How to Get Student Loans Forgiven

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I encourage all students to NOT pay your student loans, in fact do NOT sign ANYTHING such as another promissory note to pay them back. You are only strengthening their case. Many of these loans were only given to you because the lender believed they were government backed. Therefore, they "sold" them to you. These people and banks are no different than the people who sold homes to inviduals they knew couldnt pay.
Write to your senator and congressmen as well as the administration. This is a travesty and to the author of this piece - screw you.

JGreen of AZ 1:28PM May 07, 2009

My mom called me today wanting me to research info regarding loan forgiveness if youre on SSI.
I found a site that says if you receive SSI due to mental disability the student loand can be forgiven.
What prompted this is she had some student loans consolidated with a new loan company and when she called to find out what her new payment would be she was told her balance was $0.00. They asked her a lot of questions about being on SSI and the reason she was on it (she has a mental health illness).
Check out this site:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_student_loans_forgiven_if_you_receive_SSI
I have 40K in student loans... maybe I should go on SSI????

Signing_Up_For_SSI of FL 11:05PM May 04, 2009

I am seeking a way to either eliminate or substancially
reduce a loan that was incurred to learn how to operate
tractor trailers, I have not been employed for several years
and presently receiving social security which is my only
source of income, I am 63 years old.

Reynolds G. Pinder of NY 10:55AM April 17, 2009

Ihave been told if you work in a remote area with chidren your loan will be forgiving. I have a student that have worked at YMCA, Public school, and group homes. What procedures should be follow to find out whether she qualifies for student forgiveness.

herlene scott of SC 10:25AM April 16, 2009

I HAVE BEEN PAYING ON A STUDENT LOAN FOR YEARS . THE PEOPLE IN GREENVILLE TEXAS HAVE TAKEN EVERY THING ABOVE $750.00 SINCE I RETIRED ON DISIBALITY .IN MAY THIS PAST YEAR. I WAS APPROVED FOR MY DISABILITY MARCH 09 RETRO TO OCT 08 .MY RETIREMENT WAS INCREASED 300 + A MONTH , HOWEVER THE "DEBT COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1996" ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE%15% OF DISPOSABLE INCOME. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS MEANS AFTER MANDDATORY DEDUCTIONS re: TAXES etc,. THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE "THESE OFFSETS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO LET THE FEDERAL OFFSET UNIT MAKE YOU UNABLE TO PAY YOUR MORTAGE, PHONE BILL, CAR PAYMENT,INSURANCE OR MONEY TO BUY GROCERIES. WE NEED PEOPLE TO CALLOR WRITE TO A CONSUMER ADVOCATE ATTORNEY. HERE's ONE GOOD ONE- PETER F. BARRY-... GEORGE IN GEORGIA .

GEORGE T. BURGESS of GA 11:12AM April 15, 2009

I graduated from college in 1988 with about $20K in student loan debt. I paid over the years, but through those years I also fell into hard times. Job loss, other debt, etc.
My loans have been deferred, forebearanced, defaulted, and have changed hands many times over the last 20+ years. One agency that handled the payments demanded over $600 a month always to be sent via Western Union but when my spouse lost his job, I requested to be able to send the $600 a month in 2 payments a month to relieve some of the pressure. I was told "no". So we stopped paying.
I now am fighting a garnishment of my wages to which they are asking 15% of my disposable income or a lump sum payment of over $95K...yes for real...$95K! I hired an attorney to dispute all the extra interest and fees over the last 20 years. I had to send a financial disclosure, all our bills, childcare payment receipts, tax returns...which I did in January.
Yesterday, I received a letter from the US Department of Education saying they did not receive any of my information and I have been denied for relief from garnishment...unless of course I make voluntary arrangements with the collection agency that is now handling my loan.
Keep in mind, this is the same agency that has called all our relatives, my child's school, and my employer harrassing SOMEONE to pay this $95K! I did file a grievance with the Attorney General's office to which they sent the agency a letter threatening fines because of the Consumer's Rights Act.
I have volunteered to pay $450 per month to avoid the garnishment which as the date of this writing, will have me paying it every month for the next 17 years! And did I say in the beginning, this is for an Associate's Degree, not a Bachelor's, not a Master's, not a Doctorate!
And our government is bailing out banks and car manufacturers??? What about us American Citizens who have FEDERAL Student Loans and have done their very best to pay?

MB of KS 10:59AM April 06, 2009

My student loans are currently deferred because im unable to pay it. The trade i have, the current job field pays below 30,000 a year. Im trying to go back to school for other options but cant cause it will increase my student loan. Bailout here bailout there but nothing for us below middle-class. I cant qualify for the forgiveness plan cause im not in public service work, not everybody in public service. I think that is a bunch of BS

Trey of AL 12:33PM March 29, 2009

My sister is on SSI and had her loans forgiven due to her disability. Check with the lender and with Social Security. I'm not sure which helped her out.

Michelle of OR 2:16PM March 13, 2009

My mother just retired at age 62 and is living on social security. She went to college in 1994 to get a better job and incurred approx. $25k in student loans. She then went to work for the State as a case worker and made only approx. $25k a year. She has been paying consistently on her loans since that time and because of interest, is scheduled to pay until she is 80!! There HAS to be a forgiveness program for her....This can't be what the system is supposed to do for our responsible, hard working older Americans????????

Dawn Sprayman of TX 10:54AM February 26, 2009

It's honestly disgusting that attending a school for a PHd, JD, Masters, etc. can be a worse life decision than committing minor felonies. I graduated from law school a little over a year ago and have already paid b/w $8,000 and $10,000 in student loans, having hardly made a dent due to the interest. Meanwhile, b/w the lack of opportunities to further yourself or locate any forgiveness programs, you're basically trapped. I have yet to miss a payment, but as my graduated plan increases the amount I need to pay, I have to wonder if I'll be able to. Additionally, you work hard in the belief that your investing in a worthwhile future, but the loans make you ask whether you made a mistake! I graduated, passed the Bar, and feel like I have little to nothing to show for it. By the time I actually pay these loans back, if I ever do, I'll have paid about 3 times what I borrowed - how is that right? This is a student loan, the interest rates should be minimal, even for private loans. This is just another reason there is such a Gap b/w the Wealthy and the rest of America. The ability to pay tuition, etc. up front basically saves that student an immediate 100 - 200K based upon tuition! So the incredibly wealthy actually end up paying less for higher education? How broken is this system! The only way out is to either catch your break and make that huge salary, which at this point is slim, or have some truly worthwhile forgiveness options available. With billions being handed to wealthy, proven irresponsible CEOs, you'd think there would be some room for this...

GF of NY 12:47PM February 05, 2009