Requesting Student Loan Forgiveness

(Total and Permanent Disability Discharge)
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Those who have TDIU or have a Combined disability rating of 100% are eligible for forgiveness of FEDERAL student loans!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • You do NOT need to be rated Permanent and Total (P&T)!

  • Parent PLUS loans WILL be forgiven as well.

  • Loans taken out AFTER becoming TDIU/Perm and Total ARE forgiven as well.

  • Forgiveness under this program (VA Disability) is a ONCE n DONE deal! Meaning if you plan on taking additional Federal loans, you may want to delay the forgiveness!

  • If Veteran had a TEACH Grant, obligations from that grant are also forgiven.

  • After December 31, 2025, loans forgiven WILL be counted as income and taxed!

Requesting Forgiveness/Discharge

If the forgiveness was not processed automatically (VA telling them you are qualified):

  1. Contact your loan servicer to let them know you are planning on applying for the forgiveness discharge. This will give you 120 day pause - to think things through.

    • If you are sure you are going to file for forgiveness then you CAN skip this step as your payments will be automatically paused while your application is being processed (starting once your application has been received).

  2. Complete the Discharge application.

    • On the disability info page, select the option that best describes your situation (VA Disability).

  3. Get a copy of your VA benefit summary letter from VA.gov and upload it to your application.

    • Log in > Top right of screen, click your name > Letters > View Letters > Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter > Click the blue PDF button.

  4. Digitally sign and certify your TPD Discharge Application.

Deferring Forgiveness/Discharge

STOP THE MUSIC! I WANT TO KEEP TAKING LOANS!

If you are eligible but you want to delay the forgiveness you MUST contact Federal Student Aid.

  • Click HERE for options to contact them, which includes calling, online chat, email, and faxing.

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Federal student loans would be:

      • Direct Loan Program

        • William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans

        • Direct Subsidized Loan

        • Direct Unsubsidized Loan

        • Direct PLUS Loans (to include Parent PLUS)

        • Direct Consolidation Loans

      • Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans

        • Federal Stafford Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized)

        • Federal PLUS Loan

        • Federal Consolidation Loans

        • Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)

      • Perkins Loan Programs

        • National Direct Student Loans (NDSL)

        • National Defense Student Loans (Defense Loans)

        • Federal Perkins Loans

    • Income monitoring does NOT take place for Veteran’s who had their forgiveness based on their VA determination of being TDIU/Perm and Total.

    • Good question! For whatever reason people who are just 100% combined are able to get forgiveness.

    • Yes you can:

      1. Give your school a letter from a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy/osteopathic medicine stating that you are once again able to engage in substantial gainful activity.

      2. Sign a statement acknowledging that you can't get a TPD discharge of the new loan or TEACH Grant based on a disabling condition you already have unless that condition significantly deteriorates in the future.

    • I have not noticed any particular schedule that the VA uses to let them know when Veterans become eligible. So if you want to push the issue simply apply yourself.

    • No limit, all will be discharged.