers become eligible
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chris Tobin | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesBeginning in February, certain student loan borrowers who have spent a decade in repayment will get their federal student loan debt forgiven, the Biden administration recently announced. Most borrowers need to make payments for 20 years or 25 years on an income-driven repayment plan before their debt is erased. To qualify for the aid, you'll also need to make sure you have eligible federal student loans and that you're enrolled in the SAVE plan. Pandemic-era payment pause countsOther forbearances, deferments may count, tooThe Department of Education gives federal student loan borrowers several options to pause their payments. Due to the timeline of regulatory changes, borrowers may have to wait for some of these periods to be credited to their forgiveness timeline under the SAVE plan.

Persons: Chris Tobin, Biden, you'll, deferments Organizations: Digitalvision, U.S . Department of, Valuable Education, Education, SAVE, of Education, CNBC, Time

☆ Why it's now easier for student loan borrowers to get rid of their debt in bankruptcy court
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Richard Levine | Corbis News | Getty ImagesFor decades, it was nearly impossible for student loan borrowers to walk away from their debt in bankruptcy court. Congress has set a high bar for discharging student loan debt in bankruptcy. Under the new process, student loan borrowers complete a form to assist the government in evaluating their discharge request. "It makes it easier for student loan borrowers to qualify for bankruptcy discharge by clearly setting out the policy," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Federal student loan borrowers have several ways to reduce their debt burden, including payment plans with $0 monthly payments and economic hardship and unemployment deferments.

Persons: Richard Levine, That's, Biden, —, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz Organizations: United State Bankruptcy Court Southern District of NY, Corbis, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S . Department of Education, American Bar Association, Consumer, Federal

A student loan is reported as an installment loan on your credit report and can affect your credit score. How to build credit with your student loanPracticing good student loan management can positively affect your credit score. Monitor your credit report — Regularly checking your credit report helps you spot inaccuracies and stay on top of your credit. Consolidate or refinance federal student loansYou can apply for student loan consolidation if you need help managing multiple federal student loans. How student loans affect credit scores frequently asked questionsHow much do student loans affect credit scores?

Persons: servicers, isn't, —, you've Organizations: Federal Locations: Federal

☆ Some student loan borrowers have extra time before payments restart. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Many people made their usual student loan payment in March 2020, before former president Donald Trump first announced the pause on federal student loan bills and interest accrual, he explained. Depending on when their loan servicer received those funds, it may have been considered an extra payment that has now pushed back their due date. You can contact your loan servicer or log in to StudentAid.gov to learn your exact due date, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. The typical federal student loan bill is $350 a month. If you were enrolled in the standard 10-year repayment plan prior to Covid and still are, your monthly payment should not have changed.

Persons: Buchanan, Donald Trump, servicer, Mark Kantrowitz, they're, Kantrowitz, Grace Locations: StudentAid.gov

☆ Student loan interest resumes today — what that means for borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The interest rates on federal student loans are fixed once disbursed, but vary depending on when they're taken out. "Millions of federal student loan borrowers are starting to adjust to the reality of having to figure out how to bake their student loan payments into their budget once again," said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit. The typical monthly student loan bill is around $350. As a result of the policy, the average borrower likely saved around $15,000 in student loan payments during the pause, including around $5,000 in interest charges. Student loan borrowers can check their interest rate at Studentaid.gov or with their servicer.

Persons: they're, Betsy Mayotte, Mark Kantrowitz Organizations: The, Student Loan Advisors, Finance

☆ Student loan interest resumes Sept. 1. What that means for subsidized vs. unsubsidized debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Srdjanpav | E+ | Getty ImagesHow interest accrues on loansDirect Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students who demonstrate a financial need. Unlike that of subsidized loans, interest on unsubsidized loans starts accruing immediately upon disbursement and accrues even during deferments or grace periods, making this debt more expensive. The term Stafford Loan is an informal way of referring to Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans made via the Direct Loan Program. It also refers to subsidized or unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans made via the Federal Family Education Loan, or FFEL, program. During that time, interest wasn't accruing on any loans — meaning unsubsidized loans essentially became subsidized debt for some borrowers.

Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Stafford Loans, Department, Education Department, Program, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Family Education Locations: disbursement, Stafford

☆ 3 options for struggling student loan borrowers when payments restart
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jacob Wackerhausen | Istock | Getty ImagesWith other household debt on the rise, the restart of student loan payments in less than two months may cause financial hardship for many Americans. The pause on federal student loan payments is one of the last Covid pandemic-era relief measures still in effect, but the bills are expected to finally resume in October. If you're unemployed when student loan payments resume, you can request an unemployment deferment with your servicer. The maximum amount of time you can use an unemployment or hardship deferment is usually three years, per type. Kantrowitz provided an example: A $30,000 student loan with a 5% interest rate would increase by $1,500 a year under a forbearance.

Persons: Jacob Wackerhausen, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, Betsy Mayotte, Biden Organizations: Istock, Deferments, Peace Corps, The, Student Loan Advisors Locations: Mayotte

☆ Is Biden's $39 billion student loan forgiveness action legal? 'Be assured it's going to stay,' says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesHow are the two loan forgiveness actions different? There are four of these plans, which aim to make loan payments more affordable for lower earners. That law gave the president power to revise student loan programs during national emergencies. The Trump administration had leveraged the Heroes Act to implement a student loan payment pause at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Congress has already authorized loan forgiveness relative to income-driven repayment plans, dating to when it created them in the 1990s.

Persons: Joe Biden, Education Miguel Cardona, Demetrius Freeman, —, Biden, hasn't, Virginia Foxx, Abby Shafroth, who've, Trump, Shafroth, Kantrowitz Organizations: U.S, Education, Washington, Getty, White, U.S . Department of Education, Department of Education, National Consumer Law Center, National Consumer Law, of Education

☆ Biden administration forgives $39 billion in student debt for more than 800,000 borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden announces new actions on June 30, 2023 to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan. The relief is a result of fixes to the student loan system's income-driven repayment plans . The Biden administration announced on Friday it would automatically forgive $39 billion in student debt for 804,000 borrowers. To bring people over the line for forgiveness, the Biden administration counted payments for borrowers who'd paused their payments in certain deferments and forbearances and those who'd made partial or late payments. The announcement comes weeks after the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's sweeping student loan forgiveness plan, which would have delivered relief to about 37 million people.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Education Miguel Cardona, who'd, Joe Biden's Organizations: Education, The Education Department

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Not everyone with debt would have been covered under the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. The Supreme Court has barred the Biden administration from carrying out its plan to extinguish up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt, and millions of borrowers will continue to struggle under the weight of their loans. Ms. Schmidt owes $64,000 in student debt, more than half of which is for her graduate work in nursing. But she’s already contemplating how she’ll finance her dream of becoming a civil rights lawyer, which typically requires an additional six figures in student debt. Yet her mother is still paying down student debt of her own.

Persons: Biden, Gina McDavitt, weren’t, Pell, “, ”, McDavitt, ” Ms, Ms, Monica Schmidt, Schmidt, Kevin Serna, Dorien Rogers, Rogers, Asha Anthony, she’s, —, Anthony, Mr, don’t, Joanna Leiserson, Brian Kaiser, “ I’m, Leiserson Organizations: Georgetown University, Biden, College of San, San Francisco State University, The New York Times, University of Phoenix, Northern Illinois University, Public, Schaun, Tax, Howard University, Salisbury University, The New York, Republicans Locations: Washington ,, College of San Mateo, Bay, Vallejo , Calif, Genoa, Ill, Germantown, Md, Credit, Montgomery County, Mesa, Maryland, Spokane, —, forbearance

☆ Borrowers brace for student loan bills to resume — '$600 a month, where is that going to come from?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

