Can you inherit parent PLUS loans?

Asked by: Mr. Horacio Terry  |  Last update: July 11, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (51 votes)

If a borrower dies, their federal student loans are discharged after the required proof of death is submitted. The borrower's family is not responsible for repaying the loans. A parent PLUS loan is discharged if the parent dies or if the student on whose behalf a parent obtained the loan dies.

Do parent PLUS loans get inherited?

No, Parent PLUS loans are solely in the name of the parent who borrowed them.

Can a parent PLUS loan be transferred to another person?

No, a Direct PLUS Loan made to a parent cannot be transferred to the child. You, the parent borrower, are legally responsible for repaying the loan.''

What happens to parent PLUS loans when the parent retires?

The Education Department doesn't forgive loan balances for parents when they retire. It will keep sending bills and adding interest until you pay off the debt, die or become totally and permanently disabled, or qualify for one of the department's student loan forgiveness programs.

Can grandparents take parent PLUS loans?

Note: Grandparents (unless they have legally adopted the dependent student) and legal guardians are not eligible to receive parent PLUS loans, even if they have had primary responsibility for raising the student.

Can You Inherit Your Parent's Debt?

23 related questions found

What is the loophole for parent plus borrowers?

How to Use the Double Consolidation Loophole: The key to using the double consolidation loophole is to consolidate each of your Parent PLUS Loans twice. In this scenario, a borrower can have as few as two Parent PLUS Loans.

Can I put my parent PLUS loan in my child's name?

No, a Direct PLUS Loan made to a parent cannot be transferred to the child. Was this page helpful? How can I lower my student loan payments? Under what circumstances can my federal student loan(s) be forgiven?

Do parent PLUS loans get forgiven after 20 years?

The Bottom Line. Yes, borrowers with Parent PLUS Loans can have their debts forgiven after 10 years (or 120 eligible monthly payments) with the PSLF program.

Are student loans forgiven at age 70?

Are student loans forgiven when you retire? No, the federal government doesn't forgive student loans at age 50, 65, or when borrowers retire and start drawing Social Security benefits. So, for example, you'll still owe Parent PLUS Loans, FFEL Loans, and Direct Loans after you retire.

How can I get rid of my parent PLUS loan?

Here are four methods you can try for working toward parent PLUS loan forgiveness, depending on your personal situation.
  1. Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)
  2. Public service loan forgiveness (PSLF)
  3. Career-based loan repayment assistance programs.
  4. Refinance parent PLUS loans in your child's name.

Can two parents take out parent PLUS loans?

Can more than one parent borrow a PLUS Loan? If a student's parents are divorced, both the custodial and non-custodial parent may borrow a PLUS Loan for their dependent, undergraduate student.

How do I get parent PLUS loans out of my name?

In order to transfer a Parent PLUS loan to a child or student, the student can apply for student loan refinancing through a private lender. With a student loan refinance, the child takes out a refinanced student loan and uses it to pay off the Parent PLUS loan.

Can you increase parent PLUS loan?

Requesting an increase or decrease

Login at studentaid.gov with your FSA ID. You will then request a change in a PLUS loan amount by indicating a new total loan amount.

Can I transfer my parent PLUS loan to my daughter?

Parent PLUS loans are made directly to parents for their child's education. Under the current rules, parents cannot transfer these federal loans to a child, and they are solely responsible for paying back the loan.

What debts are not forgiven upon death?

Medical debt and hospital bills don't simply go away after death. In most states, they take priority in the probate process, meaning they usually are paid first, by selling off assets if need be.

Are student loans forgiven after 20 years?

Any borrower with ED-held loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if the loans are not currently on an IDR plan. Borrowers with FFELP loans held by commercial lenders or Perkins loans not held by ED can benefit if they consolidate into Direct Loans.

What happens to parent plus loans when you retire?

There is no forgiveness available to Parent PLUS Loan borrowers looking to retire. Remember that Parent PLUS Loan forgiveness is only possible through the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan or PSLF after first consolidating your Parent PLUS Loan into a federal Direct Consolidation Loan.

At what age do student loans get written off?

After at least 20 years of student loan payments under an income-driven repayment plan — IDR forgiveness and 20-year student loan forgiveness. After 25 years if you borrowed loans for graduate school — 25-year federal loan forgiveness.

Can social security be garnished for student loan debt?

Only federal student loans can result in garnishment, or offset, of Social Security benefits. However, most federal student loans do not require a co-signer.

What happens to a parent PLUS loan if the borrower dies?

If a borrower dies, their federal student loans are discharged after the required proof of death is submitted. The borrower's family is not responsible for repaying the loans. A parent PLUS loan is discharged if the parent dies or if the student on whose behalf a parent obtained the loan dies.

Do parent PLUS Loans ever go away?

Your parent PLUS loan may be discharged if you (not the child) become totally and permanently disabled, die, or (in some cases) file for bankruptcy. Your parent PLUS loan also may be discharged if the student for whom you borrowed dies.

Can parent PLUS Loans be forgiven for teachers?

PLUS loans for parents and graduate or professional students aren't eligible for this type of forgiveness. Federal Perkins Loans aren't eligible for this type of forgiveness. However, the Perkins Loan program has a cancellation option for teachers and discharge programs for other specified workers and volunteers.

What disqualifies parent PLUS loans?

If you're a parent or graduate student seeking a Direct PLUS Loan, one of the requirements to qualify is that you must not have an adverse credit history. If your application is denied because of an adverse credit history, don't give up. You still have options.

How to lower parent PLUS loan payments?

Refinancing. If you have good credit and enough household income to qualify, you may also be able to refinance your Parent PLUS loan to a lower interest rate through a private lender, which can potentially save you money.

Who is legally responsible for parent PLUS loans?

PLUS loans are federal loans that parents can take out to cover their child's college costs. The parent, not the student, is responsible for repaying the PLUS loan. PLUS loans don't qualify for all of the income-driven repayment (IDR) plans that student loans do.