What To Do If You Get ‘Final Notice’ Over Student Loan Change
Millions of student loan borrowers have 30 days to choose a new repayment plan before automatic fixed payments begin.
Federal student loan borrowers are receiving crucial notices as the SAVE repayment plan comes to an end. The Department of Education has given affected borrowers another month to choose a different repayment option before their loans are automatically shifted to a fixed-payment plan. The final notices are the result of the SAVE plan's termination following a court order in March.
Servicers started sending out the notices on July 1, providing affected borrowers 90 days to select a new repayment plan, but those who don't act will receive a final notice extending the deadline by 30 days.
Michael Ryan, a finance expert, explained that the final notice is essentially a government ultimatum, stating "Choose your repayment plan, or we'll choose one for you." For borrowers who opt out, their loans will be automatically enrolled in a fixed-payment plan, which could result in significantly higher monthly payments compared to some borrowers' previous SAVE plans.
Over 7 million borrowers were enrolled in SAVE, which based monthly payments on income and family size. The Education Department warned that monthly payments under the Standard or Tiered Standard plans could be higher than under income-driven repayment options. The final notice is seen as a second warning, giving borrowers another chance to select a repayment plan.
After SAVE ended, servicers began notifying borrowers in waves that they had 90 days to choose another repayment plan. However, some borrowers reached the deadline only to be given another opportunity to act. Experts advise borrowers not to ignore these notices and to check which repayment plans they qualify for before the final deadline, as the automatic plan may not be the best or cheapest option.
Federal Student Aid's online Repayment Calculator can help borrowers determine their eligibility and estimate monthly payments and total amounts paid.
While borrowers have options, including Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, Pay As You Earn, and the Repayment Assistance Plan, they should consider seeking assistance from their loan servicer if they cannot afford the payments calculated under a new plan. Ignoring the final notice may lead to automatic enrollment in a more expensive repayment plan, resulting in higher monthly payments and potential damage to credit scores and increased financial distress.
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