The Rosamond Financial Group Guide to the Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Regardless of the many opinions circulating about the President’s new student loan forgiveness plan, the fact remains if you have a student loan and meet the income guidelines, then this plan may have a direct bearing on your finances. Let’s take a look at what the plan means, and who might qualify.
The plan would provide up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness for students who receive a Pell Grant, and $10,000 of forgiveness for non-Pell Grant recipients. (1) Pell Grants are offered to low-income and middle-income students based on financial need, and the amount awarded to students does not need to be paid back. According to the White House, approximately 60% of people who have federal student loans received Pell Grants. (2)
Requirements for Forgiveness
Borrowers are eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households.
Private student loans are not eligible, only federal student loans. Of the $1.75 trillion of debt Americans have in student loans, roughly $1.62 trillion is from federal student loans while the remaining $131 billion comes from private loans. (3)
There is no age requirement, nor does the plan stipulate the borrower must be the one who used the loan for college. This means parents or grandparents who took out student loans for family members would be eligible for forgiveness, so long as they met the income requirements.
The plan also stipulates the reprieve is only for those who took out loans prior to June 30th, 2022. Thus, no loans taken after that date would be eligible for forgiveness under this plan. It is currently unclear if there will be future loan forgiveness plans.
The Department of Education said the application to apply for forgiveness will end on Dec. 31, 2023. To be notified of when the application opens to apply, you can sign up at the Department of Education subscription page.
Additional Student Loan Changes
The plan also made changes to the repayment of federal student loans, including:
- Lowered the percentage borrowers pay of their monthly discretionary income from 10% to 5% (only for undergraduate loans).
- Forgive loan balances after 10 years of payments if the borrower has a balance of $12,000 or less.
- Paying for a borrower’s unpaid monthly interest. Some borrowers have paid their monthly payments but have seen their balances grow because of the interest. Now, as long as they make their payment, their balance will not grow.
Planning for Future College Expenses
Despite the $10,000 to $20,000 debt forgiveness coming to certain borrowers, it is still advisable to plan for other ways to pay for the cost of a college education. In 2021-2022, the average cost of an in-state public college was $10,388, while an out-of-state public college was 22,698. The average private college cost was $38,185. (4) The main takeaway is, even if there is more forgiveness, that alone won’t be able to cover the full cost of 4 years in college.
Two of the most popular ways to save for college are a 529 plan and the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA); each offers tax benefits and can be suitable for savers.
A 529 plan allows for borrowers to invest contributions into an account, invest it with tax-deferred growth, and withdraw the money tax-free as long as the money is used for a qualified education expense. Additionally, some states offer a tax deduction on contributions made to 529 plans.
The ESA contributions are not tax-deductible, but like a 529, your contributions grow tax-deferred, and distributions used for qualified education expenses are tax-free.
The ESA has a $2,000/year contribution limit, while there is no contribution limit for the 529 (although you do need to ensure you don't exceed any gift tax limits, and if you do, you’ll need to report it on your tax return).
If You Qualify for Forgiveness
Whether you end up with a zero or reduced balance on your student loans as a result of this new program, you may think the benefit ends there, but what will you do with this newfound savings? Instead of absorbing those funds into your discretionary income, consider investing. Using the money to invest and build wealth can benefit you for years to come.
If you qualify, but the amount forgiven will lower but not eliminate your loans, there is still plenty of good news. Not only is your loan balance lower, but the amount of interest you pay each payment will decline, which will increase how quickly you can pay off your principal.
Also, as a result of your lower loan balance, your net worth will increase, which is a key indicator of your financial health. (5)
We Can Help
No matter what parameters you fall within, it’s important to explore your options and think about putting that money to work for you, your family, your retirement, and beyond. The Rosamond Financial Group can help you sort through those options and more. Book a free introductory meeting online or call my office at 830-798-9400 or email solutions@rosamondfinancialgroup.com.
About Preston
Preston Rosamond is a financial advisor and the founder of The Rosamond Financial Group Wealth Management, LLC with over two decades of industry experience. He provides comprehensive wealth management and financial services to successful business owners, corporate executives, and affluent retirees who enjoy simplicity and seek a professional to help them pursue their goals. Preston personally serves his clients with an individual touch, a sincere heart, and his servant’s attitude is evident from the moment you meet him. Learn more about Preston or start the conversation about your finances with him by emailing solutions@rosamondfinancialgroup.com or schedule a call on his online calendar.
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(1) https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/
(3) https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/average-student-loan-statistics/