Can You Get A Federal Student Loan After Bankruptcy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you get a federal student loan after bankruptcy? Filing bankruptcy does not prevent you from getting federal student loans or other types of federal financial aid. While some federal loans do require that you have good credit (which may take a little while to build after filing bankruptcy), others don’t depend on creditworthiness.

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How long after bankruptcy can you get a student loan?

Most bankruptcies will have an impact on eligibility for private loan programs, including some school loan programs. Many private loan programs have credit criteria that preclude people with a bankruptcy within the past 7 or 10 years from borrowing without a creditworthy cosigner.

Can I get student loans if I declare bankruptcy?

Student loans are difficult, but not impossible, to discharge in bankruptcy . To do so, you must show that payment of the debt “will impose an undue hardship on you and your dependents.” Courts use different tests to evaluate whether a particular borrower has shown an undue hardship.

Do student loans follow you after bankruptcy?

While most types of debt can be wiped away in bankruptcy, student loans usually aren’t one of them. Except in rare cases of severe financial hardship, federal and private student loans are exempt from bankruptcy discharge .

Are federal student loans erased if you file for bankruptcy?

You may have your federal student loan discharged in bankruptcy only if you file a separate action, known as an “adversary proceeding,” requesting the bankruptcy court find that repayment would impose undue hardship on you and your dependents.

Can you get a Sallie Mae loan with bankruptcy?

For federal student loans and grants other than PLUS loans, the government will not consider your creditworthiness in determining your eligibility. This means that if you are applying for a Stafford loan, the fact that you previously filed for bankruptcy will have no bearing on your eligibility for funds .

What is the Brunner test?

The Brunner Test is a tool created by bankruptcy judges to measure whether student loans are causing a debtor undue or ordinary hardship . Judges needed it because lawmakers never defined what “undue hardship” meant, even though they changed the bankruptcy code several times over the years.

Can I get a federal student loan while in Chapter 13?

Federal student loans cannot be denied just because of your bankruptcy history . As long as there is no history of default or delinquency with previous or current federal loans, you are still eligible for new federal student aid.

What can you not do after filing bankruptcies?

After you file for bankruptcy protection, your creditors can’t call you, or try to collect payment from you for medical bills, credit card debts, personal loans, unsecured debts, or other types of debt .

What happens to student loans after Chapter 13 discharge?

After your Chapter 13 ends, the bankruptcy judge will sign a discharge order wiping out debts from unsecured creditors. But you’ll still owe debts for child support, alimony, and your private and federal student loans .

What is undue hardship in bankruptcy?

(C) For the purposes of this section, a debt imposes an undue hardship when (1) the debtor’s past, present, and reasonably reliable future financial resources ; (2) a calculation of the debtor’s and her dependents’ reasonable necessary living expenses; and (3) any other relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the ...

What are some positive outcomes of filing for bankruptcy?

  • You are granted an automatic stay. ...
  • Relief from dealing with multiple creditors. ...
  • A court-appointed representative. ...
  • Prevention of further legal action. ...
  • You may be able to keep some assets. ...
  • Back taxes can be addressed. ...
  • Can prevent foreclosure or car repossession.

How can I get rid of student loans without paying?

  1. There’s no simple way to get rid of student loans without paying. ...
  2. If you’re having difficulty making payments, your best option is to contact your private loan holder about renegotiating your payment or taking a short-term payment pause.

When did student debt unforgivable?

In 1991 , the six-year statute of limitations on collection of defaulted loans, which had been established in 1985, was completely eliminated by the Higher Education Technical Amendments.

Are student loans forgiven after death?

What happens to my loans if I die? If you die, then your federal student loans will be discharged after the required proof of death is submitted .

What is the average credit score after Chapter 7?

The average credit score after bankruptcy is about 530 , based on VantageScore data. In general, bankruptcy can cause a person’s credit score to drop between 150 points and 240 points. You can check out WalletHub’s credit score simulator to get a better idea of how much your score will change due to bankruptcy.

How long does it take to rebuild credit after Chapter 7?

Most experts say that it will take 18 to 24 months before a consumer with re-established good credit can secure a mortgage loan after personal bankruptcy discharge.

Will my credit score go up after my Chapter 13 discharge?

Either way, once you get your discharge in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will get credit again and be able to increase your score . Lenders will look at your credit histories such as on-time payments and debt to income ratio to determine if they should extend credit to you.

What are the cons of filing Chapter 13?

  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for approximately 7 years. During this time you can work to rebuild your credit.
  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy does not eliminate certain kinds of debts. ...
  • It will take approximately 3-5 years to repay your debt.

What qualifies as financial hardship for student loans?

It is a circumstance in which the annual amount due on your eligible loans, as calculated under a 10-year Standard Repayment Plan, exceeds 15 percent (for IBR) or 10 percent (for Pay As You Earn) of the difference between your adjusted gross income (AGI) and 150 percent of the poverty line for your family size in the ...

Can student loan debt be forgiven after 10 years?

Under the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan, generally your loans will be paid in full once you have made the 120 qualifying PSLF payments and there will be no balance to forgive .

How do I apply for financial hardship for student loans?

To apply for the economic hardship deferment for federal loans, borrowers must submit an Economic Hardship Deferment Request form to their loan servicer . Borrowers must also submit documentation of income such as a copy of a recent pay stub or the borrower’s most recently filed federal income tax return.

What is the longest lasting consequence of filing for bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy may help you get relief from your debt, but it’s important to understand that declaring bankruptcy has a serious, long-term effect on your credit. Bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for 7-10 years , affecting your ability to open credit card accounts and get approved for loans with favorable rates.

Is Chapter 7 or 13 worse?

Most consumers opt for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is faster and cheaper than Chapter 13. The vast majority of filers qualify for Chapter 7 after taking the means test, which analyzes income, expenses and family size to determine eligibility.

What is the downside of Chapter 7?

Certain debts will remain on your account when you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You will still be responsible for alimony and child support. Tax liens, student loans, and personal injury debts caused by intoxicated drivers are still on the docket, as well.

Do student loans expire after 20 years?

Any outstanding balance on your loan will be forgiven if you haven’t repaid your loan in full after 20 years or 25 years, depending on when you received your first loans . You may have to pay income tax on any amount that is forgiven.

Who qualifies for a forgiveness loan?

Any borrower with loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if you are not currently on an IDR plan,” says the Department of Education in guidance released this week.

What happens if you don’t pay federal student loans?

Late fees

If you’re 30 days late on federal student loans, you’ll typically encounter a late fee of up to 6% of the amount that was due and unpaid . So if you owed a late payment of $350, you might have to pay up to $21 extra on top of your existing student loan payment.

What are the cons of filing Chapter 13?

Can you take a vacation while in Chapter 13?

Can you go on vacation during Chapter 13? The simple answer is yes . You will not be prevented from booking and enjoying a domestic or international vacation if you are able to pay for your vacation in full.

Can I get a parent PLUS loan while in Chapter 13?

Chapter 13

Interestingly, it is the bankruptcy discharge and not the bankruptcy filing that is included in the federal description of adverse credit history. Consequently, many Chapter 13 debtors are approved for PLUS loans when they apply during bankruptcy .

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.