The Education Department has decided to stop taking money from the Social Security checks of people who haven't paid back their student loans. This is big news for many older Americans who were worried about losing part of their income. The government had recently started collecting these overdue loans again after a pause during the pandemic. About 452, 000 people aged 62 and older were in default on their student loans, according to a report from January.

        The department has not taken any money from Social Security benefits since collections restarted. They have also stopped any future plans to do so. This move is seen as a way to protect those who rely on a fixed income. However, some advocates think this isn't enough. They want more help for the roughly 5. 3 million borrowers who are in default.

        Student loan debt among older people has been growing fast. This is partly because tuition costs have gone up, forcing more people to borrow money. People aged 60 and older now owe about 125 billion dollars in student loans. This is a huge increase from 20 years ago. Because of this, the number of Social Security beneficiaries who have had their payments reduced due to loan defaults has also gone up. It jumped from about 6, 200 to 192, 300 between 2001 and 2019.

        The decision to stop taking money from Social Security checks is a step in the right direction. But it's important to think about why so many older adults are struggling with student loan debt in the first place. Rising tuition costs and the need to borrow more money are big parts of the problem. This issue affects not just individuals, but also the broader economy. It's a reminder that education should be accessible to all, regardless of age or income.

        The Education Department's decision shows that there is some recognition of the challenges faced by older borrowers. However, more needs to be done to address the root causes of this problem. This includes looking at ways to make higher education more affordable and providing better support for those who are struggling with debt.

ELDERLY BORROWERS

Older Americans Get a Break from Student Loan Debt

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