Can You Settle on a Federal Loan?

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A frequently asked question from many borrowers is whether they can settle their student loan debt by means of a  reduced, lump sum payment?  Usually, the borrower is behind on payments, and a parent is willing to step up to the plate.  That question leads to my first question, are we talking about a federal loan or a private/state loan?

Let’s assume that the loans are federal loans?  The answer is that you can settle on a federal loan.  The issue is whether it makes sense.

First of all, you can only settle on a federal loan if it is in default.  That means generally that you are behind 270 days on payments.  In other words, you missed 9 payments. Note that a default triggers a slew of collections efforts that do not require a court judgment.

The two main types of federal student loans are Direct Loans and FFEL (Federal Family Education Loans) What deals are the feds willing to make on a Direct loan?  Well, there are general rules which indicate that the government will offer a compromise on a case by case basis based on all the facts and circumstances.    However, the following options were spelled out in the DOE’s 2009 PCA manual (http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2009-pca-procedures.pdf):

100% of principal and interest with no collection fees;

100% of principal and 50% of interest with no collection fees; or

90% if principal and interest with no collection fees.

Note that you cannot demand by right the above options.  The DOE has to agree to such options based on the facts and circumstances of your case.

The other principal type of federal loan is the FFEL which are issued by a private lender but guaranteed first by a guarantee agency and then ultimately by DOE.  Guaranty agencies may compromise or settle for no less than 70% of principal and interest with no collection fees.  The guaranty agency can theoretically give you a better deal, but it does not bind the DOE.  So, if you make a deal for 50% of principal and interest with the guaranty agency, the DOE can come after you for the difference.  It is important to get any compromise in writing and the writing should state that the DOE is bound by the terms of the settlement, and the DOE should sign off on the agreement.

The amount of the discount for a lump sum payment is rather underwhelming.  Why won’t the DOE and guaranty agencies make a better deal?  The reasons are many but two main reasons are that federal loans give the borrower the option to pay according to his or her income.  And, the collection powers of the federal government are so strong that they know they are going to get their money- one way or the other.

So, the answer to the question of whether you can settle on a federal loan is yes, but the real question is why would you want to?

 

 

 

Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans

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A student is required to sign a promissory note when she or he borrows money from the US Department of Education.  The note, however, does not have specific repayment terms.  What happens is that when you finish of leave school, you will be contacted concerning what payment plan will be applied to your loan.  You have the following options:

  1.  Standard Repayment- the loan is for a term of 5-10 years;  your payment goes to interest and principal so that the balance is paid in 60-120 payments.  This payment plan usually has the highest monthly payment.  At the same time, with a standard payment you pay the least amount of interest over the term of the loan.  If you do not pick a payment plan, DOE will default you into a standard plan.
  2. Standard (post 2006)- For Direct consolidation loans, the standard repayment option calls for a 10 year repayment if the amount due is less than $7500 and is extended to 30 years if the amount due is equal to or greater than $60,000.
  3. Graduated Repayment- payments start low but increase over the term of the loan which is 10 years.  This option works for students who expect to see steady increases in salary over the period.
  4. Extended Repayment- if the amount due exceeds $30,000, then you can repay on a standard or graduated repayment basis for up to 25 years.
  5. Income Driven Plans (IDR)- this is a generic term for repayment plans that are based on income.  You must specifically apply for a particular IDR program or you can request that the servicer put you into what it believes will be the least expensive program for you (do not recommend that approach).   You have to re-apply each year and provide proof of your income.  After you have made required payments for the term of the plan (20-25 years), the balance is forgiven.  However, that balance is reported to the IRS a debt forgiveness income and you may be liable for taxes at that time,
  6. IDR’s include the following:  Income Contingent Repayment (ICR), Income Based Repayment (IBR), PAYE plan and REPAYE Plan.  Each program has its own requirements and terms.
  7. If your income is low enough, the payment under a given IDR can be less than the interest that is accruing on the loan(s).  In such case, the interest is being capitalized into the principal, and the balance actually gets larger.
  8. You are not locked into one repayment plan during the term of your loan.  In fact, many students switch repayment plans to suit their specific needs at the time.

