How to Access the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Application

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The application for federal student loan forgiveness officially launched on Oct. 17, 2022, and will be available for eligible borrowers to access until Dec. 31, 2023.

Borrowers are eligible for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness. Eligibility is determined by your income and whether your loans are owned by the U.S. Department of Education.

Here’s how to access the application and how to determine your eligibility:

How do I access the application?

You can access the federal student loan debt relief application on StudentAid.gov. The home page displays an Apply Now button. Once you click on it, you’re taken to a simple form with a couple steps:

• Enter your contact information and Social Security number. You’ll need to provide your name, SSN, date of birth, and the best way to reach you, either through email or phone number.
• Review and submit your application. The form includes a few statements you must agree to before you can submit your application.

The form itself should only take you a few minutes to complete. Once you’ve submitted it, a confirmation email will be sent to your inbox.

Learn More: What to Know About the CARES Act and Student Loans

How soon will my application be processed?

Once the Department of Education reviews your application and determines your eligibility, it’ll work with your loan servicer to process your student debt relief.

The Department of Education may contact you for additional information if it needs to verify your income.

There’s no definitive timeline as to when the student debt relief will be processed, but officials expect a four- to six-week turnaround from the day you submit your application. The Department of Education also urges borrowers to apply by Nov. 15, 2022, so that it can process the debt relief before the student loan payment pause ends on Dec. 31, 2022.

What are the eligibility requirements for forgiveness?

On Aug. 24, 2022, President Joe Biden announced up to $20,000 in forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for non-Pell Grant recipients. In order to qualify for forgiveness, you must:

• Make less than $125,000 as a single tax-filer
• If married, make less than $250,000 as a joint tax-filer

If your debt is less than $20,000, your relief is capped at your outstanding student loan balance. For example, if you owe $13,000, then the maximum amount of relief you could get is $13,000.

Additionally, student loan forgiveness doesn’t apply to private student loans. But refinancing could allow you to get a lower interest rate.

The student loan refinance companies in the table below are Credible’s approved partner lenders. Because they compete for your business through Credible, you can request rates from all of them by filling out a single form. Then, you can compare your available options side-by-side. Requesting rates is free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and your personal information is not shared with our partner lenders unless you see an option you like.

