On August 24, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Department of Education announced a three-part plan to help eligible federal student loan borrowers transition back to regular payments as the pandemic-related relief program comes to an end. This plan includes loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for eligible borrowers. The plan is outlined below:

• The student loan repayment pause has been extended through December 31, 2022. This means that no Federal Direct Student Loan held by the Department of Education will accrue interest or require monthly payments through the end of the calendar year.
• Up to $10,000 of federal student loan debt will be forgiven for single borrowers making less than $125,000 or households earning less than $250,000. The Department of Education has clarified that parental income will be included for students who were considered dependent on the 2021-22 FAFSA.
• Borrowers with qualifying incomes who received Pell Grants in college will receive up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness.
• The loan amounts canceled through this program will not be subject to federal taxes.
• Undergraduate, graduate, or Parent PLUS loans qualify for the loan cancellation if the first disbursement was before July 1, 2022.
• Some borrowers will automatically qualify for the loan cancellation, because their relevant income data is already available to the Department of Education (via the FAFSA or income-driven repayment application information). Others will need to submit an application, which will be made available before the loan repayment pause ends on December 31, 2022.
• The Department of Education is also proposing changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that will make it easier for borrowers to qualify, as well as a rule to create a new income-driven repayment plan to reduce monthly payments for lower- and middle-income borrowers.
• Note to borrowers: Do not take calls or respond to emails regarding this debt relief plan with parties you do not recognize. Work directly with your loan servicer for additional details specific to your loans.

For additional information and frequently asked questions, please visit https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/one-time-cancellation, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USED/bulletins/32970c3 or https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/.