Forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge of your loan means that you are no longer expected to repay your loan.
You must repay your loans even if you don’t complete your education, can’t find a job related to your program of study, or are unhappy with the education you paid for with your loan. However, certain circumstances might lead to your loans being forgiven, canceled, or discharged. The list below is a quick view of the types of forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge.
Type of Forgiveness Cancellation or Discharge | Direct Loans | FFEL Loans | Perkins Loans |
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Total and Permanent Disability Discharge | ![]() |
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Death Discharge | ![]() |
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Discharge in Bankruptcy (In rare cases) | ![]() |
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Closed School Discharge | ![]() |
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False Certification of Student Eligibility or Unauthorized Payment Discharge | ![]() |
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Unpaid Refund Discharge | ![]() |
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Teacher Loan Forgiveness | ![]() |
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Public Service Loan Forgiveness | ![]() |
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Perkins Loan Cencellation and Discharge | ![]() |
Looking for information about the Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (CLAARP)? The CLAARP application process is closed.
To view charts of discharges by loan type as well as discharge applications, please click here
Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge
You may be eligible for a TPD Discharge on your federal student loans if you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that:
- Can be expected to result in death
- Has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months
- Can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months; or
- Has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make you unemployable due to a service-connected disability. To apply for this discharge, you must have a physician certify the discharge application. For more information, go to Total and Permanent Disability Discharge.
How do i find out if I qualify and how do i apply to have my loan forgiven, canceled, or discharged?
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Ea eam ancillae volutpat, tollit utamur ad sed. Exerci legere iuvaret at eam, ius et expetenda forensibus. Ius et novum nominavi, id duo periculis intellegat. Aeterno eleifend maluisset ei cum. Vidit probo praesent ad eos, cum eligendi patrioque ea.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, alterum consequat an duo, harum civibus eu vis. Pri inani utroque noluisse in, te alia evertitur vix. Vocent eligendi cum an, iriure convenire sit ex. Ex porro appetere iracundia sed.
Ea eam ancillae volutpat, tollit utamur ad sed. Exerci legere iuvaret at eam, ius et expetenda forensibus. Ius et novum nominavi, id duo periculis intellegat. Aeterno eleifend maluisset ei cum. Vidit probo praesent ad eos, cum eligendi patrioque ea.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, alterum consequat an duo, harum civibus eu vis. Pri inani utroque noluisse in, te alia evertitur vix. Vocent eligendi cum an, iriure convenire sit ex. Ex porro appetere iracundia sed.
Ea eam ancillae volutpat, tollit utamur ad sed. Exerci legere iuvaret at eam, ius et expetenda forensibus. Ius et novum nominavi, id duo periculis intellegat. Aeterno eleifend maluisset ei cum. Vidit probo praesent ad eos, cum eligendi patrioque ea.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, alterum consequat an duo, harum civibus eu vis. Pri inani utroque noluisse in, te alia evertitur vix. Vocent eligendi cum an, iriure convenire sit ex. Ex porro appetere iracundia sed.
Ea eam ancillae volutpat, tollit utamur ad sed. Exerci legere iuvaret at eam, ius et expetenda forensibus. Ius et novum nominavi, id duo periculis intellegat. Aeterno eleifend maluisset ei cum. Vidit probo praesent ad eos, cum eligendi patrioque ea.