Current:Home > FinanceBiden administration forgives another $1.2 billion in student loans. Here's who qualifies. -CapitalCourse
Biden administration forgives another $1.2 billion in student loans. Here's who qualifies.
View
Date:2025-04-13 00:59:29
The Biden administration on Thursday said it is forgiving $1.2 billion in student debt for 35,000 borrowers who work in public service, ranging from teachers to firefighters. The announcement marks the latest round in government loan relief after the Supreme Court last year blocked President Joe Biden's plan for broad-based college loan forgiveness.
With the latest student loan forgiveness, the Biden administration said it has waived $168.5 billion in debt for roughly 4.8 million Americans, according to a statement from the Department of Education. That represents about 1 in 10 student loan borrowers, it added.
The people who qualify for forgiveness in the latest round of debt cancellation are part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which is designed to help public servants such as teachers, nurses and law enforcement officers get their debt canceled after 10 years of repayments. While PSLF has been around since 2007, until recently very few borrowers were able to get debt relief due to its notoriously complex regulations and often misleading guidance from loan companies.
But the Biden administration has overhauled the program's rules, enabling more public servants to qualify for forgiveness.
"The additional Americans approved for PSLF today are hardworking public servants who will finally receive the financial breathing room they were promised — and all PSLF recipients can easily track and manage the process through StudentAid.gov," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in the statement.
Who qualifies for loan forgiveness?
The Biden administration said borrowers receiving student loan relief in this latest round are people enrolled in the PSLF program through a limited waiver, as well as regulatory changes made by the administration.
The "limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver" was designed by the Biden administration to allow public-sector workers to apply to receive credit for past repayments that hadn't previously qualified for loan relief. The deadline for signing up for the waiver was October 2022.
"These 35,000 borrowers approved for forgiveness today are public service workers — teachers, nurses, law enforcement officials and first responders who have dedicated their lives to strengthening their communities," President Joe Biden said in a statement. [B]ecause of the fixes we made to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, they will now have more breathing room to support themselves and their families."
Is the Biden administration planning more debt forgiveness?
Yes, the Biden administration said it continues to work on a plan for broad-based student loan relief through the Higher Education Act.
Some parts of the Biden administration's plans to provide more relief were thrown into turmoil last month when two courts issued temporary injunctions against the Biden administration's flagship student loan repayment plan, called the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan, which currently has about 8 million enrollees.
Despite the injunctions, student borrowers can still continue to enroll in the program, according to the Education Department.
- In:
- Biden Administration
- Student Debt
- Student Loans
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
TwitterveryGood! (2)
Related
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Armed Groups Use Deforestation as a Bargaining Chip in Colombia
- Shooting at South Carolina block party leaves 2 dead, 2 wounded, police say
- Families of hostages call for Israel and Hamas to accept cease-fire proposal pushed by Biden
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Plan to attack soccer events during Paris Olympics foiled, French authorities say
- In D3 World Series, Birmingham-Southern represents school that no longer exists: 'Most insane story'
- Swimmer injured by shark attack on Southern California coast
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Ex-NJ officer sentenced to 27 years in shooting death of driver, wounding of passenger in 2019 chase
Ranking
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- WNBA upgrades foul on Caitlin Clark by Chennedy Carter, fines Angel Reese for no postgame interview
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Mixed Drink
- Salt in the Womb: How Rising Seas Erode Reproductive Health
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Arizona tribe temporarily bans dances after police officer is fatally shot responding to disturbance
- CEOs got hefty pay raises in 2023, widening the gap with the workers they oversee
- American veterans depart to be feted in France as part of 80th anniversary of D-Day
Recommendation
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
World War II veteran awarded Pennsylvania high school diploma 2 days before his death at age 98
Joe Jonas and Model Stormi Bree Break Up After Brief Romance
World War II veteran awarded Pennsylvania high school diploma 2 days before his death at age 98
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
‘Garfield,’ ‘Furiosa’ repeat atop box office charts as slow summer grinds on
Simone Biles' greatest move had nothing to do with winning her ninth US title | Opinion
World War II veterans travel to France to commemorate 80th anniversary of D-Day