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☆ A $49,000 monthly student-loan bill and incomplete debt relief: Borrowers are facing confusion as repayment looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

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

☆ A student-loan company's 'history of mismanagement' is putting millions of borrowers in public service at risk with payments about to resume, 2 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Reps. Katie Porter and Joe Courtney sent a letter to student-loan company MOHELA on Tuesday. They asked how the company is using its resources to manage the Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio. Borrowers have reported difficulty getting help from MOHELA during the payment pause. On Tuesday, Reps. Katie Porter and Joe Courtney sent a letter to Scott Giles, the CEO of student-loan company MOHELA, which manages the Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio. Nelnet, another student-loan company, announced in March that it was cutting its call center hours and laying off 550 employees likely due to budget constraints.

Persons: Katie Porter, Joe Courtney, MOHELA, haven't, Scott Giles, Joe Biden's, Porter, Courtney, Giles, Nelnet, — Organizations: Public, Service, Democratic, MOHELA, Joe Biden's Education Department, Department, —, Education Department Locations: MOHELA, Wall, Silicon, PSLF

☆ A student-loan company's call center briefly shut down due to 'technical issues' after it started notifying borrowers of their monthly payment amount in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Student-loan company Nelnet started notifying borrowers of their monthly payments in October. Shortly after, borrowers took to X to complain about inability to reach the company's customer service. Nelnet responded on X that its call center briefly shut down, and it's receiving an influx of calls and emails. The Education Department and student-loan servicers have never transitioned millions of borrowers back into repayment at this scale. Do you have concerns with the return to student-loan repayment?

Persons: Nelnet, —, couldn't, servicers —, Joe Biden, servicers, I'm Organizations: Service, Education Department, The Education Department, Federal Student, Republicans, Federal Student Aid Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ How to Pay Off Your Student Loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Rebecca Safier | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

Here’s how to pay off student loans in a way that works for your budget and goals. Look into specialized loan forgiveness programsWhile the Supreme Court hasn’t shared its ruling on Biden’s widespread forgiveness initiative yet, there are other options for loan discharge, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. You can pay off federal student loans early, as there’s no student loan prepayment penalty. If you want to retain access to federal protections, it wouldn’t make sense to refinance your federal student loans. In the end, there’s no single right way to pay off student loans faster.

Persons: Rebecca Safier, Biden’s, ”, Robert Farrington, you’re, you’ve, Michael Lux, “, Farrington, Autopay, servicers, autopay, servicer Nelnet, hasn’t, Adam Minsky, You’ll, Mark Kantrowitz Organizations: Education Department, College Investor, millennials, Federal, Aid, Grad, Student Loan Sherpa, Student Aid, autopay, Peace Corps, Corinthian, Education Locations: “, SavingforCollege.com

☆ Millions of student loan borrowers will have a new servicer when payments restart
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

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

☆ Biden promised student-loan borrowers cheaper payments and more debt relief. The government might not have enough money for everyone to actually get those benefits.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

With broad student-debt relief, many student-loan borrowers anticipate reforms to payment programs. Congress didn't increase funding for Federal Student Aid last year, and the impacts already show. Federal student-loan borrowers are facing a consequential year ahead. Alex Wong/Getty Images'We really need to be worried and concerned'The issue of a lack of funding, and how it impacts student-loan borrowers, has been on some Democratic lawmakers' radars. "That's why I'll continue to fight for the increased funding the Student Aid Administration needs to provide quality services and support at-risk borrowers," she said.

☆ A student-loan company at the center of a lawsuit blocking Biden's debt cancellation with a 'dubious record of customer service' just got a new contract to keep servicing millions of borrowers, Cori B
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Education Department awarded five student-loan companies new contracts, including MOHELA. "No company should be profiting from the student debt crisis, especially MOHELA with their dubious record of customer service in the past," she continued. "My office will continue our work to hold student loan servicers accountable for their harm to our communities. Ultimately, there is still much work to be done to provide student debt relief, bolster college affordability, and begin the transition to a world without student debt at all." As Bush referenced, MOHELA is responsible for the whole PSLF portfolio, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments.

