the CARES Act & Your Student Loans

Principal and interest payments on federally-held student loans are automatically suspended through December 31, 2020.

The CARES Act suspended principal and interest payments on federally-held student loans through September 30, 2020, and an Executive Order directed the Department of Education to extend the suspension until December 31, 2020. The Department of Education extended other student loan benefits in the CARES Act until December 31, 2020.

What you need to know:

• Interest and monthly payments on federally-held loans are suspended through December 31, 2020.
• You do not need to contact your student loan servicer or take any action on your federally-held student loans.
• Make sure your servicer has up-to-date contact information and check your mail or email so you can receive any updates or information about your loans.
• Suspended payments through December 31, 2020, will count towards any student loan forgiveness program, as long as all other requirements of the loan forgiveness program are met.

From March 13 through December 31, 2020, the interest rate is set to 0% and payments are suspended for student loans owned by the federal government. If you made a payment toward your federally-held student loans after March 13, you can request a refund from your student loan servicer. 

PRO TIP: If you are financially able to make payments or continue making regular payments on your student loans, any payments you make after March 13th will be applied directly to principal. This will help you pay off your loans faster. 

Source: Consumerfinance.gov