Student Loan Help for Disabled Veterans
When a disability renders you unable to work, it could result in significant financial distress – including falling behind on student loan payments. This causes many student loan borrowers with disabilities to go into delinquency and default.
Fortunately, borrowers who qualify for Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Student Loan Discharge could have their student loans forgiven. Could you qualify for a TPD Discharge?
What is Total and Permanent Disability Student Loan Discharge?
If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability, receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with a 5 to 7-year review cycle, or your treating medical provider states you have a disability that has lasted or will last for 60 months, you may be able to get your student loans discharged.
One of the most popular and successful administrative discharge alternatives for federal student loans is the TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) discharge. A TPD discharge is particularly beneficial for those with disabilities that prevent them from finding gainful employment and, as a result, from paying their school loans. If you are completely and permanently disabled, a TPD discharge frees you from having to repay or comply with the following:
- William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
- The Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program
- The Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program
- A TEACH Grant
The attorneys at Kerr Robichaux and Carroll understand the burden of student debt, especially for those with disabilities who struggle with ongoing medical expenses. This is why we've made it our mission to fight for your financial security.
Qualifying for TPD
To be eligible for a TPD discharge, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Receive certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) stating that you are totally unemployable, either due to a service-connected disability or through an individual unemployability rating.
- Qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits with a review date of no less than five to seven years since your most recent Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination.
- Obtain certification from a physician confirming that you are totally and permanently disabled. This means you cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a mental or physical impairment that has lasted or is expected to last continuously for at least 60 months or result in death.
Then, complete and submit a TPD discharge application to Nelnet, the servicer that assists the US Department of Education with the TPD discharge process, along with documentation demonstrating that you meet the US Department of Education's requirements for being considered totally and permanently disabled. Each form of supporting evidence you provide to demonstrate eligibility has its own criteria.