As a result of the policy, the average borrower likely saved around $15,000 in student loan payments, Kantrowitz said. ″[T]he one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid" that problem, he added. Yet consumer advocates say the troubles for student loan borrowers are far from over. "Borrowers are not ready to resume payments," said Persis Yu, deputy executive director at the Student Borrower Protection Center. To be able to afford his student loan payment in September, Berlet plans to cut back on how much food he buys.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, James Kvaal, Joe Biden's, Mark, Kvaal, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, McCarthy, Persis Yu, Yu, they'd, Paul, Berlet, he'll, Brooks, didn't, wasn't, Paul Berlet Organizations: Twitter, Student, Protection, Kantrowitz, Education Department, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Granite State Locations: U.S, Pennsylvania, Granite, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ The federal student loan payment pause may end soon—how borrowers can get ready now
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

While the summer signals music festivals and vacations for many, this year it will also mean the return of federal student loan payments. Interest hasn't been accruing and borrowers haven't been required to make payments on their federal student loans since March 2020. But as the federal government winds down its pandemic relief, student loan borrowers are bracing to resume payments, or start making them for the first time. If you graduated or left school between March 2020 and now, you may have never been required to make a payment on your federal student loans. If you're not sure, you can log into your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account and scroll down to the "My Loan Servicers" section, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.

☆ How borrowers can keep their student loan payments on hold once bills resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowThe Education Department in November said student bills would resume 60 days after the litigation over its student loan forgiveness plan resolves. If you're unemployed when student loan payments resume, you can request an unemployment deferment with your servicer. The maximum time you can use an unemployment or hardship deferment is usually three years per type. Forbearances also keep bills on holdStudent loan borrowers who don't qualify for a deferment may request a forbearance. Kantrowitz provided an example: A $30,000 student loan with a 5% interest rate would increase by $1,500 a year under a forbearance.

☆ President Biden just announced updates to student loan repayment—here's what borrowers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden Administration released details this week on its plan to overhaul the current income-driven repayment plan known as Revised Pay As You Earn plan (REPAYE) for federal student loan borrowers. All student borrowers with direct federal loans (not parent PLUS loans) are eligible for REPAYE repayment plans. The change would also stop interest from accruing on balances while borrowers qualify for $0 monthly payments. No interest accumulation while making regular paymentsUnder the current REPAYE plan, sometimes borrowers' monthly payments are lower than the interest accrued on the loan. Those who borrowed $12,000 or less would be eligible for loan forgiveness after 10 years of monthly payments.

☆ Biden administration warns of 'historically large increase' in student loan defaults without debt forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Student loan borrowers gather near The White House to tell President Biden to cancel student debt on May 12, 2020. Student loans plagued with problems before CovidEven before the pandemic, when the U.S. economy was enjoying one of its healthiest periods in history, problems plagued the federal student loan system. watch nowFederal student loan payments have been on pause since March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. Despite offering student loan borrowers forbearances during previous natural disasters, default rates still skyrocketed, Kvaal said in the filing. "[T]he one-time student loan debt relief program was intended to avoid" that problem, he added.

☆ It's about to get easier for government and nonprofit workers with student debt to get loan forgiveness even though the waiver expires in 6 days. Here's what you need to know.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Education Department announced permanent fixes to PSLF after the waiver expires on Oct. 31. President Joe Biden's Education Department announced temporary reforms in October 2021 to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which intends to forgive student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments. Well instead, today we are announcing permanent changes to reduce the red tape and the confusing rules that riddle the PSLF program. How these changes will work with the PSLF waiverBorrowers who apply for the PSLF waiver by the October 31 deadline will have their payments credited under the waiver. Along with these changes, the department still recommends borrowers take advantage of the PSLF waiver before it expires by checking their eligibility here.

☆ Schlumberger evaluates options for Russia staff as Ukraine war escalates -CEO
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Liz Hampton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Oilfield services provider Schlumberger (SLB.N) is evaluating unspecified options for its thousands of Russian employees as the war in Ukraine escalates, Chief Executive Olivier Le Peuch told Reuters an interview. Among Western companies that did not exit following the February invasion of Ukraine, Schlumberger is one of the biggest employers in Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in a tweet blasted the firm's Russia presence as contributing to war crimes and genocide. President Vladimir Putin last month issued a decree seeking to add 300,000 troops to the war effort amid high casualties in Ukraine. Le Peuch said Schlumberger "management in the country is pursuing all options to assist employees," without providing details.

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