The Plans, some of which are still in progress and not finalized, are aimed at averting a potential Surge in Delinquencies when Payments resume in February 2022. "A smooth transition back into repayment is a high priority for the Administration," an Administration Official said in a Statement.
The Education Department is eyeing Proposals that would give Borrowers New Flexibility as they face Student Loan Bills for the First time in nearly two years, such as an initial Grace Period for Missed Payments.
Officials are also looking at Policies to make it easier for Millions of Borrowers to remain enrolled in Income-based Repayment Programs to avoid a sudden Increase in their Monthly Payment Amount. The Administration is actively considering a sweeping plan to Expunge the Defaults of Borrowers who were Struggling even before the Pandemic.
Turning back On the Federal Government’s massive, $1.6 Trillion Student Lending apparatus that’s largely been frozen for nearly Two years is an unprecedented logistical challenge for the Education Department. It’s also full of Political pitfalls as Progressives urge the Administration to focus on widespread Debt Forgiveness rather than Resuming Payments.
More than 40 Million Federal Student Loan borrowers have benefited from the Education Department’s Pause on Interest and Monthly Payments that began in March 2020. The Biden Administration most recently Extended the Relief through the End of January, which Officials have insisted was the Last Reprieve.
Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, has previously said he wants to Create a smooth “ramp up” for Borrowers to Restart Payments. Rich Cordray, the Department’s Student Aid Chief, has talked about his Plans for a Major Public Outreach Campaign, including Paid Advertisements, to let Borrowers know about their Options. The Department’s “Return to Repayment” Strategy, which it has internally dubbed “R2R”.
"A smooth transition back into repayment is a high priority for the Administration. In the coming months, we will release more details about our plans and will engage directly with federal student loan borrowers to ensure they have the resources they need." an Administration Official said in a Statement
Department Officials have instructed their Loan Servicers to create a “safety net” for Borrowers in the First Three months after their First Payment. Borrowers who Miss a Payment during that initial 90-day Grace Period, would Not be Penalized or Dinged on their Credit Reports. Those Borrowers would instead be Automatically placed in a Forbearance Status and be considered Current on their Loans.
The Education Department is planning Direct Outreach to certain “at-risk” Groups of Borrowers, such as those who were Delinquent before the Pandemic, never Graduated from College, or only recently began Repaying their Loans. And the Agency has Increased the Call Center Hours of its Loan Servicers, anticipating a Deluge of Borrower Requests in the coming months.
Officials are also discussing Proposals that would make it significantly Easier for Borrowers to Enroll in Income-based Repayment Programs, which typically require Borrowers to Submit Proof of their Income and Family size each year. That Requirement was Suspended during the Pandemic. But now that Payments are Restarting, some 9 Million Borrowers who Participate in the Income-based Repayment Program will have to Recertify their Income or else face a potentially Steep Increase in their Monthly Payment Amount.
To account for that potential deluge of Millions of Requests, the Education Department is considering allowing Borrowers, for a Limited Time, to quickly Self-Certify their Income and Family Size over the Phone with their Loan Servicer.
In addition, the Education Department is weighing a Plan to Automatically pull more than 7 Million Borrowers Out-of-Default on their Federal Student Loans. The effort to Help those Borrowers, which has Not been Finalized, is being internally referred to as “Operation Fresh Start”.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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