Many student loan borrowers are feeling frustrated and confused after recent changes to repayment policies. A court ruling in February blocked some of President Biden’s student loan programs, leading the Education Department to remove online and paper applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. This sudden change has left many borrowers uncertain about their repayment options.
Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center, pointed out that this is especially difficult for those struggling financially, including federal workers. “Just a few months ago, they could have signed up for a zero-dollar repayment plan based on their income,” Abrams said. Now, borrowers already in these plans are facing difficulties in recertifying, a process required to keep their lower payments.
Making things worse, the federal student loan website, StudentAid.gov, recently experienced an outage, adding to borrowers’ frustrations. Despite these issues, the Education Department says it is still committed to helping borrowers.
Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director at the Student Borrower Protection Center, advises borrowers to check their recertification deadlines and look for other options if the necessary forms are not available. “Know when your recertification is due and find out what other steps you can take,” she suggested. If borrowers cannot recertify, they may lose their lower payment benefits.
For those who are already on an IDR plan, recertification is still possible if they can access the forms. Abrams also recommends borrowers take screenshots of their accounts on StudentAid.gov in case of future problems.
Borrowers who need help can seek assistance from state-level resources or contact their representatives in Congress. “You have the right to affordable repayment options,” Bañez emphasized.
Jessica Fugate, a government worker in Los Angeles, was close to qualifying for student loan forgiveness under Biden’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. However, the court ruling has put her plans on hold. “Switching to an IDR plan was the most affordable way for me to repay my loans while working in public service,” she explained. She applied in January but has yet to receive a clear update. When she called for information, she had to wait on hold for four hours.
Debbie Breen, a nonprofit worker in Washington, faced a similar issue. After more than 10 years in public service, she was just months away from having her loans forgiven. But the new changes stopped her progress. “I was so close to ending this struggle,” Breen said. “Now, I’m panicking. If IDR plans go away, I don’t know how I’ll afford my payments.”
Breen is also worried about her children, who have student loans as well. “They’re facing the same uncertainty,” she said. “It’s terrifying.”
As borrowers struggle with these sudden changes, advocacy groups continue to push for clearer guidance and support. They urge the government to keep its promises to public servants and all student loan borrowers.