Repayment plans have specific eligibility requirements, especially IDR’s.  In many cases, it makes sense to consult with an experienced practitioner in this field to understand what your options are, and you obligations for each option.

 

Student Loans and Bankruptcy- Another Perspective

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Frequently, I have someone call me to inquire about bankruptcy because they cannot afford to pay their student loan debt.  I explain to them that bankruptcy discharges student loans only if the debtor can demonstrate to the court what is called an “undue hardship”.  While under the right circumstances, a debtor can prove “undue hardship”, it is a very high hurdle for most prospective debtors, and expensive  Not only do you have to pay for the bankruptcy, you are required to file an adversary proceeding; that is, a lawsuit within the bankruptcy.  To the extent that the lender opposes the discharge, this means all the elements of litigation- pleadings, discovery, court conferences, motions and trial.  It adds up.

However, that does not mean that bankruptcy cannot be part of a strategy to deal with your student loan debt.  Just as the average homeowner is not going to get out of paying her mortgage, the average student loan debtor is not going to be able to immediately walk away from her student loan debt.  But, you can take steps to make the payments affordable so that you are not sued (if private loan) or subject to an administrative garnishment or social security intercept (if a federal loan).

How can bankruptcy help?  Well, lets say you have $100,000 in student debt and make about $50,000 per year.  You are single with no dependents.  Your rent is high because rents are high in northern  NJ.  Your withholding taxes take 20-25% of your gross income.  Utilities, cable, phone, food, car loan or lease and insurance,an occasional night out (the basics).  Your budget is tight so you used the credit cards they sent you.

So you have $30,000 of credit card debt, about $5,000 of medical expenses that the insurance did not cover. Besides the basics, you are looking at about $500 in monthly payments for credit cards (just above minimums) the hospital (so they don’t sue you).  And then you have to pay your student loans.

A standard repayment in this example is over $1000 per month. But  Income Based Repayment ( IBR) and  REPAYE are less than half that.  Getting close.  If somehow, you could get rid of some of that non-school loan debt, you might be in a position to afford the student loan debt.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy could discharge the credit card and medical debts.  That would free up over $500 per month.  More importantly, those underlying debt are discharged.  Gone forever.

When you come to Kevin Hanly, Esq. LLC for a student loan analysis, we look at your entire financial picture to arrive at a strategy to make your student loan debt more affordable.  Most times that includes an income based repayment plan. Sometimes, it includes considering and maybe filing bankruptcy.

To get a better idea how bankruptcy works, you can check my bankruptcy website and blog at bankruptcy.kevinhanlylaw.com.

Forbearance-Any Good?

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According to the regulations, forbearance of federal loans involves a loan holder agreeing to a “temporary” stoppage of payments, an extension of time for making payments or acceptance of less than the full amount due.  The key term in the foregoing definition is “temporary”.

Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to talk with many people who have student loan debt.  A fair amount of them have told me that they could not afford their federal student loan payment, called their servicer, and were put into a forbearance.  Some have told me that they have been in a forbearance for two or three years.  Wrong.

That’s just not me talking.  Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Navient, the largest servicer of student loans for, among other things, steering borrowers into forbearance rather than analyzing their situation and directing them to a more appropriate repayment plan.  Why is forbearance not appropriate?  Well, first of all, interest accrues during the forbearance period.  That could be up to 5 years for Direct and FFEL loans and three years for Perkins loans. Borrowers come out of forbearance owing sometimes more than 150% of what they owed when they entered forbearance. More importantly, when the borrower leaves forbearance, that interest is capitalized into the unpaid principal.  At that point, the borrower is paying interest on interest.

Why do servicers do this?  Since we have not had testimony in the Navient case, we do not know their rationale or excuse.  However, some of the opinions include that it makes life easier for the servicer- many forbearances are granted over the phone.  Also, many proprietary schools (for profit) place students in forbearance to avoid defaults especially during periods when their default rate is being monitored by the government.

