The CARES Act and Student Loan Relief

What are the latest relief measures?

Payments on direct federal loans have been postponed through September 30, 2021. Monthly payments do not have to be made, and any interest will be waived. Previously, the CARES Act was the US government’s economic plan that paid stimulus checks and provided some relief for federal student loans. It was passed in March 2020, and extended benefits until January 31, 2021.

Check out the information below to see if your loan is a “direct” loan that qualifies.

Are student loan payments postponed?

The January 2021 measures from the new presidential administration enable you to pause payments on loans owned by the federal government, up until September 30, 2021. The payment suspension is automatic – you don’t need to take any action to get it. However, if you have student loan payments made automatically, you may need to manually pause your payments.

How do I know if my loan qualifies for loan relief benefits?

The following loans owned by the US Department of Education (ED) may qualify:

• Direct Loans
• FFEL Program loans*
• Federal Perkins Loans*
• Defaulted HEAL loans* (defaulted only)

* Please note that some FFEL Program and HEAL loans are owned by commercial lenders, and some Perkins Loans are owned by the institution you attended. These loans are not eligible for this benefit at this time, but you can contact your servicer to ask about what benefits may be available.

To find out if your loans are owned by ED, visit studentaid.gov/login. After you log in, you will be at your dashboard. Then select view details to be taken to your Aid Summary. If you scroll down on this page, you will see a section called Loan Breakdown. In your Loan Breakdown, if you see a servicer name that starts with “DEPT OF ED,” that loan is owned by ED.

What are the benefits of student loan relief?

Will I accrue interest if I don’t pay my student loans?

Interest is being temporarily set at 0% on federal student loans, up until January 31, 2021. You will not accrue interest if your student loans meet the above criteria.

Will wage garnishment stop during this period?

Yes. All wage garnishment will cease until September 30, 2021. Your HR department will receive a letter from the ED to stop removing funds from your paycheck. If your wages continued to be garnished during this period, contact the ED for a refund.

Should I refinance my student loans?

Since benchmark interest rates have dropped significantly, you may wish to look at refinancing or debt consolidation. However, if you opt for an adjustable-rate loan, keep in mind that the new interest rate on the new loan may be higher than your current rate once this economic period is over.

Also, it’s important to note that refinancing federal student loans with a private lender can mean losing out on federal benefits such as loan forgiveness or forbearance. People who previously refinanced federal loans with private lenders aren’t benefiting from the current pause in interest.

If I haven’t been financially affected by COVID-19, should I continue to pay my student loans?

If I haven’t been financially affected by COVID-19, should I continue to pay my student loans?

If you are still employed and have fully funded your emergency savings fund, paying your student loans during this time is an advantageous way to get ahead. That’s because there’s no interest being charged right now, so once any accrued interest is paid, your monthly payments will be 100% applied to your principal balance. Therefore, the amount you owe will decrease at a faster rate.

I have more questions, where is the best place to get answers?

The most comprehensive, accurate source of information is this guide from the US Department of Education.

If you’re unsure about how to proceed, we’re here to talk. Set up a confidential, one-on-one call with one of our Certified Financial Specialists. They can help you figure out the best path forward with your student loan debt.