Important Updates about Student Loan Forgiveness
Stay in the know of the latest student loan forgiveness policies. Here at My Education Solutions, we understand the challenges of student loan debt, and we’re committed to keeping you informed about the latest news. We’re also here to help you manage your programs – contact us today!
Federal Student Loan Forgiveness: Maximize Your Benefit Before the April 30th Deadline
April 17, 2024
Federal student loan debt can feel like a never-ending burden. But there’s good news for borrowers who have been diligently making payments under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for at least a decade. The Department of Education is offering a chance to maximize your student loan forgiveness through a one-time account adjustment. Here’s what you need to know to qualify and avoid missing out on this significant benefit.
Who Qualifies for IDR Forgiveness?
If you’ve been faithfully repaying your federal student loans for 10 years or more under an IDR plan, you might be eligible for significant loan forgiveness. However, there’s an important April 30th deadline to consider for some borrowers.
Consolidation for Maximum Benefit:
Borrowers with certain types of federal student loans can significantly increase their IDR forgiveness amount by consolidating their loans by April 30th. These loan types include:
- Commercially held FFEL loans
- Commercially held Perkins loans
- HEAL loans (health professions)
- Parent PLUS loans (under specific repayment periods)
- Direct loans with different repayment histories
The Advantage of Consolidation:
Consolidating these loan types before the deadline ensures your new consolidated loan receives credit for the oldest underlying loan’s repayment history. This can translate to a larger portion of your loan being forgiven under the IDR program.
- Example: Teacher Loan Forgiveness with Consolidation
Let’s say you’re a teacher who has been diligently making payments on your federal student loans for the past 12 years under an IDR plan. You’re also interested in the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives the remaining balance on your federal student loans after you complete 5 consecutive years of full-time employment in a low-income school or educational service agency.
Here’s where consolidation can be beneficial:
- Without Consolidation: If you have a mix of Direct Loans and FFEL loans (both serviced by different servicers), you might need to track and make separate payments to qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Additionally, your FFEL loan payments might not count towards the 120 required payments for IDR forgiveness.
- With Consolidation by April 30th: By consolidating all your federal student loans (including FFEL) into a single Direct Consolidation Loan before the deadline, you can ensure all your payments since you started repaying count towards both IDR forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. This simplifies tracking your progress and maximizes your forgiveness benefit.
Missing the Deadline? There Might Still Be Hope.
Don’t panic if you miss the April 30th consolidation deadline. You can still qualify for some forgiveness under IDR. However, the benefit won’t be as substantial. Instead of receiving credit for the oldest loan’s repayment history, your consolidated loan will get a weighted average of the payment counts from all your underlying loans.
- Example: Graduate Student with Perkins Loan and FFEL Consolidation
Imagine you borrowed a Perkins Loan to cover some costs during your undergraduate studies. Let’s say you’ve been diligently repaying for 7 years. Later, you went to graduate school and took out FFEL loans. You’ve been repaying those for 3 years now.
Here’s how consolidation can impact your IDR forgiveness:
- Without Consolidation: Perkins Loans are not eligible for all IDR plans offered on Direct Loans. So, while your FFEL payments would count towards IDR forgiveness after consolidation, your Perkins Loan payments might not (depending on the specific IDR plan).
- With Consolidation by April 30th: By consolidating both your Perkins and FFEL loans before the deadline, you can leverage the older Perkins Loan’s 7-year repayment history. This would give your consolidated loan 7 years of credit towards IDR forgiveness, maximizing the benefit you receive.
- April 30th: Deadline for consolidation to receive maximum IDR forgiveness credit based on the oldest underlying loan. (PSLF: May 1st)
- July 1st: Latest date for your payment count to reflect the IDR account adjustment in your account. (All Borrowers Except PSLF: July 1st)
Student Loan Consolidation: Weighing the Pros and Cons
While consolidation can maximize your IDR forgiveness before the deadline, it’s crucial to understand its implications. Consolidation is irreversible, so consider these factors:
Benefits of Consolidation:
- Increased IDR forgiveness amount (by meeting the April 30th deadline for specific loan types).
- Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and other IDR plans (depending on the loan type).
- Simplified loan management with a single servicer.
Drawbacks of Consolidation:
- Lengthened repayment term, potentially leading to higher total interest paid.
