What to Expect from the Student Debt Relief Beta Launch

The Biden-Harris Administration’s student debt relief plan has launched its beta period, allowing members of the public to submit their applications. Here’s everything you need to know about the application process.

Where can I find the application?

Some individuals have been contacted directly by the U.S. Department of Education via email. If you see an email with the subject line “Biden-Harris Student Debt Relief Beta Launch,” there will be a link included in the body of the email that takes you to the application page. Anyone who did not receive this email despite being eligible for debt forgiveness can apply here through the Federal Student Aid website.

What questions are on the application?

If you’re feeling nervous about the application process, ease your worries. There aren’t any obscure questions that will leave you rifling through documents. The application asks very simple questions of borrowers, and only takes a minute to complete. Here’s a list of everything you will have to include:

• First and last name

• Date of birth

• Social security number

• Contact information

It’s really that easy! Beyond filling out the short list above, you just have to click a box confirming that the given information is true and digitally sign before submitting.

To be safe, double check your information and make sure you’ve read through (and fit the criteria) of the tax information for 2020-2021, whether you didn’t make enough to file taxes during that time or did file without exceeding the income threshold.

What happens next?

After submitting your application, expect a confirmation email. Then just wait for your application to be processed!

 If you need to provide any additional information, you’ll be contacted. (For example, “dependent students” may need to provide more information about a parent’s income.)

You can expect updates along the way, and find additional information on the whole process here.