U.S. Resumes Student Loan Forgiveness for Income-Driven Repayment Plans
The Department of Education has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit, ending a months-long pause on loan forgiveness for borrowers enrolled in Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), and Pay as You Earn (PAYE) plans. Eligible borrowers who have completed 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments will now see their remaining balances discharged.
This decision reverses an earlier freeze prompted by legal challenges, though borrowers under the newer Saving for a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan remain ineligible unless they switch to a qualifying program. The MOVE signals a step toward resolving longstanding frustrations over the stalled forgiveness process.