Applications Open for Student Loan Forgiveness

Around 43 million borrowers could receive aid.

Around 43 million borrowers could receive aid.

Back in August, United States President Joe Biden announced his intent to provide aid to individuals saddled with steep student loan debt. After a deliberation and development process, the Department of Education is ready to begin providing that aid, with the application site for loan forgiveness officially open.

“Today, I’m announcing millions of people working and middle-class folks can apply and get this relief. And it’s simple and it’s now. It’s easy,” Biden said in a statement at the White House. “This is a game changer for millions of Americans … and it took an incredible amount of effort to get this website done in such a short time.”

English and Spanish-speaking individuals can apply for aid on the new website, Studentaid.gov. Some basic information is required, including name, address, and Social Security number. Only federal student loans are eligible for forgiveness, but they can be for either undergraduate or graduate college degrees. The website will remain open for applicants until December 31, 2023.

During his statements, Biden was asked what he thought about Republican critics of his forgiveness plan, who recently announced intentions to sue Biden over the plan. “I will never apologize for helping working Americans and middle-class people as they recover from the pandemic. Especially not the same Republicans who voted for a $2 trillion tax cut in the last administration, mainly benefited the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations and didn’t pay for a penny of it and racked up the deficit,” he said.