Why 300,000 student loan borrowers were denied IDR repayment plans, and what they should do next
More than 300,000 US student loan borrowers were denied access to income-driven repayment plans after the Education Department rejected nearly 328,000 applications in August. A court filing cited ambiguity over selecting the lowest-payment option, leaving many borrowers facing higher bills or interest-accruing forbearance. With over 800,000 applications still pending, advocates warned of delayed forgiveness, while experts urged borrowers to reapply and choose specific repayment plans.
More than 300,000 US student loan borrowers were denied access to income-driven repayment plans after the Education Department rejected nearly 328,000 applications in August. A court filing cited ambiguity over selecting the lowest-payment option, leaving many borrowers facing higher bills or interest-accruing forbearance. With over 800,000 applications still pending, advocates warned of delayed forgiveness, while experts urged borrowers to reapply and choose specific repayment plans.
