Your condition must not have existed when your student loan was made unless your condition has substantially deteriorated so that you are now totally and permanently disabled.

Total and permanent disability is defined as a condition that keeps you from working or earning money because of an injury or illness that is expected to continue indefinitely or results in death.

To be eligible for this discharge, you must provide certification of your total and permanent disability from a physician of medicine or osteopathy who is licensed to practice in the U.S.

Please be sure you (or someone acting for you) and your doctor complete all the paperwork required. Read the instructions in Section 4 carefully before submitting your Loan Discharge Application: Total and Permanent Disability (PDF, 78KB).

I am eligible for Social Security benefits. Does this mean you will discharge my student loan?

Not necessarily. The Department of Education has its own rules and applications for disability benefits. Qualifying for Social Security benefits does not automatically mean you qualify for discharge of your student loan. To be eligible, you must meet the definition of total and permanent disability provided in Section 5 of the Loan Discharge Application: Total and Permanent Disability (PDF, 78KB).

How can I make the application process easy the first time?

• Complete all areas of the form with your doctor.
• Sign and date the form in Section 2: Borrower Discharge Request.
• Be sure that your doctor fully completes all items in Section 3: Physician's Certification. Dates must be in MM/DD/YYYY format and every field must be filled in.
• Submit your form with original signatures. They are required: A form without original signatures will be returned to you.
• Submit the completed application within 60 days of the day you receive it.

You can view a sample form (PDF, 73KB) that has been completed properly.

How long is the approval process? What is the status of my loan account during it?

Federal regulations require up to a three-year conditional period before discharge can be fully approved. The conditional discharge period ends when the Department of Education either grants a final discharge or determines that you do not qualify for one. During the conditional discharge period, Department of Education monitors your eligibility for a final discharge.

If a conditional discharge is granted, you are not required to make payments, but you are responsible for the loan until you get final approval.

While your discharge application is being reviewed, it's your responsibility to keep your account current. If your application is returned because information is missing, you will be given 60 days of administrative forbearance (temporary suspension of payment).

What if my request is denied?

If your request is denied, we will notify you and send a repayment notice.

See our FAQs about disability discharge denials for more information.

What does my doctor need to do?

Your doctor needs to fully complete Section 3 of the application. We have Instructions for completing Section 3 for physicians.

Your doctor might want to see this sample form (PDF, 73KB).

If you need assistance
Please call us at (888) 272-5543, visit this website, or log in to your Manage Your Loans account to review your loan status and email us questions.