DOE extends application deadline for defaulted student loan borrowers

Oct 1

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

The Department of Education (DOE) extended its deadline for the Fresh Start program for defaulted student loan borrowers until the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 2. The deadline was supposed to be Monday, Sept. 30, but the department pushed it back because of an issue on one of its websites.

The Fresh Start program is open to only a limited number of student loan borrowers. It will put them back in good standing on their loans, avoiding the impacts of delinquency and default, like taking a hit on their credit report, wage garnishment and the potential for having their Social Security benefits withheld in the future.

The Education Department said as of 2022, there were about 7.5 million federal student loan borrowers in default.

⚠ Borrowers in default: The deadline to sign up for Fresh Start benefits has been extended. Borrowers should enroll by 2:59 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Apply online, on the phone, or by mail: https://t.co/jbS9cxGBHX
If you experience issues signing up online or by… pic.twitter.com/xlsQJv5Ngs
— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) September 30, 2024

People can apply for the Fresh Start program here.

Tags: college students, Debt, Department of Education, Education, Education Department, Joe Biden, Student loan debt, Student loan forgiveness, Student Loans, students, Universities

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS EXTENDED ITS DEADLINE FOR THE FRESH START PROGRAM FOR DEFAULTED STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS UNTIL *WEDNESDAY* MORNING.

THE DEADLINE *WAS* SUPPOSED TO BE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30-TH… BUT THE DEPARTMENT PUSHED IT BACK TO OCTOBER 2-ND BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE ON ONE OF THEIR WEBSITES.

THE FRESH START PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS… AND WILL PUT THEM BACK IN GOOD STANDING ON THEIR LOANS – AVOIDING THE IMPACTS OF DELINQUENCY AND DEFAULT, LIKE TAKING A HIT ON THEIR CREDIT REPORT, WAGE GARNISHMENT, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR HAVING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WITHHELD IN THE FUTURE.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID AS OF 20-22 – THERE WERE ABOUT 7 POINT 5 MILLION FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS IN DEFAULT.