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Student loan forgiveness: what you need to know

Student loan forgiveness is a hot-button topic right now. With the Biden administration’s latest announcement on their forgiveness plan, nearly 8 million borrowers are eligible for automatic loan forgiveness. Even more borrowers are likely eligible but will have to complete the forgiveness application to submit their income. We have the latest info on student loan forgiveness, how it affects you, and what you need to do next:

Know your loan

Before we begin with the current events of student loans, let’s take a minute to address those considering their first or newest student loans. It’s critical that you know what your loan means for you. You need to know the terms, the interest, how often payments need to be made, and other details that will make a financial difference to you later in life. Be familiar with your loans to avoid any surprises down the line. If you’re unsure what type of loans you’ve received, or if you’re unsure you’ve received any grants, including Pell Grants, you can log in to your account at studentaid.gov.

Research the differences

There are two types of student loans—federal and private. It may seem like an elementary concept, but too many students don’t realize which loan they have until they are already locked in. If you’re unsure, it’s okay—find someone at your school or a trusted colleague who can help you walk through the process. “Better late than never” definitely applies when it comes to learning about your loan—even though we think knowing the information ahead of time is even better than being late.

What is loan forgiveness?

The current administration has extended the student loan payment pause for a final time through December 31, 2022 and announced one-time student loan debt forgiveness. While not everyone qualifies, many of those in student loan debt may find their budget loosening as a result. The current loan forgiveness plan allows federal borrowers to receive up to $10,000 in forgiveness and Pell Grant recipients to receive up to $20,000 in forgiveness. This relief is limited to borrowers who make less than $125,000 per year or married couples (or heads of households) who make less than $250,000 per year. 

Is my loan canceled?

Not necessarily—if you owe more than $10,000 (or more than $20,000 as a Pell Grant recipient), you are responsible for any additional amount you owe after the initial amount forgiven. The forgiveness plan provides some relief for the mounting student loan debt plus negates some effects of the pandemic, as many people found themselves unexpectedly without a job at some point over the last two years.

Does everyone get loan forgiveness?

Most federal loans are eligible for forgiveness. However, this does not mean that all hope is lost. If you struggle to make your private student loan payments, reach out to the company that provided your loan. Many offer programs or options that can give you some financial slack for a little while. Don’t get yourself into even more debt, though—be sure to verify the terms of your private loan options just like you would for the loan itself. If your monthly payments are too high, you can refinance or consolidate your private loans to lower your payment or have one manageable loan. 

What about student loan relief?

Student loan relief is extended to December 31, 2022. After that, payments will resume. You have a few months to work things out, so take a look at your budget and determine how you can make those payments again as soon as the relief period ends.

How do I get loan forgiveness?

The application to receive student loan forgiveness will be ready by early October—you can sign up to receive updates on the form’s status. Be sure to have your information prepared before the application opens. Check that your income and loans qualify, and gather any records that might support your request. Federal student loan borrowers should aim to apply no later than November 15th. It will take around six weeks to get cancellation after applying for forgiveness, and you’ll want your balance to be eliminated or reduced before December 31st (when the payment pause expires).

If you’re not eligible for student loan forgiveness, or if you still owe a significant amount of money after part of your loans are forgiven, Georgia’s Own is here to help you gain control of your financial freedom. We offer the option to refinance or consolidate your federal and private loans into one monthly loan, giving you one manageable payment and excellent rates—and a quicker route to becoming debt free. Click here to get started today. 

Congratulations to our 2022 Jump Start Scholarship winners

Winners (pictured clockwise): Amari Cody, Andrew Lowry, Ariel Nobles, Ashton Engram, Austin Lusane, Nick Chambless, Richard Williams, Jasmine Kilheffer, Jayden Mango, Johnathan Haywood, Landon Conley, Lawrence Carpenter, Madison Smith, Zykyria Price, Morgan Shiver, Shamar Lane, Travis Mansfield, Anzley Jarrett, Victorias Chester, Michael Pratt

Congratulations to our 2022 Jump Start Scholarship winners. In addition to our annual What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship, we awarded $1,000 to 20 students selected by a panel of judges who considered academic record, school and community service, and an essay telling us their goals for the future. Meet this year’s winners:

Amari Cody | Kennesaw State University

Andrew Lowry | University of Georgia

Anzley Jarrett | University of Alabama

Ariel Nobles | Albany State University

Ashton Engram | University of Georgia

Austin Lusane | University of Georgia

Jasmine Kilheffer | Valdosta State University

Jayden Mango | Morehouse College

Johnathan Haywood | Columbus State University

Landon Conley | Kennesaw State University

Lawrence Carpenter | Undecided

Madison Smith | Emmanuel College

Michael Pratt | Georgia Southwestern University

Morgan Shiver | University of Georgia

Nick Chambless | Bryan College

Richard Williams | Georgia Tech

Shamar Lane | Albany State University

Travis Mansfield | University of Georgia

Victorias Chester | Georgia Southern University

Zykyria Price | Savannah State University

Meet our 2022 What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship winners

The 2022 What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship winners are in, and narrowing down three winners from an incredible pool of applicants was more difficult than ever. We awarded a total of $15,000 to three deserving students. Congratulations to Bryn, Alexa, and Zaria. Each of these young women demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their community, a strong academic background, and a bright vision for their future—we are beyond proud to have them in the Georgia’s Own family.

