How to Get Rid of Student Loans

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Student loan debt is one of the most significant forms of debt facing many people in their 20s through 40s in the United States today. Significant student loan debt can negatively affect which home you can afford to buy, whether one parent can stay home with young children, and even hurt paying for your child's college or your own retirement. Student loans now can stretch out for twenty or even thirty years; that's a high price to pay for education. There are perfectly legal ways to get rid of student loans, though. Student loans cannot be forgiven in bankruptcy, and short of death the debt never disappears. There are strategies, however, for getting rid of student loans. In this article you will learn how to get rid of student loans in part of in full, to give you ease of mind and make your wallet a bit fatter.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step1

File to have student loan debt eliminated if the school you attended closed before you could complete your degree. You shouldn't be paying for student loans under this situation.

Step2

Request complete loan forgiveness if you are 100% disabled. If you receive SSI or SSDI or VA disability benefits, your student loans can be completely discharged under certain circumstances. Contact your loan agency and request forms to file for disabled persons to discharge the debt.

Step3

Find a job with student loan forgiveness. For instance, if you are a member of the Peace Corps you can get up to 15% of loans forgiven per year of service. AmeriCorps offers student loan forgiveness as well. Apply for jobs with these agencies to help get rid of student loan debt.

Step4

Request a "hardship hearing" if you are facing bankruptcy anyhow. Although very few people have student loans discharged during bankruptcy, it can happen for a small percentage. Ask for information from your bankruptcy lawyer for this special case.

Step5

Become a teacher in certain parts of the country. Student loan forgiveness for a certain number of years of service can be a great way to get rid of student loan debt.

Tips & Warnings

Don't take a job just to get rid of student loan debt, though; you shouldn't suffer through a job you don't like.
Never let your student loans become delinquent. Always call your loan agency if you're having financial problems and work out a modified payment plan.