COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Biden administration announced that interest for student loans will start accruing again in September.
What You Need To Know
- Student loan payments have been on hold since 2020 due to the pandemic
- Interest for student loans will start accruing again in September
- The first payment is due in October
- President Biden’s student debt relief program is currently being ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court
Allea Stefan came to Ohio from West Virgina to attend Bowling Green State University. While she had some scholarships, she had to take out loans to cover out of state costs and fees.
Her payments have been on hold since 2020. After the Biden administration announced they would start again in October, she said the pressure is on.
“I didn’t realize the repercussions of student loan debt and interest rates and things of that nature,” said Stefan. “I feel like when you’re 18, 18, 19 years old, though, all of those numbers are just numbers — they don’t really carry as much weight until you see, you know, the aftermath of it.”
Stefan was one of the millions of Americans that applied for Biden’s student debt relief program. The program was created to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans for individuals making less than $125,000 a year, but the measure is currently awaiting a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
While Stefan waits in limbo, she said she has no choice but to start budgeting and planning.
“I will be sitting down probably within the next month and actually looking, you know, looking at my funds and and probably putting out vacations so that way I can, you know, get a head start on planning so I can be proactive versus reactive,” said Stefan.
She has between $50,000 to $54,000 in student loans with individual loans ranging from $1,200 to $12,000. Stefan is taking the divide and conquer approach, paying loans with the highest interest rates and working her way through.
While some of her minimum payments are higher than others, her advice to other borrowers is to just start somewhere.
“Even if you just pay the minimum — some of my loans are like $1,200, the minimum is like $12, $23, you know, something small along those lines,” said Stefan. “Even if you pay the minimum, at least you’re paying something toward it.”
The U.S. the Supreme Court could rule on the Biden administration’s forgiveness plan as soon as the end of the week when it releases its next set of decisions.
