What TPD Student Loan Forgiveness Means for Me

By Allison Jonergin

Student loan debt has been a looming cloud over the heads of many borrowers, regardless of how far in the past those loans might’ve been taken out.

There’s been much talk over the past few years about the need for federal action to mitigate this cumulative burden.

Disabled debtors joined this fight, advocating for the discharges already guaranteed to those with total and permanent disabilities to be more accessible. Finally, under the Biden-Harris administration, the federal government heard these calls to action. In August, new changes were announced to this particular student loan forgiveness program.

The Social Security Administration will now do the legwork in identifying which disabled individuals qualify for this discharge and will grant it automatically. Prior to this change, the responsibility fell on the disabled to apply and provide proof of eligibility.

Now not all disabled individuals have a total and permanent disability. Take me for instance. I was first determined to be disabled by the SSA in 2019. My next evaluation was set to take place this past summer, though with Covid I have yet to hear an update. If, after this second evaluation, the SSA again determines I’m disabled and is confident my disability will not improve, then I will be defined as totally and permanently disabled. After which, I will be eligible for a discharge of my student loan debt. 

I have long hoped to qualify and receive this benefit, as I am now unable to earn the wages needed to pay off my loans. For years, I’ve been stuck in repayment limbo, where I have had to continually provide proof of income in order to qualify for a temporary pause on the repayment of my loans. With the passing of the CARES Act last year, I — along with everyone else — was relieved of having to make student loan payments, thus eliminating the need to apply and provide eligibility for a repayment plan. That in and of itself has been a source of huge relief for me. It won’t last forever, though.

To know that my student loans will be forgiven automatically after my next SSA determination makes me feel as though disabled voices are finally being heard, and I am tremendously thankful. Thankful to the federal government for listening, but even more so to the persistence of those fighting for us, who most often are disabled as well.

When I feel overwhelmed and am struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I am reminded of people just like me who are lighting the way. To them, I owe my gratitude as well as my admiration.

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The North Country Center for Independence in Plattsburgh, NY is always looking for writing on disability-related topics by people with disabilities in the North Country. If you are interested in writing a guest post for the NCCI Blog, send an email inquiry or draft article to: apulrang@icloud.com.