
Student Loan Debt Relief
Pima Community College is committed to keeping you updated with changes to the student loan program. The Department of Education recently announced a new one-time student loan cancellation based on income, as well as extending the payment and interest pause on federal student loans.
One-Time Student Loan Debt Relief
You may have loans forgiven of up to $20,000 if you were a prior Pell-Grant recipient and up to $10,000 for all other student loan borrowers. To be eligible, your annual income must be below $125,000 (individuals) and $250,000 (married couples/head of households). The application is available now!
You can view your loan balance and check your Pell Grant status by logging into your Federal Student Aid account online at studentaid.gov.
Visit the FSA debt relief website for more information.
Fresh Start For Federal Student Loan Borrowers in Default
If your loans are eligible, you’ll temporarily regain several student aid benefits. You’ll also get the opportunity to get out of default and keep those benefits for the long term. If you are planning to attend college and finish your degree follow these steps for a Fresh Start:
- File a 2022-2023 FAFSA
- Access your MyPima > Financial Aid requirements to e-sign your Loan Default Fresh Start acknowledgement
- If your loans are eligible for Fresh Start and you have met all other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for additional federal student aid to cover your educational expenses
Find additional information on the FSA Fresh Start website.
Student Loan Repayment Pause has Been Extended
The student loan payment pause is extended until the U.S. Department of Education is permitted to implement the debt relief program or the litigation is resolved. Payments will restart 60 days later. If the debt relief program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 — payments will resume 60 days after that. Borrowers will be notified before payments restart.
Most student loans have been in a repayment pause in response to the financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This pause has been extended one last time until the litigation is resolved. You will need to prepare to enter repayment 60 days after the litigation is resolved or 60 days after June 30, 2023 if the litigation has not been resolved.
Find additional information on the FSA loan payment pause website.
Beware of Scams
Many students reported that they have been contacted by companies saying that they will help with debt relief, loan discharge or loan cancellation for a fee. Never pay for any of these services. Make sure that you are dealing with trusted companies or Department of Education partners such as your lender or your servicer.
To find out who holds your student loan login to studentaid.gov
More resources from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Financial Wellness page.