Are student loans forgiven when you reach a certain age?

Federal student loan debt in the United States is not forgiven when the borrower retires or at any other age. If a borrower defaults on his or her federal student loans, the federal government may offset up to 15% of the borrower’s Social Security disability and retirement benefits to repay the student loans.

Can an independent student be counted in household size on a sibling's FAFSA?

A 23-year-old child is considered to be an independent student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if he will reach age 24 by December 31 of the academic year. Otherwise, he is considered to be a dependent student, assuming that he doesn’t satisfy any of the other criteria for independent student status.

What can I do to prevent my college financial aid package from being reduced because I won a private scholarship?

Award displacement occurs when the receipt of one form of financial aid, such as a private scholarship, causes a reduction in other forms of financial aid.When a student is receiving need-based financial aid, receipt of a private scholarship may reduce the student's demonstrated financial need. The college financial aid office responds by reducing the student’s need-based financial aid package by a similar amount.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Limit on Private Student Loans?

Answered by Elaine Rubin on 12/14/2018

If you were denied student loans because you have maxed out both your federal and private student loans, these are the options available to you.

If I file the FAFSA, what happens if I decide I don't want to go to college anymore?

Answered by Elaine Rubin on 11/12/2018

If you're unsure about attending college, should you file the FAFSA? The Edvisor weighs in. Read More

Do I need to be a full-time student to request financial aid?

Answered by Elaine Rubin on 04/10/2018

Does enrollment status affect financial aid eligibility? Can only full-time students get financial aid? We break it down here. Read More

Should I wait until I graduate to get married?

Answered by Elaine Rubin on 03/19/2018

Should you wait until you graduate to get married? Will you lose your need-based aid if you get married? You've got tricky questions. We've got easy answers. The Edvisor tackles this topic! Read More

Is a Parent PLUS Loan forgiven if my parent dies?

Answered by Elaine Rubin on 01/29/2018

If the borrower of a federal student loan dies, the loan is cancelled. For example, if the borrower of a Parent PLUS Loan dies, the debt is discharged. It will not be charged against the borrower’s estate, nor is the cancelled Parent PLUS Loan debt treated as income to the student or the surviving spouse, if any.

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Can my parents defer Parent PLUS Loan payments if I'm going to graduate school?

Answered by Edvisors Network on 02/14/2017

The repayment of a Parent PLUS Loan may be deferred whenever the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Read More

How will dropping to half-time status affect my student loan grace period?

Answered by Edvisors Network on 11/18/2015

The grace period can be thought of as a “waiting period” which affords a student loan borrower time before he or she has to start repaying his or her federal student loans. Grace period begins when a student loan borrower graduates or drops below half-time enrollment.

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Can a lender collect on a student loan from 20 years ago?

Answered by Edvisors Network on 10/22/2015

The answer to this question depends on whether the loans are federal or private. Statutes of limitation specify the maximum number of years after a loan goes into default during which the lender can sue to recover the debt.

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Can I continue to defer payments on my Parent PLUS Loans now that my daughter is in graduate school?

Answered by Edvisors Network on 07/22/2015

Yes. Many financial aid professionals will incorrectly answer “no.” Their intuition tells them that the repayment obligation may be deferred only during the student’s initial in-school period. Their reasoning may be influenced by other restrictions on the Parent PLUS Loan, such as the loan being available only for a dependent student’s undergraduate education. But, a careful reading of the law and regulations clearly indicates that the repayment of a Parent PLUS Loan may be deferred whenever the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis. In this case, intuition is wrong.

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I have reached my federal student loan limits. How do I pay for college?

Answered by Edvisors Network on 07/16/2015

The annual loan limits on the Direct Unsubsidized Loan range from $5,500 to $7,500 for dependent undergraduate students and $9,500 to $12,500 for independent undergraduate students. The cumulative loan limits are $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students.

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