A debilitating sickness or injury can be life-changing and make it challenging or impossible to pay back student loans. Because of this, borrowers who are considered “totally and permanently disabled” may qualify to have their student loans discharged through a federal forgiveness program known as Total and Permanent Disability Discharge.
Since this is a federal program, it only applies to federal student debt and not private student loans. Here’s what to know about student loan disability discharge and who is eligible for the program.
Table of Contents
- Disability Discharge of Student Loans
- Can Student Loans Be Forgiven Due to Disability?
- What Is Student Loan Total and Permanent Disability Discharge?
- Applying for Student Loan Disability Discharge
- What Happens if I’m Approved for Student Loan Disability Discharge?
- What Is Student Loan Refinancing?
- Refinancing Student Loans With SoFi
- FAQ
Key Points
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge forgives federal student loans for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities.
• Eligibility requires a disability lasting or expected to last at least 60 continuous months or that could result in death.
• Documentation can be provided by the VA, SSA, or a healthcare professional.
• SSA or physician approvals for TPD include a three-year monitoring period.
• Refinancing federal student loans disqualifies borrowers from the TPD Discharge program.
Disability Discharge of Student Loans
Student loan disability discharge relieves borrowers of their student loan responsibilities in the event of total and permanent disability. Receiving a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge from the U.S. Department of Education means that a qualifying borrower does not need to pay back federal student loans or complete a TEACH Grant service obligation.
Can Student Loans Be Forgiven Due to Disability?
Federal student loans can be forgiven due to disability. Borrowers interested in a disability discharge need to apply for the program and provide documentation to show that they are considered “totally and permanently disabled.” The Department of Education will review the application to determine if an applicant qualifies.
In some instances, the Department of Education may receive information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that an individual may qualify for a disability discharge of student loans. In these cases of automatic discharge, the Department of Education may contact a borrower to provide information about requesting a TPD discharge.
You might also have a representative apply for you, such as a relative or an organization like a veterans’ service organization. To do this, you must submit an Applicant Representative Designation form for the other party to act as a representative on your behalf. The form must be processed by the Department of Education before they can work with the third party on a TPD discharge for you.
Again, the student loan disability discharge program only applies to federal loans, such as Direct Loans, FFEL Program Loans, or Perkins Loans. This program doesn’t apply to private student loans.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.
What Is Student Loan Total and Permanent Disability Discharge?
A Total and Permanent Disability Discharge means that a qualifying borrower will not be required to pay back federal student loans or complete a TEACH Grant service obligation.
Loans included in the program are those issued by the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans), the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL), and the Federal Perkins Loans. Borrowers in a TEACH Grant service program may also be relieved from having to complete whatever service obligation remains in their program.
Applying for Student Loan Disability Discharge
If you would like to apply for a disability discharge of student loans, the first step is to fill out a TPD discharge application.
You’ll also need to gather together documentation showing that you meet the Department of Education’s requirements for being “totally and completely disabled.” There are three ways to provide the necessary documentation:
1. Through the VA
If you are a veteran, you can work with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to provide the documentation needed to prove that you are permanently disabled from a service-related injury.
2. Through the Social Security Administration
If you are already receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you can use documentation from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
3. Through a Physician
You also can have a physician (an MD or DO), nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA), or certified psychologist certify that you are unable to earn money in any substantial way due to a physical or mental impairment. Here are the current official qualifications:
• The impairment could result in death.
• The impairment has lasted for a continuous period of at least 60 months.
• The impairment can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 60 months.
What Happens if I’m Approved for Student Loan Disability Discharge?
It depends on whether you were approved for a disability discharge through the VA, the SSA, or your physician.
If you provided documentation from the VA, the following will happen upon approval:
• You’ll be notified of the discharge
• Your loan holders will be instructed to return any loan payments received on or after the effective date of the disability determination
If you provide documentation from the Social Security Administration or from your physician, there will be an additional step if you qualify: You’ll be notified that you are subject to a three-year monitoring period. Your loans or TEACH work obligation could be reinstated if you don’t meet certain requirements at any time.
During the monitoring period, your obligations may be reinstated if you receive a new federal student loan under the Direct Loan Program or a new TEACH Grant, or if the SSA determines you are no longer disabled.
Recommended: Examining How Student Loan Deferment Works
What Is Student Loan Refinancing?
If you don’t qualify for a TPD discharge, there are other options for lowering student loan costs. You can contact your loan servicer to find out if you’re eligible for deferment or forbearance — or to see if you’re eligible for an income-driven payment plan, which bases your monthly payments on your discretionary income and family size, and generally results in lower payments.
Refinancing your student loans can also help you lower your repayment costs. With refinancing, you exchange your old loans for a new loan.
Because you’re using the new loan to pay off the existing loans, it’s possible to change the terms of the loan, such as securing a lower interest rate or shortening the loan term (both of which mean saving interest over the life of the loan). You could also lengthen the loan term (which can lower your monthly payments, but potentially result in paying more interest over the life of the loan).
Keep in mind that if you refinance federal loans, you’ll lose access to federal benefits and protections, including eligibility for TPD, income-driven repayment, or other federal loan programs such as deferment or forbearance. If you think you might want to pursue a disability discharge or other federal loan programs in the future, refinancing your federal loans may not be a good choice for you. If you have private loans, however, it may be worth exploring.
Refinancing Student Loans With SoFi
Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.
FAQ
What disabilities qualify for student loan forgiveness?
To receive federal loan forgiveness under the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge program, you must have a mental or physical disability that severely limits your ability to work now and in the future. You’ll need to provide documentation of this total and permanent disability through the VA, the SSA, or a healthcare provider.
Can you get student loan forgiveness if you become disabled?
A borrower can apply for a student loan disability discharge only if they become totally and permanently disabled. An individual who qualifies for a TPD discharge is not required to pay back their student loan or complete their TEACH Grant service obligation.
Do you have to pay back student loans if you are on disability?
If a person is receiving SSDI or SSI benefits from the Social Security Administration and their next disability review is not for another five to seven years, then a person is considered totally and permanently disabled and eligible to apply for a TPD discharge. A three-year monitoring period follows a TPD discharge that is based on documentation from either the SSA or a doctor.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance SoFi Loan Products
Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SOSLR-Q325-010