☆ 37 million student-loan borrowers will get 'the most affordable repayment plan ever' when new contracts with 5 companies go into effect next year, Biden's Education Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department awarded five student-loan companies new contracts to overhaul debt repayment. The department said the contracts will deliver "major improvements" for student-loan borrowers. "This additional funding is essential to support students and student loan borrowers," the press release said. But the Republican-controlled House is unlikely to approve more funding to facilitate student-loan programs. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, for example, proposed cutting spending for the Education Department to prohibit it from implementing student-loan forgiveness and creating a new income-driven repayment plan in his debt ceiling bill.

☆ Student-loan borrowers are about to face more hurdles after a major company reduced its call center hours — and laid off 550 more employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Education Department modified student-loan company Nelnet's contract, per SEC documents. The changes included reduced call center hours, contributing to Nelnet laying off 550 employees. It also allows Nelnet to have a higher percentage of borrowers hang up without receiving help. At the end of March, student-loan company Nelnet announced a series of changes to its contract implemented by the Education Department. But it's a critical year for student-loan borrowers, and Nelnet is just one sign that they're facing a rocky road ahead.

☆ A major student-loan company just laid off over 500 employees due to lack of work from Biden's stalled debt relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Student-loan company Nelnet just laid off over 500 employees. The company confirmed the reason for the layoffs was due to lack of work from Biden's stalled debt relief. Insider first reported in May 2022 that Nelnet laid off 150 employees due to the student-loan payment pause. But the debt relief has been blocked since October due to two conservative-backed lawsuits, and Biden extended the student-loan payment pause past December 31. Other student-loan companies have not yet publicly confirmed any employment changes due to Biden's debt relief — but the industry will go through significant changes this year.

☆ Senate Banking Chairman Brown to introduce bill closing 'shadow' banking loophole after Elon Musk says Twitter will process payments
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown will introduce a bill Tuesday that aims to close the so-called shadow banking loophole that allows retail and tech companies to offer banking services without the same stringent oversight as other financial institutions. Twitter is one of several non-bank companies that sought to enable banking services for users through state-chartered ILCs. Jack Dorsey, Musk's predecessor at Twitter, also was involved in financial services through his separate payments company Square. Other companies that have applied for ILC charters include eCommerce marketplace Rakuten, Ford Motor Company and financial services firm Edward Jones . The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation approved ILC deposit insurance applications for Square and Nelnet, a student financial services company, in 2020.

☆ Student-loan borrowers who are behind on payments can avoid facing collections for one year after the payment pause ends. Here's how Biden's Education Department wants to make sure companies holding t
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

introduced its "Fresh Start" plan, which would help defaulted student-loan borrowers. Last week, the department released updated guidance to the agencies that hold those borrowers' debt. Borrowers will have one year after payments resume to make use of the program. According to Cordray's guidance, the agencies that hold defaulted student-loan borrowers' debt will be required to suspend collection attempts for borrowers in the Fresh Start program for a year following the end of the payment pause. Along with guidance to the guaranty agencies, borrowers in default will also need to take action to return to good standing.

The increase in college tuition and predatory lending have created a situation where, unless you’re fortunate to get a full-ride scholarship or come from a lot of money, students are vulnerable. Though Biden’s debt relief focused on federal student loans, there have been problems with private lenders as well, including the suit against student loan giant Navient. Research has shown that student loans increase access to financing and add to student diversity, which is great, but data also shows that women and people of color are disproportionately more likely to have debt. Student debt relief is one way to let people be people, first and foremost, and loanees second. But we need to do these things because we choose to and not because our college system is broken.

The student-loan forgiveness application is live on the federal student aid website. Over 8 million Americans applied for student-loan forgiveness using the beta version of the application, released on Friday, October 14. Can I still get student-loan forgiveness if I haven't filed my tax return? To receive a non-filing letter from the IRS, fill out Form 4506-T.Will the amount of student-loan forgiveness I receive get taxed? Parents whose children are also applying for student-loan forgiveness must file a separate application for debt relief for their Parent PLUS loans using the same application.

The federal student-loan forgiveness application is now open in beta-testing mode. Access the student-loan forgiveness application here. Here's what you'll need to have on hand to fill out the application and apply for student-loan forgiveness. Here's what the application looks like from a cell phone:The student-loan forgiveness application does not include income verification documents. If you received a Pell Grant, you are eligible for $20,000 in student-loan forgiveness.

