Should You Complete the Beta Application for Student Loan Forgiveness?

Posted 10/15/2022

The Department of Education is inviting borrowers to complete a beta version of the online student loan debt relief application to help refine their processes ahead of the official form launch.

It’s estimated that 42 million borrowers qualify for the student loan debt relief program, and most will have to file an application. The question is, should you apply now or wait for the official launch? Here are some things to consider:

Reasons to Apply Using Beta Form

• Applications submitted during this early launch will be processed and you won’t need to resubmit when the official application goes live.
• You’ll have it done as early as possible, giving yourself a higher chance of it being processed before payments resume after Dec. 31, 2022.

Reasons to Wait for Official Form Launch

• The application will be available on and off while in beta. If you try and it’s not available, you can try again later or wait until the official launch.
• You might encounter more bugs or issues than you would when the official form launches. The intent of releasing an early version to a large group of users is to see how it operates under real conditions.
• According to the FSA website, there’s no advantage to applying before the full launch later in October 2022.

Before you make your choice, take a moment to review “Steps to Determine Eligibility” to learn if you qualify for student loan forgiveness.

Beware of Scams

FSA continues to issue warnings encouraging you to protect yourself from student loan scams. According to FSA, borrowers have reported receiving calls, emails, letters, and/or texts offering student loan debt relief or warning them that student loan forgiveness programs would end soon. If you are unsure an offer is legitimate, contact your servicer to verify.

Get Free Support and Assistance

In addition to your loan servicer, Student Connections provides FREE student loan support services on behalf of colleges and universities. A Borrower Advocate can help you find your loan information and answer your questions.

We have more than 60 years of experience counseling student loan borrowers. Our primary goal is helping you receive the debt relief you are entitled to and successfully repay any remaining balance.

If you have questions, you may contact us directly at (866) 311-9450 to speak with a Borrower Advocate Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. We also can be reached via email at intouch@studentconnections.com.