To support student journalism and the content you love, become a member of the Daily Orange today.
On Monday, President Joe Biden announcement during a speech at the White House than an online form will allow federal student loan recipients to apply for up to $20,000 in debt relief.
“Today I am announcing that millions of people, working class and middle class, can apply and get this relief. And it’s simple and it’s now. It’s easy,” said Biden in his speech, “This is a game-changer for millions of Americans…and it’s taken incredible effort to build this website in such a short time.”
Borrowers must also have student loans held by the federal government to qualify. The form asks for the applicant’s full name, social security number, date of birth, phone number, and email address. Borrowers can submit applications until December 31, 2023. Recipients will not have to pay federal income tax on canceled loans.
The Department of Education the form is part of the Biden administration student debt relief plan.
The plan, which Biden announced in augustwill forgive eligible borrowers loans up to $20,000 for the federal government PellGrant recipients and up to $10,000 for non-Pell Grant recipients.
The relief applies to loan balances before June 30, 2022. Loans disbursed after July 1, 2022 are not eligible for forgiveness.
Emma Kelly | Design editor
Subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, parent PLUS loans and graduate loans PLUS held by the Department of Education are eligible under the relief plan, according to the Federal Student Aid website. Consolidation loans are also eligible, as the underlying consolidated loans were loans held by ED and originated on or before June 30, 2022. Private loans are not eligible for debt relief.
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Subsidized direct loans are for undergraduate students paying for post-secondary education. Subsidized loans do not generate interest when students are enrolled in school at least as part-time students or during deferment periods.
Unsubsidized Direct Federal Loan
Direct unsubsidized loans are for undergraduate and graduate students paying for post-secondary education. Students are responsible for paying their interest on unsubsidized loans.
Federal loan PLUS for direct relative
The Federal Direct PLUS Loan (FPLUS) is a loan that parents can get to help pay for the tuition of their dependent undergraduate children.
Federal Loan for Direct Graduates PLUS
The Federal Direct Graduate Loan PLUS is a long-term, fixed-rate loan for graduate students to fund tuition not covered by other financial aid.
Federal Direct Consolidation Loan
A federal consolidation loan allows students to combine all previously obtained federal loans into one loan. The consolidation loan pays off the balances of all of a student’s consolidated loans on a new repayment schedule.
A beta version of the application open on Friday evening. President Biden said more than 8 million Americans used the website over the weekend to complete their applications “without issue”.
“As millions of people fill out the application, we’re going to make sure the system continues to work as well as possible so we can deliver student loan relief to millions of Americans as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” Biden said.
Posted on October 19, 2022 at 11:29 p.m.
