How to Get Student Loans Forgiven

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Many of the posters to this list will find that they are able to discharge Federal loans if they report (via the correct paperwork & a doctor's certification) that they are "totally & permanently" disabled. Please consult the financial aid officers at your former education institution about how to qualify. Another source of genuine help is talking with the current holder of your loan about how to handle extreme financial crises that make it impossible to commit to the payments that have been suggested.

Peggy of OR 2:55PM November 23, 2009

I never would have gone to school and taken on the $5000 debt (which now probably amounts to more than $30K with interests and penalties) were it not for the guarantee I got from the administrators at my Army Reserve unit. I went to them FIRST to make sure they would take care of the the tuition. They had all the information about the school, the courses I was to take, the amount it would cost, 'etc. With their assurances, I enrolled, attended and graduated with a 3.6 GPA. Every quarter I submitted my invoices and statements and not a word was ever said. THEN, I started getting repayment notices from the Fannie Mae and I submitted those and was only then told the loans would NOT be paid!
I got a job in my field of study but was only making $5/hr. With rent, utilities and food expenses I barely had cash enough to put gas in my car. In fact, I rode my bicycle back and forth to work during the week except in the middle of winter when it was just too dang cold. There was no way I could pay the $500/month. Then I lost that job, lost that apartment, the car broke down, I became homeless and have been employed sporadically over the past twenty years. The IRS retains whatever Federal refunds I'm owed to pay towards my student loans which has amounted to more than $7000 but the debt keeps growing and I'm hearing that there is no way I can get from under this unless I die.

Michael P. of GA 5:54PM November 12, 2009

I can't understand what the hell I was thinking going to college. Of course I was thinking having a college degree would help me in the long run. I can't even begin to describe my current situation right now. That's how bad it is.
I thought this was Equityville. This is where dreams came true. That is not the case at all. This is Inequityville. There is such an extreme distance between the rich and poor, so much division between the classes. The rich won't hire you because you lack the rich professional references. The poor won't hire you because you are too overqualified to be clerk at a Quikimart. And thanks to college education you don't seem to have any industry skills.
I can't even get a job as a ....
Hmm...Maybe some other country. So much for my 100 thousand dollar education.

PakmanFromNJ of NJ 12:38PM November 06, 2009

It's a shame the amount of debt we have to obtain with such limited opportunities in this country. I owe $66,000 and can't find a job in Long Island due to nepotism and a terrible economy. The NYS BOE and Federal Government should look into the ridiculous hiring practices in Education. They should also investigate the way the federal Government hands out money for education towards jobs that simply do not exist in our economy. I can just barely make my rent and car payment. I have even tried to secure employment in other states ( believe me, I have attended job fairs in 3-4 other places). After 4 years of military service, 3 years law enforcement and 6 years attending college (finishing my grad degree next semester) I am still scraping by. There was a time when an education symbolized the "American Dream." I am not so sure anymore....

William S. of NY 11:40PM October 07, 2009

I'm going through the same. Went to college, graduated & it's been really hard for me to find a good paying job after I graduated. I moved to the states to find a better job & be independent & things have been nothing but worse. I had been deferring my loan but now it just reached a point where I can not deferr it anymore. These people want me to start paying $600 monthly. I don't even have that money left after paying my rent & expenses. And if I don't pay it they will call my payroll company & start deducting the money from my paycheck. It's a really bad situation and I don't know what to do. I'm not denying to pay it but if I can at least reduce that payment to $200-300 until I can find a part time job & get back on track it would at least relieve me a bit. But those people don't care. They want that amount no matter what. I'm about to declare bankruptcy or leave my job & live from the goverment. This makes me ask myself "What did I go to college for?" But then again these are things that you don't think about when you go to college, are not eligible for student grants & have parents that don't help you. Sad situation. If someone out there knows of a something I could do to have them decrease the monthly payment for at least a couple of months I would appreciate they let me know. Like I said I know this is a debt I have to pay, not denying to pay it but right now the economy is really bad & jobs are not paying good at all.

