What is the difference between loan forgiveness and discharge?

Asked by: Lyric Larson PhD  |  Last update: February 24, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (9 votes)

That means you won't have to pay back some or all of your loan(s). The terms “forgiveness,” “cancellation,” and “discharge” mean essentially the same thing. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is the most common way people apply to have their student loans forgiven.

What does it mean if a loan is discharged?

When you have your federal student loans discharged, it means: you no longer have further obligation to repay the loan, you will receive a reimbursement of payments made voluntarily or through forced collection, and.

Do you get a refund if your student loans are discharged?

Yes the money is refunded as long as it was paid on the loan that gets discharged.

Who qualifies for loan discharge?

Your loan can be discharged only under specific circumstances, such as a school's closure, false certification of your eligibility to receive a loan, or failure to pay a required loan refund; certain types of misconduct committed by the school; or because of total and permanent disability, bankruptcy, identity theft, ...

Will my credit score go up if my student loans are discharged?

Your discharged loan will be reported to the credit bureaus and that will be the end of it. Your score should recalculate to reflect the closed account.

This is What You NEED to Know About Student Loan Forgiveness

23 related questions found

Why does my student loan say paid by discharge and/or write off?

If you're no longer required to make payments on your loan(s) due to other circumstances, such as a total and permanent disability or the closure of the school where you received your loans, this is generally called discharge.

Does loan forgiveness hurt your credit?

If you're able to secure loan forgiveness, you might see your credit scores drop slightly. That's because student loans, like any other loan, contribute to your credit mix, or the different types of debt that you hold.

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.

What loans Cannot be discharged?

Certain types of debt, such as child support, alimony, and most student loans, cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Wrongful conduct may make some debts non-dischargeable.

How long does a loan discharge take?

Once you've informed your lender and sent back a completed Discharge Authority Form, it typically takes a lender 10-15 business days to complete. However, this does vary according to the lender. A partial discharge could take longer, as the lender may wish to carry out property valuations.

What is the difference between student loan forgiveness cancellation and discharge?

That means you won't have to pay back some or all of your loan(s). The terms “forgiveness,” “cancellation,” and “discharge” mean essentially the same thing. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is the most common way people apply to have their student loans forgiven.

Why did I get a student loan refund check in 2024?

Why did my college send me a check? A refund check is money that is directly deposited to you by your college. It is the excess money left over from your financial aid award after your tuition and additional fees have been paid. Your college may send you a check or the money may be deposited into your checking account.

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 do I know if my student loans were discharged?

You will receive notification of your loan discharge via email, mail and/or your online loan servicing account (depending how your communication preferences are set). It will also be reflected when you log in to the Federal Student Aid site using your FSA ID.

What is a loan discharge fee?

A discharge fee is charged by lenders, like an exit fee. This fee covers any legal and admin fees incurred by the lender when closing off your loan. This is amongst other fees payable to the Government.

Why were my student loans removed from my credit report?

What happened? Student loans disappear from credit reports 7.5 years from the date they are paid in full, charged-off, or entered default. However, education debt can reappear if you dig out of default with consolidation or loan rehabilitation. Student loans can have an outsized impact on your credit score.

Can my loan ever be forgiven or discharged?

Borrowers who have reached 20 or 25 years (240 or 300 months) worth of eligible payments for IDR forgiveness will see their loans forgiven as they reach these milestones. ED will continue to discharge loans as borrowers reach the required number of months for forgiveness.

What would disqualify me from Chapter 13?

Incomplete or Inaccurate Documentation: Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy requires comprehensive documentation, including income records, tax returns, and a complete list of debts and assets. Failure to provide accurate or complete information may result in disqualification or case dismissal.

Who gets paid first in chapter 11?

Secured creditors like banks are going to get paid first. This is because their credit is secured by assets—typically ones that your business controls. Your plan and the courts may consider how integral the assets are that secure your loans to determine which secured creditors get paid first though.

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.

Has anyone actually gotten student loan forgiveness?

As of mid-July 2023, approximately 662,000 borrowers have qualified for forgiveness under the limited PSLF waiver.

What is the downside to student loan forgiveness?

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Forgiveness would boost the economy, benefiting everyone. Read More. Con 1: Student loan forgiveness is an abuse of the loan system. People must be held responsible for their personal economic choices.

Will I get a refund if my student loans are forgiven?

If you qualify for student loan forgiveness or discharge in full, and have applied if necessary, you will get a notification that you no longer need to make payments. In some cases, you may even get a refund, depending on the program you applied under.

What are the dangers of debt forgiveness?

It could cause long-term damage to your credit

Debt forgiveness programs almost always come with a significant impact on your credit score. When you stop making payments to your creditors while the settlement process is ongoing, your accounts will become delinquent, which will be reported to credit bureaus.