Washington, D.C.– The Department of Education (ED) yesterday announced it has extended the pause of student loan repayment, interest and collections through June 30, 2023.
The announcement comes as the administration awaits a requested Supreme Court ruling regarding lawsuits that have prevented its student loan cancellation plan from moving forward.
Jaylon Herbin, director of federal campaigns at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), made the following statement:
Tens of millions of student loan borrowers are relying on the courts to uphold the legality of the cancellation plan. As U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, it is ‘deeply unfair’ to ask borrowers to begin repayment while this fight plays out in the courts. We are grateful the Department of Education recognizes the challenge resuming repayments would pose for everyday Americans who are still trying to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, especially low-wealth individuals, women and people of color.
The extension of the payment pause ultimately will help working and middle-class families build wealth, pursue homeownership, start a business or save for the future, while also promoting racial equity.
Payments are set to resume 60 days after the implementation of the relief program, after litigation is resolved or the payment pause expires, whichever occurs first.
Additional Information
- Tens of millions of Americans have applied for debt relief and have been approved to date, according to the ED.
- In a recent report, “Paying from the Grave,” CRL notes that the payment pause has provided much-needed relief to struggling borrowers, especially Black borrowers attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Resuming payments will create additional challenges that may impact the finances and mental health of borrowers.
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Press Contact: Vincenza Previte vincenza.previte@responsiblelending.org