STUDENT LOANS, BANKRUPTCY AND THE ELDERLY IN 2016

STUDENT LOANS, BANKRUPTCY AND THE ELDERLY IN 2016

What if you knew that a loan that you were going to make was not likely to be repaid 50% of the time? Would you make the loan? Would you consider it a smart investment?

            Right now, 50% of education loans held by people age 75 and over are in default – meaning no payment for at least 270 days. 27% of education loans held by people age 65-74 were in default, as well. http://www.abi.org/newsroom/bankruptcy-headlines/analysis-student-debt-may-be-the-next-crisis-facing-elderly-americans

            The education loans above include loans for the education of the borrower and Parent Plus loans for the parents of the person attending school. The Parent Plus program allows the borrower/parent to borrow the entire cost of the education with no need to show ability to repay the amount borrowed. However, most programs for income based repayment plans or forgiveness do not apply to Parent Plus loans. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-18/this-parent-trap-involves-71-billion-of-federal-education-debt

            In consulting with people recently, we have seen a dramatic increase in elderly clients having social security and tax refunds garnished for repayment of defaulted federally backed student loan debt. The loss of such income has begun to cause great hardship to elderly clients with the increase in medical costs, living expenses and housing costs.

            I regularly have to explain to the potential client that the Parent Plus student loans are treated just like other student loans. This means that there is almost no possibility of being able to discharge the student loan through any type of bankruptcy filing. Several recent cases have served to re-emphasize the impossibility of student loan discharge. See http://www.ksb.uscourts.gov/images/ksb_opinions/REN_11-05138-40.pdf

(sex offender can’t discharge student loans despite inability to find job due to status).

            The first paragraph above is meant to warn parents that good intentions alone will not provide for repayment of student loans taken out for their own education or their children’s education. Default rates of 50% are a sure indication that most elderly student loan borrowers are not able to maintain even minimum student loan payments based on reduced income, increased medical costs and other factors. The consequences of default are also draconian, with the loss of government benefits and tax refunds and the inability of the borrower to escape the debt through bankruptcy as the most obvious problems. So the borrower should make sure that such an investment is financially “worth it” based on the expected consequences.

            At Mickler & Mickler, we attend Court on a regular basis. We have the experience and knowledge to ensure that you receive the correct advice when confronted with difficult financial decisions related to filing bankruptcy. Contact us at 904.725.0822 orbkmickler@planlaw.com.

 

Bryan K. Mickler