If you have questions from students or families about how their defaulted or delinquent loans will be impacted once forbearance ends, these resources can help.
As you know, on March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law, suspending loan payments, stopping collections on defaulted loans, and setting interest rates at 0% for a period of 60 days. These relief measures have since been extended, announced by the Secretary of the Department of Education, to aid borrowers amid the pandemic.
With an enormous group of borrowers set to go back into repayment at the same time, it’s possible that many who were current on their loans may become delinquent once forbearance ends.
If they don’t repay successfully, there could be a huge number of borrowers who could default, too – meaning you could potentially see higher delinquency and default rates all at the same time.
These students and their families may have questions before their loans go back into repayment – and particularly if they were already delinquent or in default when the loans went into forbearance. You should have the most updated information available so you can help them take the best course of action.
For the most up-to-date information and answers to many potential questions, visit or direct students and families to Federal Student Aid’s site for COVID and forbearance information. Here you can find frequently asked questions on the numerous situations borrowers may encounter once the forbearance ends.
This site is updated frequently and is the main source of government information about what the extension of the CARES Act means to federally held student loans. There is even a specific section on the page for information regarding loans in default.
There is also a specific page with information on default and delinquency, and understanding the details and consequences of each. This can help students and families understand what these situations mean and how they can best navigate them.
For specific servicing questions, direct your students to reach out to their loan servicer for further assistance. They can identify and contact their servicer through this loan servicer page. Borrowers should know that they can reach out to their servicer at any time to talk about possible repayment options after forbearance ends if they are worried about default or delinquency.
Thank you for all your hard work this year, and every year. We’re here for you, and we’re in this together. If you have questions for us, please contact our Care Team, or reach out to us on LinkedIn.
Article updated August 25, 2022