What should you do if you cannot afford your federal loans?   Well, you could consider an income driven repayment plan.  This would make payment affordable (in some cases $0) and you still get credit toward loan forgiveness.

Are there any circumstances where a forbearance is a good idea.  Yes if the forbearance is temporary.  An example would be that you are close to default date, have applied for an income driven repayment plan, and are awaiting a decision which can take up to 90 days.  Rather than slip into default, it would be wise to obtain a forbearance until the decision is made.

Be smart in dealing with your federal student loans.  There are options out there.  Reach out for help.  An experienced student loan attorney can be of real help.

Student Loan Deferment Basics

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Student loan deferment is a temporary method to stop payments and keep you out of default during the deferment condition.

A few basic rules:

1.  You cannot get a deferment if you are in default.

2.  If you have a subsidized loan, the government pays your interest during deferment while if you have an unsubsidized loan, interest accrues during the deferment period and is capitalized quarterly.

3. Although the concepts are basically the same, each loan program (e.g., Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins) has its own specific guidelines.

4.  You have to apply in writing for a deferment.

Related to deferments are grace periods.  If you have a Stafford loan (college), the obligation to pay begins after graduation or after the student is enrolled less that half time.  However, you given a grace period of six months to make actual payments.  For Plus loans, the obligation to repay begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement.  There is no grace period, which means that you need to get a deferment if you are still in school but not making payments.

Types of Deferments:

  1.  Graduate School Deferment- You can apply for deferment while in graduate school which defers payment not only on your graduate loans but also on your undergraduate loans for a period of 6 months after graduation or 6 months after you are enrolled less than half time.
  2.  Hardship Deferment- You graduated and are working but (a) are on public assistance, (b) earn less than 150% of the poverty level for family of your size or c) are involved in certain types of employment like the Peace Corp.  The hardship deferment is for a maximum of three years, but is given in one year increments.  At the end of each year, you must submit updated documentation/information to confirm that you are still eligible.
  3.  Unemployment Deferment-  You are out of a job.  The simplest way to prove this is to provide proof that you are receiving unemployment benefits.  Or you can prove that you registered with an employment agency and have actively been looking for a job.  The unemployment deferment relates back to the time you become unemployed (up to 6 month look back) and lasts for up to three years.
  4.  Military Deferment-  You are in the military or National Guard and on active duty during a war, military operation or national emergency.  The deferment lasts for 180 days after the demobilization date for each period of service.

You should note that the requirements relating to each type of deferment have and do change based on changes in the law by congress and/or regulations by the executive branch.

Deferments are a short term solution to keep you out of default. In certain case, like the unemployment deferment, there are better solutions to keep you out of default.  Those solutions will be the subject of future blogs.

 

 

Feedback From Public

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This week, I had the opportunity to speak to a Rotary group about student loans.  I have been a member of Rotary, an international service organization, since the late 1980’s.  All clubs meet on a weekly basis.  A meal is shared and then club business is addressed.  At least 1-2 times per month, there is a guest speaker.

During the lunch, I had the opportunity to speak with the Rotarians at my table, all of whom have adult children who are finished with school.  All remarked how expensive college and graduate schools have become over the last 25 years, and that the high cost of post secondary education was postponing young people from marriage, buying a home, and/or having children.  The consensus was that this is not good for society.  I agree.  What was interesting about this conversation was that they all were of the opinion that a the biggest culprit for this almost exponential increase in post secondary education costs was the federal government. (and this was a town that went blue in 2016).  They reasoned that by making money readily available to students, the federal government actually encouraged schools to raise their costs of attendance far beyond the rate of inflation.  Although there are many reasons for the increasing in cost of education, they certainly have a point.