Perkins loans that aren't held by the US government do not qualify for Biden's new student-loan forgiveness. To qualify for up to $20,000 in forgiveness, you must consolidate your loans into Direct loans. This may not be the best option for everyone, since some Perkins loans are forgiven after five years. Unlike federal student loans, some Perkins loans are serviced by the school you attended, but the federal government pays for interest accrued while you're still in school. studentaid.govOnly consolidate loans that are not Direct loans.

You'll receive $10,000 in student-loan forgiveness if you meet the income requirements. You'll receive $20,000 in forgiveness if you received a Pell Grant and meet the income requirements. If you meet the income requirements above and did not receive a Pell Grant, you're eligible to receive $10,000 in student-loan forgiveness. Which loans qualify for student-loan forgiveness? studentaid.govThere is no partial student-loan forgiveness for people who do not meet the income requirementAt the time of this writing, student-loan forgiveness is not available for people who make more than the income requirements outlined in Biden's plan.

Only loans held by the federal government are eligible for Biden's student-loan forgiveness. If you refinance your student loans with a private lender, those loans are no longer eligible. You must have the correct federal student loan type to be eligibleGenerally, only loans held by the federal government are eligible for Biden's forgiveness plan. If you refinance your student loans, you won't be eligible for Biden's forgiveness plan of up to $20,000. The long-term benefits of student-loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans outweigh the short-term benefits of refinancing with a private lender.

Some FFEL loans are federally-backed student loans held by private student loan servicers, and others are held by the US government. Student loan expert Sonia Lewis of the Student Loan Doctor explains, "FFEL loans are federally-backed loans that were funded by a private company." Those loans already qualify for student-loan forgiveness; if your FFEL loans have been on pause during the pandemic, they're eligible for forgiveness. If your FFEL loans are privately held, you'll need to consolidate them into Direct loans that are owned by the government to qualify for forgiveness. How to fill out a Direct loan consolidation applicationThe first step is to fill out a Direct loan consolidation application at studentaid.gov.

To qualify for forgiveness, FFEL and Perkins loan borrowers can consolidate into a Direct loan. Student loan expert Sonia Lewis, who has worked with over 20,000 clients to help them navigate their student loans via the Student Loan Doctor LLC, says most people don't know their loan type in the first place. studentaid.govHere's a list of all the different loan types, and whether or not they qualify for student loan forgiveness. If you have privately-held FFEL loans, you must consolidate your FFEL loans into a Direct loan to qualify for Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan. Additionally, if you refinanced your federal student loans with a private lender, those loans are no longer eligible for Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan.

☆ A worker at a student-loan company says the 'lack of guidance' from Biden's Education Department on debt cancellation is hurting borrowers: 'I'm just so worried people are going to be left out'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A student-loan company worker expressed concern with the lack of guidance on Biden's debt relief. "There's a complete lack of guidance from the Education Department on what to advise borrowers," the worker, who requested to remain anonymous but whose identity is known to Insider, said. The worker specifically assists borrowers within the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, who have loans that are commercially-held and not eligible for federal relief. Currently, the Education Department is advising those borrowers to consolidate their loans into direct federal loans so they can qualify for forgiveness. In response to the worker's concerns, an Education Department spokesperson pointed Insider to the FFEL guidance already on its website and did not have any additional details to provide.

☆ My parents 'refinanced' my student loans, and even though I'm still paying them off I'll save over $9,000
▼ + stars: | 2020-02-12 | by ( Caroline Lupini | Freelance Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When I took out student loans to attend grad school, I was able to get government loans at a fixed 6.21% interest rate. I started my MBA in 2014 and the majority of my student loans were direct unsubsidized loans serviced by NelNet with a 6.21% fixed interest rate. They mentioned the idea of paying off my student loans with their home equity line of credit, and then I would owe them instead. At the time, their home equity line of credit had a sub-prime 2.49% variable interest rate — significantly lower than my student loan interest rate. Many private lenders offer student loan refinancing, so make sure to get quotes from multiple lenders before deciding to refinance — you'll want to confirm you'll ultimately save money.

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