S Rivas of FL 5:24PM October 07, 2009

I'm currently 25,000 in debt and have accumulated $2,000 in interest over that past year because currently I'm in a deferment. I just graduated in May 2008 with just an Associate Degree. I almost wish I just didn't go to school now considering I can't find a good job. I just make a little above minimum wage. I think it should be illegal for these loan companies to apply so much interest on these loans. I asked the Direct loans people what if I just paid $100 a month and they basically said It would never get paid off and I would just be paying interest!!! They might as well just shoot me now! What's the point of going to school to get a good paying job if you have to pay half of what you make in 2 weeks just to pay back the freakin loan. It's a lose lose situation. Should have just stayed working a WalMart! In the end your really don't have a good paying job after all that schooling and hard work you do if you have to make (you might as well say) a payment as big as another mortgage payment! Obama needs to do something!

Amanda of OH 2:38PM September 18, 2009

That was the most ridiculous answer to his/her question, I can't believe it was even published. It's not likely those loans are all private if they have a graduate degree and even without that, there are actually a lot of ways; teach writing in a low income area that's been approved, working for certain groups for a time that build houses or help in low income areas can also help your heart and your stress from loans.

Concerned of CA 2:07PM September 06, 2009

The government needs to take a look at the amount of interest students are being charged when they consolidate those loans to make them affordable. This should be illegal.
Student loans should be forgiven if the payments equal the loan amount (less any interest and fees).

Anne of NY 2:00PM September 02, 2009

I received two Federal HEAL Loans (Health Education Assistance Loan)in 1985-86 for a total of $24,000. The very same money loaned to MDs, Nurse practitioners and various other health related degrees. I began repayment in 1988 and used my two year forebearance when my children's father disappeared and stopped paying Child Support. I have never missed a payment since (until this year), so basically I've paid on this loan for nearly 20 years. I still owe over $20,000. I have paid well over $40,000 back. AND over the years we have practiced, I have Written off more that 20 times what my husband and I borrowed originally. I have served in a Medically underserved area in TN for the past 17 years. MDs come and go having their loans forgiven but because I am a CHIROPRACTOR (3rd generation) I don't qualify for the loan forgiveness. I have to write off Government insurance fees for Medicare or any other type of government insurance because they don't pay for chiropractic services. Remember, we are in a rural, medically underserved area and these people are on fixed incomes. I can't turn a someone away because they have crappy insurance. Where Medicare in concerned the Government won't pay for EXAMS (as if we could get by without an EXAM???), Xrays or Therapy in a Chiropractor's office. They won't even pay for them if REFERRED by a chiropractor. I have lived with discrimination against Chiropractic all my life simply because people don't understand what we do or why it works (it's your body healing itself), but THIS blatant discrimination by MY government is disgraceful. AND WHAT'S WORSE??? Obama's new plan doesn't even include Chiropractic at all. We are the largest Natural Health care profession in the world. What's a person to do to get by and pay their bills?

L. Fox Reid of TN 2:11PM July 08, 2009

I received two Federal HEAL Loans (Health Education Assistance Loan)in 1985-86 for a total of $24,000. The very same money loaned to MDs, Nurse practitioners and various other health related degrees. I began repayment in 1988 and used my two year forebearance when my children's father disappeared and stopped paying Child Support. I have never missed a payment since (until this year), so basically I've paid on this loan for nearly 20 years. I still owe over $20,000. I have paid well over $40,000 back. AND over the years we have practiced, I have Written off more that 20 times what my husband and I borrowed originally. I have served in a Medically underserved area in TN for the past 17 years. MDs come and go having their loans forgiven but because I am a CHIROPRACTOR (3rd generation) I don't qualify for the loan forgiveness. I have to write off Government insurance fees for Medicare or any other type of government insurance because they don't pay for chiropractic services. Remember, we are in a rural, medically underserved area and these people are on fixed incomes. I can't turn a someone away because they have crappy insurance. Where Medicare in concerned the Government won't pay for EXAMS (as if we could get by without an EXAM???), Xrays or Therapy in a Chiropractor's office. They won't even pay for them if REFERRED by a chiropractor. I have lived with discrimination against Chiropractic all my life simply because people don't understand what we do or why it works (it's your body healing itself), but THIS blatant discrimination by MY government is disgraceful. AND WHAT'S WORSE??? Obama's new plan doesn't even include Chiropractic at all. We are the largest Natural Health care profession in the world. What's a person to do to get by and pay their bills?

L. Fox Reid of TN 2:11PM July 08, 2009