- Loss of certain benefits associated with the original loan types (e.g., interest rate discounts).
Contact an Experienced Student Loan Management Firm
If you’re unsure about your eligibility for IDR forgiveness or have questions about consolidation, consider seeking assistance from professionals who specialize in federal student loan forgiveness management. My Education Solutions offers a team of student loan Advisors experienced in federal student loan management. We can help you navigate your specific situation and determine if you qualify for this or other forgiveness programs. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to reduce a significant amount of your student loan debt.
Please note: This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
#StudentLoanDebtRelief #StudentLoanDebt #IDR #StudentLoanForgiveness #MyEducationSolutions
New Hope for Struggling Borrowers? Biden-Harris Administration to Hold Session on Student Debt Relief in February
Feb. 19, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing its efforts to provide student debt relief to borrowers by holding a negotiated rulemaking session on February 22nd and 23rd. This session will specifically focus on helping borrowers experiencing hardship. The Administration has already approved over $136.6 billion in targeted relief for over 3.7 million Americans through various actions.
This upcoming session will offer an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and develop regulations focused on hardship relief. The public will have a chance to provide input through one hour of public comment and written comments when draft rules are published later this year. The Department is also continuing its work on draft rules covering other issues, such as relief for borrowers with high debt balances or those who attended failing institutions.
This initiative is part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to make higher education more affordable, including launching the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever, significantly increasing Pell Grants, and holding institutions accountable for unaffordable debts.
While these initiatives are underway, remember that you can also manage your student loans yourself. However, if you’re unsure if you qualify for student loan forgiveness, either currently or in the future, My Education Solutions can help. My Education Solutions is a student loan management firm that specializes in navigating the complexities of the student loan repayment process and managing your programs for you. Contact us today to discuss your options and explore potential paths to a brighter financial future.
Please note: This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
#StudentLoanDebtRelief #StudentLoanDebt #StudentLoanForgiveness #MyEducationSolutions
BORROWERS: DON’T LET YOUR TAX REFUND GO TO STUDENT LOANS
Jan. 16, 2024
With tax season approaching, it’s important to be aware of how outstanding student loan debt might impact your refund. Potential tax refund garnishments are still a possibility for some borrowers.
Who’s at risk?
• Borrowers in default on federal student loans: If you haven’t made payments on your federal loans for 9 months or more, your loan servicer can flag your tax refund for garnishment.
• Borrowers with private student loans: Those who refinanced or originally took out student loans with private lenders can still be pursued through legal action, like wage garnishment or tax offset, if they default on their payments.
What can you do?
• Stay current on your payments: This is the best way to avoid any potential impact on your tax refund.
• Check your loan status: Contact your loan servicer. My Education Solutions Clients can save time by logging into your MES Client Portal.
• Reach out for help: If you’re struggling to make your payments, don’t hesitate to seek help from My Education Solutions. We can help you explore repayment options and potentially avoid default.
Don’t let your tax refund get swallowed by student debt! Take action today. Call 210-812-3200 for a free consultation. Find out if outsourcing your student loan payment process or forgiveness program to My Education Solutions is beneficial for you.
Please note: This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
#TaxRefunds #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
THOUSANDS OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY FORGIVENESS UNDER NEW POLICY
Jan. 13, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced a policy change that will benefit a specific group of borrowers: those who took out loans under the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
What’s the change?
Starting in February, SAVE borrowers who originally borrowed $12,000 or less for college will be eligible for debt cancellation after as few as 10 years of payments. Previously, these borrowers would have had to make payments for 20 years to qualify for forgiveness.
Who is this for?
This change applies to over 2 million SAVE borrowers. According to the Department of Education, the debts will be automatically canceled next month.
If you’re not sure if you have a SAVE loan, contact your student loan servicer. MES Clients can save time by reaching out to Client Care at 210-812-3200 or scheduling an appointment for a team member to call you directly.
Not an MES client?
Call 210-812-3200 for a free consultation. Find out if outsourcing your student loan payment process or forgiveness program to My Education Solutions is beneficial for you.
