Episode 1322
In this episode, we unpack the complex history and volatile current state of Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans for federal student loans. We begin by explaining the "umbrella" of IDR options—including Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)—exploring how payments are capped between 10% and 20% of a borrower's discretionary income based on when they took out their loans,,. We analyze the evolution of these plans from the Clinton administration’s original 1993 proposal to the Obama-era REPAYE plan,.
The conversation then shifts to the major shakeups of 2023–2025. We discuss the mechanics of the Biden administration's SAVE plan, which raised the poverty exemption threshold to 225% and eliminated negative amortization, only to be blocked by the Eighth Circuit Court in early 2025,,. We break down the historic $189 billion in loan cancellation approved by the Biden administration just prior to leaving office, impacting 5.3 million borrowers through PSLF, disability, and IDR adjustments.
Finally, we cover the chaotic landscape of late 2025, including the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" which enacted the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), the resumption of interest on frozen SAVE accounts, and the application backlogs resulting from efforts to close the Department of Education,. Whether you are a "new borrower" navigating consolidation rules or someone caught in the recent application pauses, this episode clarifies the eligibility requirements and legal battles defining student debt today,,.
Published on 11 hours ago
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