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The Student Loan Restart Federal student loan payments are set to resume in October 2023, more than three years after they were paused because of the pandemic. Millions of borrowers have questions, and we have answers.
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The Student Loan Restart

A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making

Kurt Panton, his wife, Lizzy, and their daughter, Pauline. His federal student loans have been canceled by a new Biden administration policy meant to remedy past failures with income-driven repayment plans. Patrick Junker for NPR hide caption

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Patrick Junker for NPR

A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making

More than 900,000 federal student loan borrowers are seeing their loans erased after being in repayment for two decades or more.

A story of student loan forgiveness, 20 years in the making

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Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers

Miguel Cardona, the U.S. Education Secretary, announced new efforts to help borrowers hurt by problems with its repayment programs. Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Arin Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers

The Education Department said today that changes to a pair of previously troubled programs have recently led to $4.8 billion in loan relief for another 80,000 borrowers.

Government efforts to erase student loan debt have now reached 3.6 million borrowers

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Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default
Andrew Haener for NPR

Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default

The U.S. Education Department has a new plan to help the nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers who are in default rehabilitate their loans. But the clock is ticking.

Millions could benefit from a new way out of student loan default

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Education Secretary Miguel Cardona talks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona talks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on June 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Education Department punishes student loan servicer for billing mistakes

The department is withholding payment from loan servicer MOHELA as 2.5 million borrowers didn't receive timely billing statements.

Education Department punishes student loan servicer for billing mistakes

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Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole
Delphine Lee/NPR

Analysis

Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole

Until July 2025, parent PLUS borrowers can paperwork their way into a kinder, gentler repayment plan.

Student loans for parents can be a debt trap. But there's a loophole

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What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers
Janice Chang for NPR/Janice Chang for NPR

What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers

October loan payments will still be due, but an extended shutdown could impact customer service.

What a shutdown would mean for student loan borrowers

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How new borrowers can prepare for their first student loan payment

A Spelman College graduate waves during the school's 2023 commencement ceremony on May 21. Recent college graduates are due to make their first student loan payments in the coming weeks. Paras Griffin/Getty Images hide caption

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Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Analysis

How new borrowers can prepare for their first student loan payment

When student loan bills begin coming due in October, new borrowers will take their first steps on the long road to paying off their debt. These tools and tips can help ease the journey.

Federal student loan borrowers prepare to resume repaying their loans

For more than three years, no one had to pay their federal student loans. Payments are due again in October, but some borrowers are seeing their debts eliminated.

Federal student loan borrowers prepare to resume repaying their loans

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Student loan borrowers are spending a lot of time on hold, says federal watchdog
Hanna Barczyk for NPR

Student loan borrowers are spending a lot of time on hold, says federal watchdog

The head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says many borrowers are struggling to get through to the companies that get paid to answer their questions.

Student loan borrowers are spending a lot of time on hold, says federal watchdog

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A big group of student loan borrowers are learning their debt has been forgiven

Federal student loan borrowers are expected to resume payments this fall. But more than 800,000 borrowers are finding out that their loans have suddenly been forgiven.

A big group of student loan borrowers are learning their debt has been forgiven

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Student loan borrowers who've been repaying for about 20 years got some good news

Federal student loan borrowers are expected to resume payments this fall. But more than 800,000 borrowers are finding out that their loans have suddenly been forgiven.

Student loan borrowers who've been repaying for about 20 years got some good news

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Borrowers can now apply for new, income-based student loan repayment

More than 20 million borrowers are eligible under the new repayment plan, and many will see lower payments.

Borrowers can now apply for new, income-based student loan repayment

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The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We The 45 Milli

Planet Money

The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans

This summer, the Supreme Court struck down Biden's plan to forgive student loan debt for millions of borrowers. Except, on the same day Biden first announced that plan, he also unveiled another, the SAVE plan. And though SAVE sounded less significant than Biden's big forgiveness pledge, it's still alive and could erase even more student debt.

The new Biden plan that could still erase your student loans

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More than 800,000 borrowers are eligible to benefit from student loan forgiveness

The Biden administration has announced it will forgive debts held by 800,000 federal student loan recipients for low-income borrowers.

More than 800,000 borrowers are eligible to benefit from student loan forgiveness

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More than 800,000 borrowers will receive federal student loan forgiveness

The debt erasure applies to long-time borrowers who should have qualified for loan forgiveness under the rules of the government's income-driven repayment plans, but haven't received it.

More than 800,000 borrowers will receive federal student loan forgiveness

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Student loan forgiveness is on the way for more than 800,000 borrowers
LA Johnson/NPR

Student loan forgiveness is on the way for more than 800,000 borrowers

The loan forgiveness comes after past mishandling of income-driven repayment plans, which were designed for low-income borrowers. The move will erase $39 billion in federal student loan debt.

Student loan forgiveness is on the way for more than 800,000 borrowers

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You could still be eligible for student loan forgiveness under this plan

Graduates attend Tennessee State University's commencement ceremony in Nashville on May 7, 2022. Under a new repayment plan, millions of student loan borrowers will see their monthly repayment amounts cut in half or more. Jason Davis/Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Davis/Getty Images

You could still be eligible for student loan forgiveness under this plan

The Supreme Court may have struck down a sweeping plan for student loan debt forgiveness, but under President Biden's new income-driven repayment plan, SAVE, borrowers stand to pay thousands less.

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