What is going on with federal student loans?

Asked by: Dr. Julio Swift  |  Last update: October 22, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (60 votes)

The Supreme Court ruled we could not implement pandemic-related student loan debt relief, so we can't use your application from 2022. The new proposed regulations are different, and we're currently working to finalize their terms, including who may receive loan forgiveness.

Did the student loan forgiveness go through?

First, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) approved 6,100 borrowers for $465 million through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Second, the Department approved nearly 85,000 borrowers for $1.26 billion in relief based upon borrower defense findings.

Are student loans paused again in 2024?

Generally, if you miss payments, your loan is considered delinquent and is reported as such to the national credit reporting agencies. You don't get reported when you're in forbearance. During the on-ramp period (through Sept. 30, 2024), we automatically put your loan in a forbearance for the payments you missed.

What is the current situation with student loans?

Recent News

President Biden's student loan debt relief plan was struck down by the Supreme Court. Federal student loan payments will resume October 2023—with interest starting back September 1, 2023.

Why are my student loans suddenly gone?

If your student loan dropped to zero, it could be because your loan was transferred to a new servicer, or you qualified for student loan forgiveness.

Will Student Loan Programs Change in 2025? What Borrowers Should Know

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Why aren t my student loans going down?

The way loan payment schedules are set up is likely why your regular payments don't seem to be making much of a dent to your balance or loan principal. Initially, more of your payment goes toward paying interest and less toward the principal.

How many years before student loans are Cancelled?

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.

Is there really a student loan crisis?

The student loan debt crisis affects over 43 million Americans; rising debt and global hardship have prompted legislative action. Americans owe a total of $1.75 trillion in federal and private student loan debt combined. Federal student loan debt alone totals $1.62 trillion.

How will I know if my student loan will be forgiven?

Your student loan servicer(s) will notify you directly after your forgiveness is processed. Make sure to keep your contact information up to date on StudentAid.gov and with your servicer(s). If you haven't yet qualified for forgiveness, you'll be able to see your exact payment counts in the future.

How many people are not paying student loans?

The Qualtrics/Intuit Credit Karma report found 20 percent of borrowers hadn't made any payments on their loans. The percentage was even higher, at 27 percent, for borrowers who made less than $50,000 a year.

Are student loans being garnished in 2024?

Will Treasury offset, such as withholding of tax refunds and Social Security benefits, resume after the student loan payment pause ends? No. If you're eligible for the Fresh Start for defaulted loans, any collections on those defaulted loans, including through Treasury offset, will stay paused through Sept. 30, 2024.

What are the issues with MOHELA in 2024?

In July 2024, AFT sued MOHELA for a wide range of unlawful practices, including illegally executing a “call deflection” scheme to deny service to borrowers who need help.

Who qualifies for the new student loan forgiveness?

You may be eligible for income-driven repayment (IDR) loan forgiveness if you've have been in repayment for 20 or 25 years. An IDR plan bases your monthly payment on your income and family size.

Is it too late for student loan forgiveness?

You can still apply for Student Loan Forgiveness in 2024. Despite the Supreme Court striking down Biden's initial plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loans, the president has introduced other programs that have provided $167.3 billion in student loan forgiveness to over 4 million borrowers.

What is the deadline for student loan forgiveness?

Many student loan borrowers have an opportunity to receive full student loan cancellation or more credit towards cancellation. The U.S. Department of Education will conduct a one-time adjustment this summer , but you may need to take steps to qualify. The deadline to act is June 30, 2024. Here's what you need to know.

What is happening with student loan forgiveness?

The Supreme Court ruled we could not implement pandemic-related student loan debt relief, so we can't use your application from 2022. The new proposed regulations are different, and we're currently working to finalize their terms, including who may receive loan forgiveness.

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.

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 many people regret taking out student loans?

According to a recent Forbes Advisor and Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults, one in three respondents said they regret using student loans to finance their education and would not choose that route again if given the opportunity.

Should I be worried about student loan debt?

If you have too much student loan debt, you won't be able to save as much for retirement. Student loan debt can lower your credit score, especially if you fail to make on-time payments. Student debts may be forgiven under certain circumstances, but almost never if they are in default.

How to get 100% student loan forgiveness?

If you work full time for a government or nonprofit organization, you may qualify for forgiveness of the entire remaining balance of your Direct Loans after you've made 120 qualifying payments—i.e., at least 10 years of payments. To benefit from PSLF, you need to repay your federal student loans under an IDR plan.

Do student loans affect credit scores?

How student loans affect your credit score. Student loans are a type of installment loan, similar to a car loan, personal loan, or mortgage. They are part of your credit report, and can impact your payment history, length of your credit history and credit mix. Paying on time could help your score.

What happens if you don't pay student loans?

If you are delinquent on your student loan payment for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the national credit bureaus, which can negatively impact your credit rating. If you continue to be delinquent, you risk your loan going into default.