#DeptofEducation #SAVE #studentloanforgivenesss #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
MOHELA ADMITS TO BILLING ERRORS
Jan. 10, 2024
MOHELA has acknowledged that they mismanaged billing statements between October and December 2023. As a result, borrowers who have yet to make payments during this period will not be required to make up any missed payments for these months. Additionally, no late fees or penalties will be assessed.
For borrowers who did make payments during this timeframe:
MOHELA is currently working to process refunds for any payments made over your required minimum payment. These refunds will be credited to your loan account within 60 days.
If you have questions about your specific situation, you can log into your MES Client Portal or schedule an appointment for a Client Care member to call you to discuss your specific situation.
We understand this situation may be frustrating, and we are here to help you navigate it.
#MOHELA #ServicerErrors #studentloanforgivenesss #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
DEPT. OF EDUCATION HOLDS STUDENT LOAN SERVICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISTAKES
Jan. 8, 2024
The Department of Education just announced action against three major student loan servicers (Aidvantage, EdFinancial, and Nelnet) for failing to deliver timely billing statements to over 750,000 borrowers. This highlights the ongoing struggle many face with confusing and inconsistent communication from their servicers. The DOE already penalized MOHELA for their shortcomings in 2023.
Here’s what this means for borrowers:
• These errors won’t negatively impact your credit score.
• The Department will continue investigating and may take further action to hold servicers accountable.
• This move signals a continued focus on improving servicer performance and protecting borrowers.
My Education Solutions is actively monitoring this situation and its potential impact on our Clients. We’re committed to:
• Provide updates as the situation unfolds.
• Ensure you’re treated fairly and protected from errors.
• Handle communication with servicers on your behalf, eliminating stress and saving you time.
We recommend that you log into your MES Client Portal to access updates specific to your loans. If you have further questions, schedule an appointment with a Client Care member to call you directly.
At My Education Solutions, your success is our priority. We’ll stay vigilant on your behalf and keep you informed every step of the way.
Remember: This is a developing situation, and we’ll provide further updates as they become available.
#MOHELA #ServicerErrors #Aidvantage #Nelnet #EdFinancial #administrativeforbearance #studentloanforgivenesss #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
UPDATE REGARDING MOHELA ADMINISTRATIVE FORBEARANCE: NO END DATE SET
Dec. 26, 2023
As of December 2023, MOHELA has not yet announced a specific end date affecting over 2 million borrowers whose student loans have been placed on administrative forbearance.
This forbearance was implemented due to billing errors discovered by MOHELA.
This means:
• You don’t have to make any payments on your affected MOHELA loans until further notice.
• Your credit score won’t be impacted by missed payments.
• The months under forbearance will still count towards income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, assuming all other requirements are met.
While the situation remains fluid, at My Education Solutions, we are actively monitoring developments and working on your behalf. We will keep you informed and ensure you’re protected.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to:
• Log in to your MES Client Portal for the latest updates.
• Schedule an appointment with a Client Care member to discuss your specific situation.
We know navigating student loan issues can be complex, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
#MOHELA #administrativeforbearance #studentloanforgivenesss #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
BORROWERS FRUSTRATED WITH STUDENT LOAN SERVICER HOLD TIMES
Dec. 18, 2023
MOHELA borrowers recently reported an average hold time of over 2 hours, only adding to an already stressful and frustrating experience associated with student loan debt.
By outsourcing their student loan management process to My Education Solutions, Clients can avoid the burden of waiting to speak to a servicer rep.
MES’s team handles the communication with your loan servicers, so you don’t have to. As your student loan management firm, we track your progress and ensure you’re on the right path to forgiveness.
Let us handle the hassle, so you can focus on what matters most.
Log into your MES Client Portal for information and updates.
You can also schedule an appointment for a Client Care member to call you and discuss your specific questions.
Not a Client Yet?
Join the thousands of borrowers who have chosen My Education Solutions to simplify their student loan journey. Speak to an Advisor at 210-812-3200.
#studentloanfrustration #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
UPDATE REGARDING MOHELA BILLING ERRORS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Dec. 10, 2023
My Education Solutions is aware of the billing errors recently announced by MOHELA, affecting over 2 million borrowers, and we assure our Clients affected by the mistakes that we are actively monitoring the situation and working diligently on your behalf.