My speech went about 5 minutes over what I had planned, but only 2 or three of the audience appeared to be glazing over or nodding out.  Most of the presentation dealt with federal loans- the programs (Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins); types of loans (Stafford, Parent Plus, Grad Plus, Perkins); deferments and forbearances; repayment plans (Standard, Graduated, and the various income driven plans); and how you get into and out of default.  The presentation concluded with a brief discussion on private loans and bankruptcy.  While the group seemed attentive, they did not react much until I started speaking about loan servicers.  That led to more than a few groans and chuckles.

After the talk, I had the opportunity to speak with 3 audience members who had specific questions.  All started out by saying that either they or their children had been trying in vain to get straight answers from their loan servicers.  Given their comments and the general reaction during my speech, even the casual observer senses that servicers are not doing a satisfactory job.

This anecdotal evidence is borne out by the fact that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has sued Navient, the largest servicer of federal and private loans, for failure to properly advise students about their options, losing documents and misapplying payments, among other things. The Bureau seeks to obtain permanent injunctive relief, restitution, refunds, damages, civil money penalties, and other relief for Defendants’ violations of Federal consumer financial laws.

It does not give students and their parents much confidence when the largest servicer of student loans is being sued by the government for failing to do its job.

The new administration knows that there is a problem with student loan servicing.  One of their solutions is to reduce the number of servicers to a single servicer.  I do not think that is a good idea.  With no competition, what incentive would this lone servicer have to fly right (especially considering that the administration is also vowing to eliminate the CFPB)?  Another solution is that servicing should be turned over to the IRS.  As crazy as this sounds, there is some bi-partisan support in Congress for this action.

IMHO, none of the proposed solutions to the servicer problem will insure good service to the consumer.  In the short run then, students and their parents might consider consulting and utilizing experienced student loan counselors (either attorney or non attorney) in assisting them with servicer and other student loan issues.

 

Federal Loans

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A quick review of federal loans:

-you will need to fill out a FAFSA

-Two federal loan programs.

1. The first is the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) which was created by the Higher Education Act of 1965.  A bank or Sallie Mae is the usual lender.  The lender is insured by a guaranty agency, which is usually a state agency .  In New Jersey, the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority acts as a guaranty agency for FFEL loans.  If a borrower defaults on a FFEL loan, the lender is paid by and transfers the loan to the guaranty agency.  The guaranty agency attempts to collect the loan.  If the guaranty agency does not collect, it is paid by and transfers the loan to the US Department of Education (ED).  The FFEL program was  discontinued as of July, 2010.  Note, however, that there are still many FFEL loans outstanding.

2. The second program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (commonly known as the Direct Loan Program) which was created by the Student Loan Reform Act of 1993.  With Direct Loans, the lender is ED.  If you received a federal loan after June 30, 2010, it is a Direct Loan.

-Types of loans: Stafford, Perkins, Parent Plus, Graduate Plus

1. Stafford

For undergraduate students, Stafford loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized.  With a subsidized loan, no interest accrues until six months after graduation or six months after you leave school.  A subsidized loan is based on need.  With an unsubsidized loan, interest begins to accrue once the funds are disbursed.  With either type of loan, payments are deferred until six months after graduation or six months after you leave school.  With unsubsidized loans, the accrued interest is capitalized into the principal, so you are paying interest on interest.  Therefore, it is wise to pay down the interest portion of the unsubsidized Stafford loan each year while you are in school.  For graduate students, the unsubsidized loan program has ended; therefore, all new Stafford loans are unsubsidized.

The maximum amount of Stafford loans for dependent undergraduates is $31,000 (with maximum of $23,000 subsidized); for independent undergraduates, $57,500 (with maximum of $23,000 subsidized).  For graduate students, the maximum amount of Stafford loans is $138,000; for medical students, $224,000.

2. Perkins

Perkins loans are based on exceptional need.  The limit per year for undergraduate students is $5,000 with a cumulative limit of $27,500; for graduate students the yearly limit is $8,000 with a $60,000 cumulative limit which applies to both undergrad and graduate loans.  The interest on Perkins loans is subsidized and the deferment period is 9 months after graduation or 9 months after leaving school.

