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Student Loan Pause: What You Need to Know
If you’re one of the millions of Americans with student loan debt, you’re probably familiar with the term “student loan pause.” This phrase has been making headlines lately, as the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the federal government to offer borrowers a temporary break from making their monthly payments. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the student loan pause is, how it works, and what you need to know if you’re considering taking advantage of this option.
What is a Student Loan Pause?
A student loan pause is a temporary break from making your monthly payments on your federal student loans. This option was first introduced in March 2020 as part of the CARES Act, which was designed to provide financial relief to Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The student loan pause was initially set to expire in September 2020, but it has since been extended multiple times.
Under the student loan pause, borrowers are not required to make any payments on their federal student loans, and interest is not accruing on these loans during this time. This means that if you have federal student loans, you can take a break from making payments without accruing additional interest.
How Does the Student Loan Pause Work?
If you have federal student loans, you don’t need to do anything to take advantage of the student loan pause. Your loan servicer will automatically put your loans into forbearance, which means you don’t have to make payments and interest will not accrue.
It’s important to note that not all loans are eligible for the student loan pause. Only federal student loans that are owned by the Department of Education are eligible. This means that if you have private student loans or federal loans that are owned by a private lender, you may not be able to take advantage of this option.
What You Need to Know About the Student Loan Pause
While the student loan pause can provide some much-needed relief for borrowers, there are some important things to keep in mind if you’re considering taking advantage of this option:
- The student loan pause is temporary.
While the student loan pause has been extended multiple times, it is still a temporary measure. It’s important to plan ahead and prepare to resume your payments once the pause is lifted.
- Not all loans are eligible.
As mentioned earlier, only federal student loans that are owned by the Department of Education are eligible for the student loan pause. If you have private student loans or federal loans that are owned by a private lender, you may not be able to take advantage of this option.
- Interest may still accrue on some loans.
While interest is not accruing on federal student loans during the student loan pause, this may not be the case for all loans. If you have private student loans or federal loans that are owned by a private lender, interest may still be accruing during the pause.
- The student loan pause does not forgive your debt.
While the student loan pause can provide some temporary relief, it does not forgive your debt. You will still be responsible for repaying your loans once the pause is lifted.
- You may still be able to make payments if you choose.
While you’re not required to make payments during the student loan pause, you may still be able to if you choose. Making payments during this time can help you reduce your balance and save money on interest in the long run.
Conclusion
The student loan pause can be a valuable tool for borrowers who are struggling to make their monthly payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it’s important to understand how it works and what you need to know before making any decisions about whether or not to take advantage of this option.