Here’s what you need to know:
MOHELA is currently correcting these errors and has temporarily stopped accepting December servicer payments. These affected borrowers have been placed on administrative forbearance until 2024. Your loan payments will be paused, and no late fees or penalties will accrue. Additionally, the interest rate on your loans will be adjusted to 0% during this period.
For eligible borrowers, the months from October through December 2023 will still count towards income-driven repayment forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, assuming all other requirements are met.
MOHELA expects it will take up to 30 days to complete the necessary updates. The Department of Education will then determine when payments will resume. We will keep you informed as soon as more information becomes available.
We encourage you to log into your MES Client Portal to stay informed or schedule an appointment for a Client Care member to call you back.
#MOHELAerrors #studentloanforgiveness #studentloandebt #PSLF #IDR #MyEducationSolutions
UPDATE ON STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS APPLICATIONS
Nov. 14, 2023
The Department of Education (DOE) is currently experiencing a high volume of student loan forgiveness applications, resulting in an extended processing time. While the typical processing time is 4-6 weeks, the current backlog may cause delays.
We understand that you are eager to receive a decision on your application, and we are committed to expediting the process as much as possible. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to assist you in any way we can.
#studentloanforgiveness #DOE #loanforgivenesssapplication #studentloans #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ADDRESSES STUDENT LOAN SERVICING ERRORS
Nov. 14, 2023
The Department of Education is actively addressing concerns regarding the mistakes being made by the student loan Servicers. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Dept. of Education is placing impacted borrowers on administrative forbearance, with no interest accrual, until errors in their accounts are resolved. The months in forbearance will be counted toward loan forgiveness on income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Examples of the errors identified by the Education Department include:
• Incorrect monthly bills due to errors in transitioning to the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan
• Failure to send borrowers any information on their new monthly payment before it became due
As part of our Student Loan Management services, the experienced MES team tracks, audits, and corrects Servicer errors on Clients’ behalf.
If you would like to find out if you have been affected by the Servicers’ mistakes, speak to an Advisor today at 210-405-2610.
#studentloanforgiveness #DOE #servicererrors #servicingerrors #MOHELA #PSLF #SAVEplan #IDR #loanforgivenesssapplication #studentloans #studentloandebt #MyEducationSolutions
BREAKING DOWN THE LATEST BIDEN-HARRIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEW APPROVALS FOR STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF
Oct. 5, 2023
The Biden-Harris administration announced yesterday that an additional 125,000 Americans have been approved for $9 billion in debt relief through income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and granted automatic relief for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities.
Here is a breakdown of the debt relief by the numbers:
- $5.2 billion in additional debt relief for 53,000 borrowers under Public Service
Loan Forgiveness programs. - Nearly $2.8 billion in new debt relief for nearly 51,000 borrowers through fixes to income-driven repayment. These are borrowers who made 20 years or more of payments but never got the relief they were entitled to.
- S1.2 billion for nearly 22,000 borrowers who have a total or permanent disability.
While this announcement will be welcome news to many, it will still have little impact on the vast majority of borrowers. Who is actually eligible to access these relief funds?
To participate in a Public Service Loan Forgiveness program you must be a federal, state, local, or tribal government employee for a total of ten years. Income-driven repayment relief only applies to borrowers who have made payments for 20 years or more. The last category of borrowers must have a permanent disability as defined by the Social Security Administration.
If you don’t fall into any of these categories then you must start making payments on your student loans this month. Interest on these loans has already started accruing so it’s important to make a plan now and act by exploring your repayment options.
An MES Advisor can give you the latest information on forgiveness programs and check your eligibility at no cost. Speak to an Advisor at 210-812-3200.
THE SAVE PLAN: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND HOW MES CAN HELP
The Dept. of Education’s new plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, replaces the existing Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan. The plan is to make student loan payments more affordable for lower-income individuals. For eligible borrowers, your monthly payment will be based on individual income and family size. Some may not have to make any payments at all.
The plan will also eliminate 100% of the remaining interest for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans after a scheduled payment is made under the SAVE Plan. If you make your monthly payment, your loan balance won’t grow due to unpaid interest.
If you were already enrolled in the REPAYE Plan, you are automatically enrolled in the SAVE plan. Remember, this is a Government Forgiveness program. Therefore, meeting all the requirements annually is important to maintain your good standing in the program. My Education Solutions’ Student Loan Management services keep Clients on track by ensuring their monthly payments are made to their Servicers and the proper documents are submitted every year. Since SAVE is a new plan, we will monitor the payments and industry changes closely to address any issues that may arise.
