Key Takeaways: Deadline to Consolidate Federal Student Loans for Debt Relief
The deadline to apply to consolidate federal student loans that aren’t currently eligible for forgiveness programs is today, June 30. This one-time opportunity could help borrowers qualify for debt relief and increase their forgiveness amount.
The Department of Education is reviewing past student loan payment counts as part of a one-time adjustment, which could make borrowers eligible for forgiveness sooner under qualifying income-based repayment plans or programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. By consolidating federal student loans before midnight on June 30, borrowers can access these one-time benefits.
Experts recommend taking advantage of this consolidation opportunity, as it can increase the number of payments that count toward forgiveness and synchronize the forgiveness date. Consolidating loans can also make it easier to manage payments and potentially lower monthly payments.
If you have federal student loans that are not Direct Loans, consolidating them into a new Direct Loan and enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan could make you eligible for automatic loan cancellation, interest forgiveness, or other debt relief benefits.
The deadline for consolidation is not expected to be extended beyond June 30, so borrowers who can benefit from this opportunity should apply soon. The application process takes about 30 minutes and can be completed online at StudentAid.gov.
If borrowers miss the June 30 deadline, they may still be able to consolidate their loans but might not receive as much credit for past payments. It’s important to weigh the benefits of consolidation and how it may affect monthly payments before making a decision.
