Student Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar Now
Since President Joe Biden announced his plans to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for qualifying Americans last month, people have been wondering: When can I apply?
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Americans still don’t have precise information from the White House on exactly how and when applications will be made available, but do have a solid idea — and experts stress that once applications are made available, federal student loan borrowers should fill them out immediately.
These are the four dates/timeframes that should be highlighted on your calendar if you’re pursuing student loan debt cancellation.
Early October
In September, the U.S. Department of Education said that applications for Biden’s loan forgiveness plan would be ready in “early October.” A specific date will soon be announced, but for now, borrowers should sign up for updates on the Department of Education’s website.
Nov. 15
Federal student loan borrowers should be ready to apply for forgiveness no later than Nov. 15, Mark Kantrowitz, a higher education expert, told CNBC. It will take roughly six weeks for your cancellation request to clear. If you apply no later than Nov. 15, you are more likely to get your debt eliminated before the pause on federal student loans ends on Dec. 31.
Dec. 31
This is an important date for student loan borrowers regardless, as it’s the day the pause on federal student loans expires. If you have outstanding debt after the amount forgiven, make sure that you have enough money set aside to begin resuming payments in January.
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Get Your Paperwork in Order Now
Before embarking on the application process, make sure that you have all relevant documents in hand now. Borrowers should gather any and all student loan debt records available to support their request, and can learn more about eligibility requirements here.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar Now