$8,000 Scholarship Winner

Bryn Hammock (Buford) – Pre-Med, Auburn University

$5,000 Scholarship Winner

Alexa Bell (Decatur) – Film and TV, New York University

$2,000 Scholarship Winner

Zaria Owens (Hampton) – Health Sciences, High Point University

Congratulations to our 2021 What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship winners

The 2021 What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship winners are in, and narrowing down three winners from an amazing pool of applicants was more difficult than ever. In addition to our Jump Start Scholarship, we awarded a total of $8,500 to three deserving students. Congratulations to Janae, Jeffrey, and Hannah. Each of these students demonstrated an exceptional commitment to others, a strong academic background, and a bright vision for their future. We are beyond proud to have them in the Georgia’s Own community.

$5,000 Scholarship Winner

Janae Hindsman (Union City) – School Psychology, Georgia State University

$2,500 Scholarship Winner

Jeffrey Lowe (Covington) – Music Management, Georgia State University

$1,000 Scholarship Winner

Hannah Gaston (Covington) – Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology

Congratulations to our 2021 Jump Start Scholarship winners

Winners (pictured clockwise): Adrianna Huckaby, Zuri Hightower, Mary Walton, Madison Blackmon, Leah Jackson, Kennedy Williams, Kendall Rosenberger, Kaimet Haile, Jazmyn Dydell, Emma Barrett, Drew Reich, Chelsea Beauford, Austin Reid, Ari Patterson, Ansley Reich, Andrew Davis, Elijah John Cho, Alicia Lewis
Not pictured: Jayden Mauney, Mary Taylor

Congratulations to our 2021 Jump Start Scholarship winners. In addition to our annual What’s Ne[x]t Scholarship, we awarded $1,000 to 20 students selected by a panel of judges who considered academic record, school and community service, and an essay telling us their goals for the future. Meet this year’s winners:

Adriana Huckaby | Kennesaw State University

Alicia Lewis | Xavier University of Louisiana

Andrew Davis | University of Georgia

Ansley Reich | Georgia Tech

Ari Patterson | Florida A&M University

Austin Reid | Auburn University

Chelsea Beauford | Howard University

Drew Reich | Georgia Tech

Elijah John Cho | University of Georgia

Emma Barrett | Georgia State University

Jayden Mauney | Berry College

Jazmyn Dydell | Alabama State University

Kaimet Haile | University of Georgia

Kendall Rosenberger | University of South Carolina

Kennedy Williams | Georgia Southern University

Leah Jackson | University of West Georgia

Madison Blackmon | Kennesaw State University

Mary Taylor | Florida A&M University

Mary Walton | University of Alabama at Birmingham

Zuri Hightower | Howard University

Congratulations to our 2020 Southwest Georgia scholarship winners

Congratulations to our Southwest Georgia scholarship winners! We awarded $1,000 to 23 students selected by a panel of judges who considered: academic record, financial need, school/community service, and an essay. Including the $23,000 committed to this year’s recipients, Georgia’s Own has awarded nearly $140,000 in scholarships to Albany students over the last 16 years. Meet this year’s winners:

Alexis Crimes | University of West Georgia

Alexis Danforth | Georgia Gwinnett College

Amiel Johnson | Wesleyan College

Amiraica Johnson | Albany State University

Annlyn Royal | Berry College

Ariana Drake | North Carolina A&T State University

Ashlynn Wright | Fort Valley State University

Ayanla Dudley | Florida A&M University

Ayanna Newberry | Valdosta State University

Bethany Phillips | Valdosta State University

Elijah Humphries | University of Georgia

Emily McClure | Georgia Southwestern State University

Gavin Baker | Kennesaw State University

Hayley Newberry | Georgia Southwestern State University

Jamia Lofton | Georgia Southern University

Katherine Smith | Truett McConnell University

Kirby Perry | Valdosta State University

Makayla Gay | Shorter College

Michael Harris | Middle Tennessee State University

Lindsey Creech | Georgia Southwestern State University

Rhiannon Belcher | Kennesaw State University

Sarah Mullins | University of Georgia

Tyler Coker | Valdosta State University