"Student Loan Repayment Resumes: What You Need to Know"

The pandemic-era freeze on student loan payments will end in late August, and more than 40 million Americans will have to start making federal student loan payments again. Not making payments can lead to delinquency and eventually default, which can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits. Borrowers who can't pay should check if they qualify for an income-driven repayment plan or the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Declaring bankruptcy is still very difficult for most student loan borrowers. The Fresh Start program applies to borrowers who were in default or delinquent prior to the payment pause.