What Happens to My Student Loans If I’m Disabled?

One in three working Americans will be disabled before the end of their working years, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). If, like many Americans, you financed your education with student loans, you may wonder what will happen to your loans and their payment if you are disabled.

If you have been disabled and qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you may also qualify for a total and permanent disability (TPD) discharge of your federal student loans. TPD discharge applies to federal Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, and Perkins loans. The determination of whether or not you qualify for student loan discharge is made by the U.S. Dept of Education, and it is a separate determination from the one which qualifies you for Social Security disability benefits.

You may be eligible for a TPD discharge of your student loans if your disability:

• Is expected to result in your death,
• Has lasted for at least 60 continuous months,
• Is expected to last for at least 60 continuous months , or
• Makes you unemployable due to a service-connected disability, according to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

A physician must certify that you have a particular disability before you can qualify for a student loan discharge. This certification is separate from the one that certifies you qualify for SSD benefits, although it can be based on the same medical information.

If you need help getting or keeping your Social Security disability benefits, please don’t hesitate to contact the dedicated Southern California Social Security disability benefits attorneys at the Kenton Koszdin Law Office for a free and confidential consultation.