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Thousands of student-loan borrowers are getting long-awaited debt cancellation from a $23 billion settlement
Coverage Jaclin Gomez Coverage Jaclin Gomez

Thousands of student-loan borrowers are getting long-awaited debt cancellation from a $23 billion settlement

Student-loan forgiveness is finally here for thousands of borrowers.

A federal court denied the Department of Education's request to delay student-debt relief for borrowers entitled to relief under the Sweet vs. McMahon settlement. The settlement has allowed for $23 billion in relief for over 500,000 borrowers defrauded by their schools.

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The Trump administration tried to delay student loan forgiveness for nearly 180,000 borrowers. A federal court said no
Coverage Jaclin Gomez Coverage Jaclin Gomez

The Trump administration tried to delay student loan forgiveness for nearly 180,000 borrowers. A federal court said no

The Education Department must proceed with discharging student loan forgiveness for a group of eligible borrowers in a settlement case after a recent ruling from a federal appeals court.

The Friday decision marked a win for about 179,000 borrowers in the drawn-out Sweet v. McMahon settlement. In the ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected an appeal from the Department of Education to alter the initial settlement timeline since they hadn't expected a large amount of applications for loan relief. The borrowers applied in a five-month window stretching from June to Nov. 2022.

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Appeals court rejects Education Department’s bid to delay borrower defense decisions
Coverage Jaclin Gomez Coverage Jaclin Gomez

Appeals court rejects Education Department’s bid to delay borrower defense decisions

The decision is just the latest in the Sweet v. McMahon case, which was originally filed in 2019 under the first Trump administration. At the time, borrowers alleged that the Education Department was stonewalling their applications for borrower defense.

As of this April, the Education Department had discharged or refunded $12 billion for almost 300,000 borrowers under the settlement, the agency said in recent court documents.

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Education Department Must Wipe Out Student Loans For 500,000 Borrowers Under Settlement, Says Court
Coverage Annamaria Orlandi Coverage Annamaria Orlandi

Education Department Must Wipe Out Student Loans For 500,000 Borrowers Under Settlement, Says Court

Borrowers scored a major victory on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a challenge to a landmark settlement agreement, and required the Education Department and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to continue discharging the federal student loans for more than 500,000 Americans. The ruling represents the department’s latest loss in the long running saga over the Sweet v. McMahon settlement.

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Ninth Circuit presses feds over bid to pause expired student loan relief deadline | Courthouse News Service
Coverage Annamaria Orlandi Coverage Annamaria Orlandi

Ninth Circuit presses feds over bid to pause expired student loan relief deadline | Courthouse News Service

“‘The government agreed to this settlement three years ago. It is fair to hold them to their word.” Plus, Ellis argued the government has pulled the rug out from under those who applied for relief back in 2022, some of whom have had their credit wrecked while their loans remain in forbearance. The panel did not indicate when it would rule.”’

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Consolidation Deadline For These Student Loans Is Just Two Weeks Away | Forbes
Coverage Annamaria Orlandi Coverage Annamaria Orlandi

Consolidation Deadline For These Student Loans Is Just Two Weeks Away | Forbes

A major deadline for certain federal student loans is only two weeks away, and failing to act could be a costly mistake for hundreds of thousands of borrowers. But many of them may not even be aware that they have to take action. Here’s what student loan borrowers should know about the upcoming consolidation deadline, and what’s at stake.

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