Federal student loan borrowers can qualify for the student loan forgiveness program known as Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge. Under this program, federal student loan debt is discharged if a person has severe permanent mental and/or physical disability that prevents them from working.
Some types of disabilities that have qualified for TPD discharge are – terminal cancer, chronic fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, severe depression, endocrine disorders, and bipolar disorder. Other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) generally do not prevent people from holding jobs, but you could qualify if your doctor certifies it as a disability. The Social Security Administration has a list of adult impairments that could qualify for TPD.
The United States Department of Education accepts proof of disability from a doctor, the Social Security Administration, or the Department of Veteran Affairs.
If you get a TPD discharge, you don’t have to pay the federal Direct Loan, Federal Family Education Loan, and Perkin Loan. The Federal Parent PLUS loan is discharged only if the parent of the student becomes permanently disabled.
If you have not got an automatic discharge letter, you can apply for it by completing a TPD discharge application, attaching the necessary documents to support your claim, and sending it to Nelnet which is the TPD discharge servicer.
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