If you are considering the SAVE Plan, speak to an MES Advisor to see check your eligibility and see how much you could save every month. 210-812-3200 or 800-618-1170
My Education Solutions is dedicated to helping clients find a path to student loan forgiveness. Our forgiveness program has been available for 8 years and can significantly reduce your monthly payments. Our clients who have completed their programs have received an average of $87,124* in forgiveness, with a total of $22, 913,675* already granted by the Government.
PAYMENTS RESUME OCTOBER 1, 2023
June 30, 2023: CARES Act Benefits end and MES will keep all Clients in current status.
September 1, 2023: Interest begins accruing on outstanding Federal Student Loan debt.
October 1, 2023: All Federal Student Loan payments will resume for 44 million people across America
To ensure that our Clients receive credit towards their 10-Year Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), MES is urging them to submit their outstanding Employment Certification Forms (ECF) for any months in which they worked for a qualified employer as soon as possible. This will help us process their applications before Student Loan payments become mandatory again in just a few months.
If you are an Ambassador or Client Ambassador and you have referred potential clients to MES, please ask them to send their information immediately. This will allow us to process their applications quickly before October 1st . Due to the anticipated increase in activity surrounding student loan payments, MES is expecting delays in the Department of Education processing of new forgiveness clients. If you have any questions about referring potential clients, please contact our Ambassador Success Manager, Meisie Beauvais, at MBeauvais@MyEduSolutions.com.
As of June 30, 2023, MES Completed Clients have saved a total of $22,913,675 with an average savings of $87,124 per client.
ONE-TIME $10K & $20K FORGIVENESS:
Was not approved and will not be moving forward.
LINKS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
White House Announcement: https://bit.ly/3R7lfhX
Department of Education Announcement: https://bit.ly/3ThtglL
Additional Resource Links: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan Explained
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
As the Department of Education continues to provide updates in writing and other information on how the new loan forgiveness will be administered, MES will communicate this information to our Clients. Please refer to the Client Advocate Portal (CAP) for specific information on how the forgiveness program affects your individual program. Please continue to check back on our website for additional announcements, including how the new PSLF programs will be administered and how to apply for your targeted debt cancellation. MES will notify you in writing that your debt is forgiven once we have the government documentation and close out your account at that time.
The MES CAP allows you to access the following:
Updated information is currently available and there are many changes to share exclusively with our MES clients.
Your September 1st, 2023 Payment Amount
Your New Servicer*
Full History of Payments
Full History of ECF (10-Year Forgiveness Client Programs Only)
Number of Payments Made
Review and sign off on your CAP (Client Advocate Portal) as part of your renewal process for 2022 to ensure that all the information is accurate before submitting your Renewal documents.
Click here for a virtual tour with our Customer Care Team to begin using our CAP (Client Advocate Portal) and access your payment portal 24/7 from your computer or mobile phone!
New Servicers Transfers:
MES has transferred you from FedLoan to your new servicer. Your CAP will reflect which payments have been made to your previous servicer and which payments will be made to the new servicer so that you will know which one was accessed.
New Billing Options and Flexible Payment Schedules:
All MES Clients will continue to be billed on the 1st for their monthly payment. Please speak with a Customer Care representative to participate in pre-payment of programs for up to 12 months and alternative payment methods for those that have NSF. If MES drafts your full 12-month payment upfront then we will hold it in escrow and pay it month by month as it is due.
New Building Hours!
Please come visit us if you would like to meet face-to-face about all these changes. Please note our staff is working remotely Mondays and Fridays and are in the office Tuesday through Thursday.
Location: 2700 Lockhill Selma, San Antonio, TX 78230
Please come visit us for a confidential consultation, to drop off documents, or for our Client Appreciation gatherings which we hold several times a year. Our website calendar lists upcoming events for the year
MES is a private company and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, and is not affiliated with any federal, state, or local government agencies or any authorized federal government contracted student loan servicers.
Updated 06/30/23
Who is MES?
A Student Loan Management Firm dedicated to helping you live your best life.
Student Loan Advisors
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