Federal Student Loans Archives

Comments in Response to the U.S. Department of Education's Proposed Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application Form

September 8, 2023

On behalf of our low-income clients, the National Consumer Law Center submits these comments in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s request for feedback on the proposed application form for the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Program. Our comments reflect our experience working directly with low-income borrowers applying for TPD discharge and other federal…

NerdWallet: From ‘I Do’ to IDR: What the New SAVE Plan Means for Married Student Loan Borrowers

August 24, 2023

The latest income-driven repayment (IDR) plan has been touted as the most generous student loan plan ever — and, in an article appearing in NerdWallet on Aug. 24, 2023, Eliza Haverstock talks to Kyra Taylor about how it could give greater flexibility to married couples with student debt.

My School Has Closed--What Do I Do Now?

July 31, 2023

This one-pager helps students who are attending a school that closed or is about to close figure out what to do next with their federal and private loans.

NCLC Comments to Education Department Regarding Intent to Establish Rulemaking Committee on Student Debt Relief

July 20, 2023

The National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement of its intent to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare regulations on federal student loan debt relief, as authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). In these comments, NCLC recommends…

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

July 14, 2023

Originally airing on NPR on July 14, 2023, hosts Adrian Florido and Cory Turner include a soundbite of Abby Shafroth explaining how out of 4 million eligible borrowers, only 32 have has their loans forgiven through the Income-Driven Repayment program.

Digital Library: Student Loan Borrower Rights After the Supreme Court Ruling

July 10, 2023

With the payment pause ending this fall, 45 million student loan borrowers across the country will be scrambling to figure out how to manage their federal student loans when payments come due.

Leslie Marshall Show: Abby Shafroth Discusses What's at Stake in Upcoming SCOTUS Decision on Student Debt Cancellation

June 28, 2023

The Student Debt Crisis Center took over the airwaves of the Leslie Marshall Show on June 28, 2023 to provide analysis of the upcoming Supreme Court case that holds the fate of President Biden’s debt cancellation plan. This takeover episode includes special guests Abby Shafroth, Co-Director of Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center and…

Los Angeles Times: What should borrowers do now that Biden's college debt forgiveness plan is dead?

June 30, 2023

Originally appearing in the Los Angeles Times on June 30, 2023, Jon Healey discusses options for borrowers that can’t afford monthly payments with NCLC’s Abby Shafroth. The very last thing you want to do, Shafroth says, is default. So if you’re still in a bind after changing your repayment plan, she said, you have two…

Marketplace: As student loan repayments are set to restart, the Education Department looks to ease the transition

July 3, 2023

Originally airing on Marketplace on July 2, 2023, Samantha Fields discusses the administrations plan to transition borrowers back into student loan repayment with Abby Shafroth. “Interest will be charged to borrowers accounts and … bills will be sent out. But if borrowers miss their payments, or there’s confusion, they pay the wrong amount … their credit…

Protecting Student Borrowers after U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Student Debt Relief

June 30, 2023

"We are deeply disappointed by this decision: It is wrong on the law and threatens the financial security of millions of low-income Americans who are struggling with unaffordable student loan debt."

Advocates React to ‘Deeply Disappointing’ SCOTUS Decision on Student Debt Relief, “Every Option Must Be on the Table”

June 30, 2023

6-3 Opinion Blocks President Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Plan [NOTE: Advocates to hold virtual press briefing on ruling at 12 pm ET. Register here.] WASHINGTON – Today, in a 6-3 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Biden’s student debt relief program, which would have offered up to $20,000 in relief to working and…

New Resources for Student Loan Borrowers

June 22, 2023

Revised StudentLoanBorrowerAssistance.org Provides Resources for Consumers, Reporters BOSTON – In anticipation of an announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the fate of President Biden’s student debt cancellation plan, the National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance project has launched a newly updated, consumer-facing website with resources and advice for borrowers and for media…

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