Student debt cancellation: Biden’s new plan promises relief for 30 million borrowers

In a pivotal move for millions of American students, the Biden administration will soon roll out a new student debt relief initiative, aiming to provide targeted assistance to borrowers affected by student loans.

Approximately 30 million Americans are set to benefit from student debt cancellation under the Biden administration’s latest initiative, according to a White House press release. The announcement, made on Wednesday, outlined the administration’s plan to provide borrowers with detailed information on accessing the forthcoming debt relief programs.

The development comes after the US Supreme Court blocked President Biden’s previous broad-based forgiveness plan, leaving many borrowers uncertain about their financial futures.

Four categories of eligibility for student debt relief

The US Department of Education’s updated relief strategy seeks to address those most in need by narrowing the focus of eligibility criteria. The new plan encompasses four main categories:

Borrowers who owe more now than they did at the start of repayment. Borrowers would be eligible for relief if they have a current balance on certain types of Federal student loans that is greater than the balance of that loan when it entered repayment due to runaway interest. The Department estimates that this debt relief would impact nearly 23 million borrowers, the majority of whom are Pell Grant recipients.
Borrowers who have been in repayment for decades. If a borrower with only undergraduate loans has been in repayment for more than 20 years (entered repayment on or before July 1, 2005), they would be eligible for this relief. Borrowers with at least one graduate loan who have been in repayment for more than 25 years (entered repayment on or before July 1, 2000) would also be eligible.
Borrowers who are otherwise eligible for loan forgiveness but have not yet applied. If a borrower hasn’t successfully enrolled in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan but would be eligible for immediate forgiveness, they would be eligible for relief. Borrowers who would be eligible for closed school discharge or other types of forgiveness opportunities but haven’t successfully applied would also be eligible for this relief.
Borrowers who enrolled in low-financial value programs. If a borrower attended an institution that failed to provide sufficient financial value, or that failed one of the Department’s accountability standards for institutions, those borrowers would also be eligible for debt relief.

Automatic relief with opt-out option

One of the key features of the new plan is its streamlined process. Eligible borrowers will not need to submit any applications for relief. Instead, the Department of Education will automatically apply the debt forgiveness to qualifying accounts.

Borrowers who wish to opt out must notify their loan servicer by August 30.

The Department of Education is expected to finalize the rule for this debt relief initiative by October.

The administration is moving swiftly to implement the relief, aiming to complete debt cancellations before any potential legal challenges can delay the process.

Legal experts anticipate that opponents may file lawsuits seeking injunctions, which could extend the battle over months or even years. This uncertainty leaves borrowers in a state of apprehension about the final outcome.

Tax considerations for forgiven debt

Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, student loan forgiveness is exempt from federal taxes through 2025, providing significant financial relief to borrowers. However, it is crucial for borrowers to be aware that some states might impose taxes on forgiven debt.

It is advisable for borrowers to review their state tax regulations to understand any potential tax liabilities that may arise from the debt forgiveness.

While the streamlined, automatic relief process simplifies the path to forgiveness, ongoing legal uncertainties and state tax implications may impact the overall effectiveness of the initiative. 

As the implementation timeline progresses, borrowers and stakeholders will be closely monitoring developments to gauge the plan’s impact on their financial futures.