Trump student-loan overhaul: DOE drops IBR hardship test in December; caps grad borrowing next July
The Department of Education/Federal Student Aid will finish implementing changes in December that remove the "partial financial hardship" requirement to enroll in Income-Based Repayment (IBR), a move that can let higher earners newly qualify, while also eliminating the SAVE plan and phasing out PAYE and ICR. IBR payments remain capped at the equivalent of the 10-year standard plan with existing calculation percentages unchanged (generally 10% for new borrowers after July 1, 2014; 15% for older loans), and borrowers with eligible loans before July 1, 2026 can access IBR/ICR/PAYE on or after that date â FSA urges consolidations be completed at least three months prior.
đ Relevant Data
Over the past 20 years, 50% of Black student loan borrowers, 40% of Hispanic or Latino borrowers, and 29% of White borrowers have experienced a loan default.
The Student Loan Default Divide: Racial Inequities Play a Role â Pew Charitable Trusts
In 2022, the registered nurse workforce was composed of 80% White, 7.4% Asian, 6.3% Black/African American, and 2.5% more than one race individuals.
Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet â American Association of Colleges of Nursing
From 2020 to 2022, the percentage of men in the nursing workforce increased from 9.4% to 11.2%, meaning approximately 88.8% were women in 2022.
Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet â American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Over half (52%) of Black student loan borrowers have at least $25,000 in student loan debt from their own education, compared to 41% of White borrowers and 47% of Hispanic borrowers.
2024 Student Loan Debt by Race â BestColleges
đ Key Facts
- The U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid will finish implementing changes in December 2025 that remove the 'partial financial hardship' requirement to enroll in Income-Based Repayment (IBR).
- Removing the hardship test will allow some higher earners who previously did not qualify to access IBR.
- The administration's package eliminates the SAVE plan and phases out the PAYE and ICR repayment plans.
- Borrowers with eligible loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 can access IBR, ICR or PAYE on or after July 1, 2026; FSA urges borrowers to complete any required loan consolidations at least three months before that date.
- IBR payments will remain capped at the equivalent of the 10-year standard repayment amount, and the underlying payment calculation percentages are unchanged (generally 10% for new borrowers after July 1, 2014, and 15% for older loans).
đ° Source Timeline (2)
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- DOE/FSA will finish implementing changes in December that remove the 'partial financial hardship' requirement to enroll in Income-Based Repayment (IBR).
- SAVE will be eliminated and PAYE/ICR will be phased out under the new package.
- Borrowers with eligible loans before July 1, 2026 can access IBR/ICR/PAYE on or after July 1, 2026; FSA urges consolidations be completed at least three months prior.
- IBR payments remain capped at the equivalent of the 10-year standard plan; payment calculation percentages (generally 10% for new borrowers after July 1, 2014; 15% for older loans) are unchanged.
- Higher earners can newly qualify for IBR once the hardship requirement is removed.