3.  Parent Plus

In this case, it is the parent or step parent of a dependent student who borrows the money.  The parent and student must not be in default of any federal student loan.  The parent must pass a credit check. Moreover, the parent or step parent must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen.  The annual loan limit is the cost of attendance less any other financial assistance received.  Beginning on or after October 1, 2016, a 4.276% origination fee is withheld by ED at the time of the disbursement and the remainder is disbursed into the student’s account.  Interest accrues upon disbursement and payments begin 60 days after disbursement (unless the parent specifically requests and receives a deferment).

4.  Grad Plus

The graduate student must be enrolled at least half time in a degree granting program.  The student must pass a credit check  The annual loan limit is the cost of attendance less any other financial assistance received.  Beginning July 1, 2013, the interest rates on Grad Plus loans is variable with a maximum of 10.5% (ouch).  Interest accrues from date of disbursement.  Payments begin six months after graduation or six months after you leave school, and the accrued interest capitalizes into the loan so you are paying interest on interest.  The origination fee is 4.276% and the balance is disbursed to the student’s account.

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Student Loan Advice For New Grads

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Kelsey Gee wrote an article which appeared in the May 13-14 edition of the Wall Street Journal entitled “Outlook is Rosier for Class of ’17”.  Good news for a change.  According to the executive search firm, Korn/Ferry International, salaries, adjusted for inflation, are expected to be up 14% from 2007 for undergrads.  The overall average is expected to be a tad under $50,000; however, the average for software development is $65,232; engineers, $63,036; actuaries, $59,212; and scientists and researchers, $58,773.  A survey conducted at Adelphi University indicates that 2/3 of those responding had at least one job offer.  But, the executive director of career services at Adelphi warned that only about 30% of the class responded to the survey.  He also warned that the average student could expect a 6 month search before landing a job.

A good many of these graduates have federal student loans.  If so, then the student has a six month grace period before payments begin for Stafford loans, and a 9 month grace period for Perkins loans.  There is no grace period for Parent Plus loans.

If you have a subsidized Stafford loan, the government is paying the interest until the end of the grace period.  However, if you have an unsubsidized Stafford loan, you are being charged interest from the time you draw down the money.  The unpaid interest in capitalized onto the principal, so you are paying interest on interest.  Not a good situation (especially if you are a graduate student and are accumulating loans over 5-7 years).  My advice to the undergrad is to contact your servicer upon graduation (or the start of your job) and make arrangements to pay down the interest that is accruing.  It will save you a few bucks.

Also, if you are working in the public sector or a non-profit, look into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.  If you are qualified and make 120 payments, you can be eligible to have the remainder of your student loan debt forgiven tax free.  Be careful, though, because you have to have the right type of employer and the right type of payoff plan for this program to kick in.  If you need help in this area, contact a qualified student loan lawyer

And for those students who do not find a job, my advice is, DO NOT let the servicer talk you into applying for a forbearance.  There are better ways to deal with this situation.

 

 

 

Closed School Discharge

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For the most part, you have to pay your federal student loans for an extended period of time before the loan balance is forgiven.  And in most cases, even if the loan balance is forgiven, you will have to pay taxes of the forgiven debt.

However, there are some instances where your federal loan can be administratively discharged.  One such instance is when the school closes.  Nowadays, on a fairly regular basis, we hear reports of “for profit” school going out of business.  In 2013, the DOE reported that of 128 schools that had closed in the prior 5 years, 82 were “for profit schools”.

So, how do you qualify for a closed school discharge?  First, it has to be a federal loan.  That means a Direct Loan, a FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) or a Perkins loan.  This includes a Parent Plus Loan.  Second, the loan proceeds were disbursed after January 1, 1986.  Third, the student was enrolled or on an official leave of absence on the date of closure, or had withdrawn not more than 120 days prior to the date of closure.  Fourth, you have to file an application for discharge of the loan.

