The US Department of Education’s COVID 19 relief for Federal Student Loans is ending soon and roughly 1 in 8 Americans will have to restart their loan payments as soon as October.
Interest resumes on September 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October 2023.
If you are a parent of a young adult who graduated during the past three years of the COVID 19 loan repayment pause, these students may have never been required to make a payment on their Federal Student Loans until now.
If you have a Federal Student or Parent Plus Loan, or if you are the parent of a recent college graduate, here are ways to prepare for the loan repayment start up:
This is a good time to check in with young adults and discuss their loans. Don’t assume they are aware of the repayment start and what to do.
Be sure to let them know that they must watch for communications from their servicer for a bill. You can be a resource to help them remain in good standing and on track to pay off their loans on time.
Anyone with outstanding Federal Student loans, which include Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans, Federal Direct Graduate Student Loans, Graduate Plus Loans, and Federal Parent Plus Loans, should prepare for repayment (unless you kept up payments during the pause).
Below are steps you should take in August and September.
By logging in to your FSA (Federal Student Aid) dashboard with your FSA ID and password, you will have access to the information you need.
Here are some specifics:
- Log on to Federal Student Aid, and update your contact information, including mailing address, email, phone; you can also update your information with you loan servicer using this link
- Confirm the status of your loans, total amount you owe, and the current servicer (government agency handling your repayment)
- If you are repaying Student Loans for the first time, here is a step-by-step plan with links to be sure you are set up for your first payment: FSA: Repaying Student Loans for the First Time
Watch for communications regarding your loan: your bill, payment amount, and due date should arrive at least 21 days before your due date.
A smart way to save on interest is if you set up auto-pay so you will save 0.25% on your interest rate.
If you were on an income-based repayment plan, or want to explore more affordable plans information is here: FSA Income-Driven Repayment Plans
Important Note: If you choose an income-driven repayment plan, this will extend your repayment time, and interest and total amount to be repaid.
More information on the repayment start can be found at: Federal Student Aid-Managing Loan Repayment
Here you can find more information on:
If you have questions about the Federal Student Loan repayment restart, or would like to discuss your situation with regard to paying for college, Donna is available to help.