Take Control of Your Student Debt
Apply Now: Millions of Borrowers Now Eligible for New Programs and Debt Cancellations
There’s never been a better time to take charge of your student loans. New government programs may get rid of some — or all — of your debt or reduce your monthly payments, freeing up your budget for housing, groceries, or other household bills.
For more than 60 years, AARP Foundation has been helping people find and take advantage of money-saving programs like these. We’re here to help you figure out what each program offers and which program might be right for you, and, most important, note the deadlines for taking part in these limited-time programs.
Get Started
See Which New Debt Relief Programs Can Help You
Learn about the government’s debt relief program, forgiveness eligibility, and a program to help borrowers in default.
Explore Other Ways to Lower Your Payments
Use Savi to review options to lower your monthly payments.
Are your loans federal or private?
Only federal loans are eligible for new forgiveness programs and income-driven repayment plans that lower your monthly payments.
If you’re not sure if your loans are federal (from financial aid) or private (from a lender like a bank, school, or state agency), log in to the government’s student aid website. If your loan is listed there under your account, it’s a federal loan.
See Which New Programs May Help You
The student loan repayment pause has been extended. Payments will resume 60 days after the Department of Education is permitted to implement loan cancellation or the litigation is resolved. Check back for updates.
How do you apply for the government’s student debt relief program?
UPDATE: the government’s student debt cancellation program is on hold.
Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Student Loan Payment Pause Extended
The Department of Education will provide up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients and up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients with loans held by the Department of Education.
The income caps for qualification are $125,000 for single filers and $250,000 for joint filers.
The application is a short online form. You don’t need to log in or provide any documents.
Need help with student loans in default?
If you’re in default, the Department of Education’s new Fresh Start program can help restore your credit report, end collections, and restore your eligibility to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan. Here’s how it works.
The application for the Fresh Start Program begins Jan 1, 2023, and continues through December 31, 2023
If your loans are eligible, your loan will be reported as current to credit agencies, and the record of default will be removed from your credit report. Collections and wage garnishment will end.
Once enrolled, you’ll be eligible to apply for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. Under an IDR plan, your monthly payment can be as low as $0, because it’s based on how much money you make and your family size. Savi can help you find the best IDR plan for you.
You can contact the Default Resolution Group at the Department of Education to confirm your eligibility and find out who holds your loan.
Sign Up for Savi to Save on Your Monthly Payments
The student loan repayment tool identifies your best loan repayment options and provides you with the information you need to make an informed decision—all at no cost to you.
Review options to lower your monthly payments through income-driven repayment plans.
Get one-to-one support to help you choose the best plans and file paperwork correctly.
Feel confident that your information will be kept confidential.
You may be able to save per month
Congratulations, you have options! Savi can help you choose between the lowest monthly payment or saving money over the life of your loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to get started with Savi?
It takes about 30 minutes to answer some questions and get your recommendations. Before you begin, you’ll need to have:
- Your Social Security number
- The first page of your most recent tax return or tax transcript so you know your filing status, adjusted gross income (AGI), and wages.
- The username and passwords you use to log in and pay any of your student loan servicers (e.g., Navient, Nelnet, Great Lakes). Savi will use these to automatically import your student loan information. You can also choose to manually enter your loan details — the loan type(s), original principal borrowed, your interest rate(s), the year(s) you started repaying, and your monthly payment amounts.
What are income-driven repayment plans?
An income-driven repayment (IDR) plan can lower your monthly payments based on how much you earn versus the total loan amount. These plans are available to make monthly payments more affordable for people with federal student loans. If you’re out of work, or if your income is low enough, your payments could be as little as $0.
There are four common income-driven plans:
- Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
- Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
- Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)
Each plan has different eligibility criteria based on the types of loans you hold and when you took out the loans. Your payment amounts are based on 10-20% of your discretionary income, depending on which plan you are eligible for and enrolled in. The U.S. Department of Education defines this as your after-tax income minus the poverty guidelines for your family size.
The Savi tool identifies all of the best loan repayment options available to you and provides you with the information you need in order to make an informed decision.
Learn more about loan repayment options.
Is Savi free?
Savi’s DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Plan is available at no cost. If you are over 50 and meet the income guidelines outlined below, AARP Foundation will cover the cost of the Essential Plan — which includes ongoing support from Savi’s customer service team — so you can access that option for free.
ESSENTIAL$90.00 Fee Waived for Eligible Individuals* |
DIYEnroll on Your Own No Cost |
|---|---|
|
Simplified, step-by-step process for inputting information and e-filing paperwork Takes about 30 minutes to complete Ongoing support from Savi’s dedicated customer service team Savi’s sign-up fee waived by AARP Foundation for eligible individuals |
Complete, print, and mail or fax your own paperwork Takes 1-2 hours to complete Access your Savi account at any time No cost regardless of income |
*AARP Foundation pays for the Savi Essential Plan for any borrower who qualifies by age and income per the household chart
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,683 | $32,200 |
| 2 | $3,629 | $43,550 |
| 3 | $4,575 | $54,900 |
| 4 | $5,521 | $66,250 |
| 5 | $6,467 | $77,600 |
Based on 2021 Income Guidelines
If I use Savi, will Savi become my loan servicer?
No. Savi is not a loan servicer, and you will never pay Savi to make your monthly payments. Our goal is to help you find the best repayment option and file paperwork with your loan servicer, but Savi will never maintain or hold your loans in any manner.
What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the remaining balance of eligible federal student loans after a borrower has made 120 qualifying payments (about 10 years’ worth) while the borrower is working full-time with a qualifying public service or nonprofit employer.
The Savi tool is up to date on the new changes to help you learn whether you qualify.
Learn more about Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
When do student loan payments resume?
The student loan repayment pause has been extended. Payments will resume 60 days after the Department of Education is permitted to implement loan cancellation or the litigation is resolved. If the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 – payments will resume 60 days after that.
Before then, make sure your contact info is up to date so you don’t receive a surprise bill.
More Helpful Guidance
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Webinar: Explore Your Student Debt Options
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How to Spot Student Loan Scams
AARP FoundationDon’t let fear keep you from taking advantage of new student debt relief programs. Learn the scam warning signs.LEARN MORE