Sounds pretty straightforward, but the closed school discharge, like everything with federal student loans, has its own regulations and internal rules.  So, if you do not follow the rules you may find that you do not get the discharge.

Moreover, there are some pitfalls.  First, if you already graduated, then you cannot get the closed school discharge.  I have heard from more than one student that the school from which they graduated had closed, and they should be reimbursed on payments because the education that they received was a useless waste of money.  That may lead to different issues, but it will not get you a closed school discharge.

Second, if the school has numerous branches, the discharge only applies if the branch that you attend is closed.  If you are taking all your courses online, then the closed school discharge applies if the main campus closes.

Third, if you transfer your credits to another school, and continue with your program at the new school, you are not eligible for the discharge.  This also applies to what is referred to as “teach out agreements”.  With teach out agreements, the closing school works out a deal with another school or with a non-closing branch of the school to accept the student into its program.  However, a school cannot force a student to accept a teach out agreement if the courses are being taught at a location different from where the student was enrolled.

If you received a closed school discharge, you do not have to repay the loan, any accrued interest or any collection or administrative fees associated therewith.  Moreover, the student borrower is entitled to reimbursement for any payments made on the loan.  And, if you qualify for the closed school discharge, the amount discharged is not subject to tax.

 

Continuing the Theme

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In the last post, we warned the readers to be careful in dealing with servicers who have shown a tendency to push borrowers who are having problems paying back their loans into forbearance rather than giving advice as to how to get into income driven repayment plans.

In 2016, DOE officials, at the request of the Obama administration, sent out memoranda to servicers advising them to be more proactive in helping borrowers manage and/or discharge their debt (“2016 memoranda”).  The problem from the servicers’ point of view is that providing the services requested in the 2016 memoranda would require more sophisticated representatives to deal with the borrower’s issues.  Those reps need to be trained, and then be paid a salary commensurate with their enhanced abilities.  Moreover, the reps will need to spend more time with borrowers to try to arrive at a workable plan.  Bottom line- what the 2016 memoranda requested is much more expensive for servicers and, undoubtedly, will cut into their profit.

Servicing contracts for student loans are awarded on a multi-year basis by the Federal Student Aid Office.  The current contracts are set to expire in 2019.  The general consensus of experts in the area of student loan servicing was that the reforms called for in the 2016 memoranda would be considered seriously in evaluating which companies get  the new contracts.

Navient is in consideration for the 2019 servicing contracts. In January, 2017, the CFPB and the attorneys general of Illinois and Washington filed lawsuits against Navient.  Among the allegations were that Navient did not adequately inform borrowers about more affordable income driven repayment plans, lost paperwork and misapplied payments. The lawsuit, the numerous complaints by individual student loan borrowers to the CFPB ombudsman, and the attendant negative publicity associated therewith, could not enhance their chances of being awarded a new contract. One would think.

But, the pushback is well under way.  About two weeks ago, the National Council of Higher Education Resources, one of the student loan industry’s main lobbyists, set letters to the House and Senate appropriations committees urging that Congress direct the DOE to look at the new servicing contracts to reduce unnecessary and burdensome requirements.  This week, Education Secretary DeVos rescinded the 2016 memoranda stating that the proposed contract process has been beset by moving deadlines, changing requirements and lack of consistent objectives.  DeVos emphasized that the DOE should create a loan servicing environment that provides the highest quality customer service while limiting the cost to taxpayers.  No details on what any of that means. Navient shares increased in value by 2% of the day of DeVos’s announcement.  So, Wall St. is betting on Navient being there when the smoke settles.

According to Rohit Chopra, the former student loan ombudsman at CFPB, the DeVos directive is a big win for companies that have run roughshod over borrowers.

What does this mean to the average student loan borrower?  There may be a restrictions on repayment plans.  But, if that happens, it will be down the line.  On a more practical level, servicers will be given a more free hand to aggressively pursuing student debt.  And don’t expect these servicers to be user friendly.

Our advice is to be pro-active, and to seek help early on in the process.