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Help with Education & Student Loans

Every student in America should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, and college affordability can be a major stressor for many Connecticut families. 

To understand your loan responsibility and payment plans, please go to the Department of Education’s website for Federal Student Aid for more information.

If you have additional questions, please contact my office and a member of my staff will assist.

Important Updates on Student Loans

President Biden has led a historic effort to address the student loan debt crisis and deliver relief to hard-working low and middle-class Americans. To date, his administration has canceled nearly $170 billion in debt and has championed programs to give borrowers peace of mind as we continue to recover from the pandemic.

For borrowers, there are two important deadlines to be aware of:

  • As of Monday, September 30th, the ‘On-Ramp’ program - which prevented missed or late student loan payments from getting sent to credit bureaus - is ending. Starting October 1st, 2024, borrowers who fail to make payments on time can be reported to credit bureaus within 90 days. Also, any missed payments will no longer count towards student loan forgiveness. Borrowers who have been utilizing this program should contact their loan servicer and check the status of their loans. If possible, catch up with any missed or late payments before they are reported to credit bureaus. Borrowers may also ask about loan deferment or forbearance plan options.
  • [UPDATE] The Biden Administration has EXTENDED the deadline for borrowers currently in default to apply for the Fresh Start Program. Defaulted borrowers have until Wednesday, October 2nd at 3 a.m. ET to enroll. Fresh Start helps borrowers get out of default by returning defaulted loans to "in repayment" status, removing the record of your default from your credit report, and allowing borrowers to apply for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan that works for them. According to the Department of Education, half of eligible borrowers qualify for $0 monthly payments and 60 percent pay $50 or less. Interested borrowers can CLICK HERE for more information and to enroll in the program.