Ensure that your student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with your child. Meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid. Not be in default on any other federal student loans.
The Parent PLUS loan application is based on the borrower's credit history; no loan officer will look at your income or other debt or otherwise evaluate whether you can afford to make the payments. It is your responsibility to make sure you aren't borrowing more than you can afford to pay back.
Credit requirements for a Parent PLUS Loan
For five years before your credit is pulled: You can't have a loan default, a discharge of debts in bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or a write-off of a federal student aid debt.
A credit check will be performed during the application process. If you have an adverse credit history, you may still receive a parent PLUS loan through one of these two options: Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history.
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 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.
PLUS loans don't require good credit, making them an ideal option for low-credit borrowers. However, you can't have an adverse credit history, such as bankruptcies or loan defaults within the past five years.
What Are Some Reasons to Avoid PLUS Loans? First, PLUS loans have no automatic grace period. Then there's the fact they aren't eligible for most IDR plans. Then, borrowing too much is easy to do, and finally, they're nearly impossible to get out of, even in bankruptcy.
Unlike all other federal student loans, there are no explicit borrowing limits for parent PLUS loans. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of attendance, which is determined by the institution, not the government, and includes books, travel and living expenses. There are no ability-to-repay standards for PLUS loans.
Family Loans Can Be Taxable Gifts
If the IRS considers this transaction a qualifying loan, then it will typically have few (if any) tax implications. It doesn't count as income for the borrower, because they will pay this money back, nor does the loan count as a gift for the lender for the same reasons.
How long does processing take? Due to the value of PLUS applications at peak times (particularly summer and the start of the Fall term), PLUS loans can take 4 weeks for processing and for the loan to be posted on the student's financial aid summary.
For the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan, the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Repayment Plan, and loan rehabilitation, discretionary income is the difference between your annual income and 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size and state of residence.
Note: A Direct PLUS Loan is commonly referred to as a parent PLUS loan when made to a parent, and as a grad PLUS loan when made to a graduate or professional student. Begin your Direct PLUS Loans application online.
Because there is no Grad PLUS Loan credit score requirement, it can be tempting just to get this loan, especially if you already have other federal student loans. However, the interest rate might be higher, and you will pay origination fees.
Parent PLUS loans can potentially be forgiven after 10 years under specific conditions, such as through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program after consolidation into a direct consolidation loan. Parent borrowers must enroll in the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan to qualify for PSLF.
Does my debt-to-income ratio, credit score, or employment status count against me when I apply for a PLUS loan? These factors aren't taken into account when credit history is reviewed. A lack of credit is not considered adverse credit. write-off of federal student aid debt.
Based on the information from Federal Student Aid, as of 2022, the average Parent PLUS Loan debt is $29,528. Although that might not sound like a huge amount, it depends on the parent's income.
Parent PLUS Loan Repayment Terms
Only the parent borrower is required to pay back a Parent PLUS Loan, as only the parent signed the master promissory note for the Parent PLUS Loan. The student is not responsible for repaying a Parent PLUS Loan. They're under no legal obligation to do so.
To be eligible for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Parents, the student and parent must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and must not be in default on any federal education loans or owe an overpayment on a federal education grant, the student must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree program on at ...
Direct PLUS loans are federal loans that graduate or professional degree students or parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for education expenses.
Your parent's PLUS loan will be discharged if your parent dies or if you (the student on whose behalf your parent obtained the loan) die.
To be eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan for parents, you must be a biological or adoptive parent (or in some cases a stepparent), not have an adverse credit history, and meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid (which the child must meet as well).
The $100,000 Loophole.
With a larger below-market loan, the $100,000 loophole can save you from unwanted tax results. To qualify for this loophole, all outstanding loans between you and the borrower must aggregate to $100,000 or less.
Parent PLUS Loans aren't eligible for income-driven plans, including the income-contingent repayment plan. But don't worry. There's still a way to make loan repayment more manageable. By consolidating parent loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, you'll be able to repay the new loan under the ICR plan.