Should Biden Cancel Your Student Loans If You Already Paid Them?

Should President Joe Biden cancel your student loans if you already paid them?

Here’s what you need to know.

Student Loans

As Biden considers whether to enact wide-scale student loan cancellation, he could cancel $10,000 or more for student loan borrowers. This is positive news for student loan borrowers, particularly those who have struggled financially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Wide-scale student loan cancellation would join the ranks of other types of student loan cancellation. For example, there’s student loan forgiveness for public servants. There’s also student loan forgiveness for a total and permanent disability. Borrowers who were misled by their college or university also have access to student loan cancellation. Don’t forget student loan forgiveness through income-driven repayment. (Student loan forgiveness: 5 key takeaways from major announcement). One type of student loan forgiveness is notably missing, however: student loan cancellation for borrowers who already paid off their student loans. Will Biden consider student loan relief for these student loan borrowers?

Student loan relief for former student loan borrowers

Wide-scale student loan cancellation, according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has multiple benefits, including:

• economic stimulus;
• reduce disparities;
• increase family formation and homeownership;
• help borrowers save for retirement; and
• unlock the psychological and financial burdens of crushing debt.

If you have student loans and qualify for student loan forgiveness, you may have access to these tangible benefits. (Student loan forgiveness: who could qualify under Biden’s plan). However, former student loan borrowers who paid off their student loans would be excluded from one-time, wide-scale student loan forgiveness. Should they get student loan forgiveness too? Practically, while their student loans no longer exist, should they receive compensation equal to the amount of any wide-scale student loan cancellation?

Why former borrowers should get student loan forgiveness

There are several reasons why student loan borrowers should get “student loan forgiveness” too. These student loan borrowers shouldn’t be dismissed as wealthier student loan borrowers who could afford college. For many, college was a financial struggle. Like many student loan borrowers today, former borrowers struggled to afford a home, worked multiple jobs and delayed major life decisions such as marriage and having children. For others, they willingly borrowed their student loans and wanted to honor their financial commitment — even if they couldn’t afford it. Yes, their student loans no longer exist. However, for student loan borrowers who paid off student loans more recently, should the Biden administration consider providing some student loan relief?

Why former borrowers shouldn’t get student loan forgiveness

Critics argue that student loan cancellation should be focused on today’s student loan borrowers who are struggling financially. (4 Reasons Your Student Loans May Not Get Canceled). They argue that former borrowers, despite their struggles, paid off student loans and no longer need immediate student loan relief. Most laws aren’t retroactive. If Biden included previous student loan borrowers in current student loan relief, critics say it would open the floodgates to multiple other types of retroactive financial relief. This could significantly increase the cost of student loan cancellation. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has encouraged everyone to support student loan cancellation and avoid the scarcity mindset. Ocasio-Cortez notes, for example, that young people pay for Medicare for seniors, public transit riders pay for highways and apartment renters pay for first-time homebuyer credits.

Will Biden cancel student loans for previous student loan borrowers?

Biden has now canceled $17 billion of student loans. What does this mean for wide-scale student loan forgiveness? First, Biden is not canceling most student loan debt. Expect limitations on who qualifies. Second, Biden doesn’t appear to be considering retroactive student loan forgiveness. Unless Biden changes his position, former student loan borrowers could be out of luck. This includes student loan borrowers who pay off their student loans one day before any potential wide-scale student loan cancellation. Importantly, while Biden is considering student loan cancellation, there’s no guarantee that he will enact any wide-scale student loan cancellation. The end of temporary student loan relief from the Covid-19 pandemic is guaranteed, however. Currently, student loan payments are scheduled to restart beginning September 1, 2022. Make sure you know all your options for student loan repayment. Here are some popular ways that student loan borrowers are paying off student loans and saving money:

Student Loans: Related Reading

Biden confirms he won’t cancel $50,000 of student loans—5 key takeaways

Student loan forgiveness: who could qualify under Biden’s plan

Student loan forgiveness: 5 key takeaways from major announcement

Biden will cancel student loans or extend student loan pause before August 31