Student Loans
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Student Loan issues.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
PHEAA Guaranteed Student Loans
This informational brochure from MidPenn Legal Services provides an overview of student loans offered through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
Bankruptcy: What it Really Means : North Penn Legal Services Bankruptcy Clinic Video
This video from North Penn Legal Services features a question and answer session from a Bankruptcy Clinic held by North Penn Legal Services addressing issues relating to bankruptcy proceedings and the effects of bankruptcy on various types of debts. (41:01)
Federal Student Aid
Information from an office of the U.S. Department of Education about the products and services that are offered through the Department.
Student loan borrowers should prepare to repay
On May 1, 2022, the pause on interest and payments for federally held student loans will end. Learn how to prepare for repayment and what your options are if you can’t afford your payments.
GovLoans.gov - Educational Loans
GovLoans.gov is your gateway to Federal loan information, brought to you through a partnership between Federal agencies and GovBenefits.gov; the official government benefits website. This link is to information on educational loans on GovLoans.gov.
Closed School Discharge
Information from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education about Closed School Discharges of your federal student loan. If your school closes while you’re enrolled or soon after you withdraw, you may be eligible for discharge of your federal student loan.
Direct Loans
The Direct Loan Program is one of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs provided by the Department of Education that provides students with a way to borrow money to pay for education after high school. This site provides some basic information about Direct Loans.
Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge
Information from Federal Student Aid about when you can have your federal student loan forgiven, canceled, or discharged. Find out whether you qualify due to your job, disability, the closure of your school, or other circumstances.
Student Loans, Forgiveness - U.S. Department of Education
Information from the U.S. Department of Education on loan opportunities for students.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released this series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts.
The student loan pause was extended—three things to keep in mind
In April 2022, the Department of Education announced that federally-held student loan payments will continue to be paused through August 31, 2022. This extension provides welcome relief to student loan borrowers who are still finding their footing in an economy recovering from the pandemic. As we look toward repayment, this article features what the CFPB’s research, supervision, and enforcement work tells us about the risks student loan borrowers might face.
PSLF Limited Waiver Fact Sheet
Student loan borrowers working towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) have struggled to navigate the program’s frustratingly complex rules and requirements. A “limited waiver” of specific PSLF program requirements was announced by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on Oct. 6, 2021. This fact sheet explains the limited waiver and its requirements.