Lender	Variable rates from (APR)	Fixed rates from (APR)
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	N/A	2.94%+
Fixed APR: 2.94%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $7,500 up to $500,000 Loan terms (years): 10, 15, 20 Max. undergraduate loan balance: $250,000 – $500,000 Time to fund: 4 days Repayment options: Immediate repayment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or noncitizen with proof of residency card, have an acceptable income and credit history or an approved cosigner, and have entered grace or repayment on the loans he or she wants to refinance Customer service: Phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 12 months Loan servicer: Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation Max. graduate loan balance: $250,000 – $500,000 Credible Review: Advantage Education Loan review Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing : Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	4.82%+	2.49%+
Fixed APR: 2.49%+ Variable APR: 4.82%+ Min. credit score: 690 Loan amount: $10,000 to $400,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must have a credit score of at least 720, a minimum income of $60,000, and must be a resident of Texas Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Does not disclose Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 – $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 – $400,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Does not disclose
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	3.99%+1	4.49%+1
Fixed APR: 4.49%+1 Variable APR: 3.99%+1 Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $10,000 to $750,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay, loyalty Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months Loan servicer: Firstmark Services Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $150,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	3.69%+2	4.49%+2
Fixed APR: 4.49%+2 Variable APR: 3.69%+2 Min. credit score: Does not disclose Loan amount: $5,000 to $300,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 Repayment options: Military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: All states except for ME Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 24 to 36 months Loan servicer: College Ave Servicing LLC Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $100,000 to $149,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: Less than $300,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	5.91%+5	5.91%+5
Fixed APR: 5.91%+5 Variable APR: 5.74%+5 Min. credit score: 700 Loan amount: $7,500 to $200,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and submit two personal references Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 36 months Loan servicer: Granite State Management & Resources (GSM&R) Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $249,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $150,000 to $199,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing : Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	2.48%+3	4.29%+3
Fixed APR: 4.29%+3 Variable APR: 2.48%+3 Min. credit score: 680 Loan amount: $10,000 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 Repayment options: Forbearance Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have at least $15,000 in student loan debt, and have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved school Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Mohela Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $250,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $250,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	3.67%+4	5.18%+4
Fixed APR: 5.18%+4 Variable APR: 3.67%+4 Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $5,000 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15, 20 Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance Fees: Late fee Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: Yes Max undergraduate loan balance: $250,000 Max graduate loan balance: $250,000 Offers Parent PLUS refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	N/A	4.5%+
Fixed APR: 4.5%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $10,000 up to the total amount Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15 Repayment options: Military deferment, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have at least $10,000 in student loans Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: AES Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: No maximum Max. Gradaute Loan Balance: No maximum Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	N/A	5.49%+
Fixed APR: 5.49%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 670 Loan amount: $7,500 to $300,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 8, 12, 15 Repayment options: Does not disclose Fees: None Discounts: None Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen and have and at least $7,500 in student loans Customer service: Email, phone, chat Soft credit check: Yes Cosigner release: After 12 months Loan servicer: PenFed Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $300,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $300,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Credible Rating Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.	N/A	4.29%+
Fixed APR: 4.29%+ Variable APR: N/A Min. credit score: 680 Loan amount: $7,500 to $250,000 Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15 Repayment options: Academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability Fees: None Discounts: Autopay Eligibility: Available in all 50 states; must also have at least $7,500 in student loans and a minimum income of $40,000 Customer service: Email, phone Soft credit check: Does not disclose Cosigner release: No Loan servicer: Rhode Island Student Loan Authority Max. Undergraduate Loan Balance: $150,000 – $249,000 Max. Graduate Loan Balance: $200,000 – $249,000 Offers Parent PLUS Refinancing: Yes
Compare personalized rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit score. 100% free! Compare Now
All APRs reflect autopay and loyalty discounts where available | 1Citizens Disclosures | 2College Ave Disclosures | 5EDvestinU Disclosures | 3 ELFI Disclosures | 4INvestEd Disclosures | 7ISL Education Lending Disclosures

Keep Reading: Up to $20K in Student Loan Forgiveness for Some Borrowers, and Payments Remain Paused

How do I know if I received a Pell Grant?

You may be wondering if you received a Pell Grant, especially if it’s been some time since you graduated from college. You can check on the StudentAid.gov website for your Pell Grant history. Here are the steps:

1. Log in. Visit StudentAid.gov and log in using your credentials.
2. Verify your information. You may need to verify your information, including your physical address (if you moved since you last logged on) as well as your email address and phone number.
3. Access the dashboard. Once you confirm this information, you’ll have access to the StudentAid.gov dashboard. You should see an infographic of your total loan balance, including the amount you owe on principal and interest. If you received grants, there should be a second infographic of your total disbursed amount in grant funds. Click on “View Details” in the top right corner.
4. View tabs. From there, you should now see two tabs: one for loans and one for grants. Clicking on the Grants tab takes you to a page with more information, including how many additional Pell Grants you’re eligible to receive, if any.
5. View grants. The bottom of the page also details which college you received the grants from, the award year you received them, the grant amount, and the disbursed amount. Clicking on the View Grant Details arrow under each Pell Grant gives you detailed information about the individual grant, including the amount, award year, and point of contact for your college in case you have questions about the grant.

It’s also a good idea to check with your school’s financial aid office if you have more questions about your grants.

In the meantime, you can consider refinancing your private student loans. With Credible, you can easily compare student loan refinance rates from multiple lenders in minutes — without affecting your credit.

About the author

Jared Hughes

Jared Hughes is a Student Loans Editor and Credible authority on student loans and personal finance.

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