The Biden administration recently announced a new student loan forgiveness initiative that will cancel remaining balances for certain federal student loan borrowers starting in February 2024. This new plan aims to provide relief for those struggling with student debt under the Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment program.
Who Qualifies for Loan Forgiveness Under the New Initiative?
Borrowers who originally took out less than $12,000 in federal student loans and have been repaying for 10 years will see their remaining balance erased under the new SAVE forgiveness criteria.
To qualify, you must be enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan, which bases monthly payments on a percentage of discretionary income. The initiative specifically targets debt relief for:
- Low-income borrowers
- Community college students
- Those facing hardship repaying loans
The Education Department estimates around 7 million borrowers are currently using the SAVE plan, with nearly 4 million paying $0 per month based on income.
How Does the New Forgiveness Work?
Here’s a quick rundown of how the new student loan forgiveness will work under SAVE:
- If your original federal loan balance totaled less than $12,000 and you’ve been repaying for 10 years, your remaining debt will be canceled when the initiative takes effect in February 2024.
- For every additional $1,000 in original principal above $12,000, you must make 1 extra year of payments to qualify for forgiveness.
- Forgiveness is based on your initial student loan amount, not your current balance.
- Debt relief will be automatically applied once you hit the required repayment timeline. No action is needed on your part.
- The program will especially benefit community college students and others with relatively low student debt burdens.
Why Did the Administration Launch This New Forgiveness?
This targeted loan forgiveness aims to provide relief after the Supreme Court rejected President Biden’s one-time $10,000 student debt cancellation plan in 2022. It comes as part of ongoing efforts to ease the burden of education debt through executive action.
The Biden administration accelerated this relief under SAVE to get borrowers out from under loans faster. It also incentivizes enrollment in income-driven plans intended to be more affordable.
When Will Forgiveness Under the New Plan Begin?
The Education Department states that borrowers will start seeing student loan balances canceled under the new criteria beginning in February 2024.
Notifications with details on debt relief eligibility will be sent to qualifying borrowers when forgiveness starts. The administration is also conducting an outreach campaign to inform borrowers about switching to the SAVE plan for faster relief.
What is the SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan?
SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) is an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that launched in 2023. It replaced the former Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) program.
Key features of SAVE include:
- Monthly payments capped at 5% of discretionary income.
- Balances forgiven after 20 years (undergrad loans) or 25 years (grad loans).
- 3.9 million borrowers currently have $0 monthly payments.
- Additional payment reductions start in July 2024.
SAVE provides more affordable payments tied to income compared to standard repayment plans. Enrolling opens up eligibility for targeted forgiveness programs like the new initiative for those with smaller balances.
How Do I Apply for Loan Forgiveness Under This Plan?
Borrowers don’t need to apply for the new round of debt relief. The Education Department will automatically cancel remaining balances for those meeting the forgiveness criteria under SAVE.
To qualify, you must:
- Have originally borrowed less than $12,000 in federal student loans
- Have been repaying loans for at least 10 years
- Be enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan
The most important step is to switch your federal loans to the SAVE program to benefit. You can apply to change plans on the Federal Student Aid website.
Already in SAVE? Your balance will be automatically forgiven once you hit the required timeline.
When Can I Expect Student Loan Forgiveness Under SAVE?
Forgiveness timelines under the new SAVE initiative depend on your total original federal loan debt:
- Less than $12,000:Â 10 years
- $13,000:Â 11 years
- $14,000:Â 12 years
- $15,000:Â 13 years
- And so on, with every additional $1,000 adding 1 year
Remember, this applies to your initial student loan amount borrowed, not your current balance. Payments must be made under the SAVE plan.
Who Benefits Most From This Targeted Forgiveness?
This new relief will help certain groups weighing down by student debt:
- Low-income borrowers:Â SAVE payments are $0 for those earning under about $15/hour. More broadly, payments are based on income, assisting those earning less.
- Community college students:Â Those who borrowed smaller amounts for 2-year degrees can see full forgiveness faster.
- Struggling borrowers:Â Hardship programs like unemployment deferment can count towards the 10-year timeline.
Targeting relief for these groups will hopefully provide a financial lift for those with fewer resources to repay loans.
What Other Student Loan Forgiveness Options Exist?
In addition to this new initiative, here are some other student loan forgiveness programs borrowers can look into:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF):Â Forgives federal loan balances after 10 years of payments while working for an eligible employer.
- Borrower Defense to Repayment:Â Cancels federal loans if your school misled you or violated certain laws.
- Closed School Discharge:Â Discharges federal loans if your school closes while enrolled or soon after leaving.
- Total and Permanent Disability Discharge:Â Cancels eligible federal loans for borrowers with a complete disability.
Be sure to review the eligibility criteria carefully for any federal forgiveness program you apply for.
Will This New Initiative Face Any Legal Challenges?
Given legal challenges to the Biden administration’s broad student loan cancellation plan, targeted relief under SAVE may also prompt lawsuits. Opponents argue the executive branch lacks authority for wide-scale debt forgiveness without Congress.
However, the White House asserts the Higher Education Act grants the Education Department power to waive rules and create relief programs. Narrowly tailored initiatives like debt relief for defrauded students have also withstood past lawsuits.
While facing uncertainty, this new forgiveness aims to provide help for those most burdened by student loans under current laws.
New Relief Can Cancel Loans for Certain SAVE Borrowers
The Biden administration’s latest student debt forgiveness action seeks to provide bespoke relief by wiping balances for borrowers who borrowed small amounts. This initiative will cancel remaining debt after 10 years of payments under the SAVE program.
Low-income workers, community college attendees, and those hit hardest by loans stand to benefit the most. By pursuing targeted forgiveness, the administration hopes to ease debt burdens and expand access to affordable college financing.
Look for notifications of eligibility starting in February 2024. To qualify, review enrolling in the SAVE repayment plan that offers payments based on income.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who qualifies for the new student loan forgiveness?
Borrowers who originally took out less than $12,000 in federal student loans and have repaid for 10 years under the SAVE plan qualify to have their remaining balance canceled.
How do I get my student loans forgiven under this initiative?
You don’t need to apply. The Education Department will automatically cancel balances for eligible borrowers under SAVE criteria starting in February 2024.
What types of loans are eligible?
The forgiveness applies to federally held student loans, including Direct Loans, FFEL Loans, and Perkins Loans. Private student loans do not qualify.
Do I need to be currently repaying my loans?
Yes, you must be in active repayment under the SAVE plan and meet the time requirements to receive debt relief. Deferment and forbearance periods do count towards the years of payment.
How do I switch to the SAVE repayment program?
You can enroll in SAVE by submitting an application on the Federal Student Aid website or contacting your loan servicer for help changing plans.
What if I don’t qualify for $0 monthly payments under SAVE?
You can still qualify for the new forgiveness if you originally borrowed under $12,000 and make payments for 10 years. Monthly amounts are based on income but may be more than $0.
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