US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1087

Repayment by Secretary of loans of bankrupt, deceased, or disabled borrowers; treatment of borrowers attending schools that fail to provide a refund, attending closed schools, or falsely certified as eligible to borrow

(a)

Repayment in full for death and disability

(1)

In general

section 1078(a)(1) of this titleIf a student borrower who has received a loan described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled (as determined in accordance with regulations of the Secretary), or if a student borrower who has received such a loan is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months, or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months then the Secretary shall discharge the borrower’s liability on the loan by repaying the amount owed on the loan. The Secretary may develop such safeguards as the Secretary determines necessary to prevent fraud and abuse in the discharge of liability under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the Secretary may promulgate regulations to reinstate the obligation of, and resume collection on, loans discharged under this subsection in any case in which—
(A)
a borrower received a discharge of liability under this subsection and after the discharge the borrower—
(i)
receives a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter; or
(ii)
has earned income in excess of the poverty line; or
(B)
the Secretary determines the reinstatement and resumption to be necessary.
(2)

Disability determinations

A borrower who has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition and who provides documentation of such determination to the Secretary of Education, shall be considered permanently and totally disabled for the purpose of discharging such borrower’s loans under this subsection, and such borrower shall not be required to present additional documentation for purposes of this subsection.

(3)

Automatic income monitoring

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall establish and implement, with respect to any borrower described in subparagraph (B), procedures to—
(i)
lsection 1098h of this title use return information disclosed under section 6103()(13) of title 26, pursuant to approval provided under , to determine the borrower’s continued eligibility for the loan discharge described in subparagraph (B);
(ii)
l allow the borrower, at any time, to opt out of disclosure under such section 6103()(13) and instead provide such information as the Secretary may require to determine the borrower’s continued eligibility for such loan discharge; and
(iii)
provide the borrower with an opportunity to update the return information so disclosed before determination of such borrower’s continued eligibility for such loan discharge.
(B)

Applicability

Subparagraph (A) shall apply—
(i)
to each borrower of a loan that is discharged due to the total and permanent disability (within the meaning of this subsection) of the borrower; and
(ii)
during the period beginning on the date on which such loan is so discharged and ending on the first day on which such loan may no longer be reinstated.
(b)

Payment of claims on loans in bankruptcy

1
1 See References in Text note below.
The Secretary shall pay to the holder of a loan described in section 1078(a)(1)(A) or (B), 1078–1, 1078–2, 1078–3, or 1078–8 of this title, the amount of the unpaid balance of principal and interest owed on such loan—
(1)
when the borrower files for relief under chapter 12 or 13 of title 11;
(2)
when the borrower who has filed for relief under chapter 7 or 11 of such title commences an action for a determination of dischargeability under section 523(a)(8)(B) of such title; or
(3)
for loans described in section 523(a)(8)(A) of such title, when the borrower files for relief under chapter 7 or 11 of such title.
(c)

Discharge

(1)

In general

If a borrower who received, on or after , a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part and the student borrower, or the student on whose behalf a parent borrowed, is unable to complete the program in which such student is enrolled due to the closure of the institution or if such student’s eligibility to borrow under this part was falsely certified by the eligible institution or was falsely certified as a result of a crime of identity theft, or if the institution failed to make a refund of loan proceeds which the institution owed to such student’s lender, then the Secretary shall discharge the borrower’s liability on the loan (including interest and collection fees) by repaying the amount owed on the loan and shall subsequently pursue any claim available to such borrower against the institution and its affiliates and principals or settle the loan obligation pursuant to the financial responsibility authority under subpart 3 of part H. In the case of a discharge based upon a failure to refund, the amount of the discharge shall not exceed that portion of the loan which should have been refunded. The Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees annually as to the dollar amount of loan discharges attributable to failures to make refunds.

(2)

Assignment

A borrower whose loan has been discharged pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed to have assigned to the United States the right to a loan refund up to the amount discharged against the institution and its affiliates and principals.

(3)

Eligibility for additional assistance

The period of a student’s attendance at an institution at which the student was unable to complete a course of study due to the closing of the institution shall not be considered for purposes of calculating the student’s period of eligibility for additional assistance under this subchapter.

(4)

Special rule

section 1087ee(a)(5) of this titleA borrower whose loan has been discharged pursuant to this subsection shall not be precluded from receiving additional grants, loans, or work assistance under this subchapter for which the borrower would be otherwise eligible (but for the default on such discharged loan). The amount discharged under this subsection shall be treated the same as loans under .

(5)

Reporting

The Secretary shall report to consumer reporting agencies with respect to loans which have been discharged pursuant to this subsection.

(d)

Repayment of loans to parents

section 1078–2 of this titleIf a student on whose behalf a parent has received a loan described in dies, then the Secretary shall discharge the borrower’s liability on the loan by repaying the amount owed on the loan.

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 437Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 402(a)100 Stat. 1414Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 428106 Stat. 551Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(63)107 Stat. 2469Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 431112 Stat. 1709Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8012120 Stat. 166Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(7)122 Stat. 3089Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 402(e)(1)123 Stat. 1942Pub. L. 116–91, § 5133 Stat. 1193(, as added , , ; amended , , ; –(65), , ; , , ; , , ; , title IV, §§ 432(b)(4), 437(a), (b), , , 3246, 3257, 3258; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1078–1 of this titlePub. L. 103–66, title IV, § 4047(b)107 Stat. 364Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 418112 Stat. 1691, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by –(d), , , eff. , except with respect to loans provided under that section as it existed prior to . Subsequently, a new section 1078–1, relating to voluntary flexible agreements with guaranty agencies, was enacted by , , .

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 437Pub. L. 90–575, title I, § 113(a)82 Stat. 1020Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 132D(a)86 Stat. 263Pub. L. 94–482, title I, § 127(a)90 Stat. 2133Pub. L. 96–374, title XIII, § 1391(a)(1)94 Stat. 1503Pub. L. 99–498A prior section 1087, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , , related to repayment of loans by Secretary, prior to the general revision of this part by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–912019—Subsec. (a)(3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 111–392009—Subsec. (a)(1). substituted “Secretary), or if” for “Secretary),, or if” in introductory provisions and inserted “the reinstatement and resumption to be” after “determines” in subpar. (B).

Pub. L. 110–315, § 437(a)(3)2008—Subsec. (a). , which directed insertion of “The Secretary may develop such safeguards as the Secretary determines necessary to prevent fraud and abuse in the discharge of liability under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the Secretary may promulgate regulations to reinstate the obligation of, and resume collection on, loans discharged under this subsection in any case in which—

“(A) a borrower received a discharge of liability under this subsection and after the discharge the borrower—

“(i) receives a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter; or

“(ii) has earned income in excess of the poverty line; or

“(B) the Secretary determines necessary.”

at the end of subsec. (a), was executed by making the insertion at the end of par. (1) to reflect the probable intent of Congress, notwithstanding the addition of par. (2) prior to the effective date of this amendment.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 437(a)(1), (2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. (1) heading, and inserted “, or if a student borrower who has received such a loan is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death, has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months, or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months” after “of the Secretary),”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 437(b)Subsec. (a)(2). , added par. (2).

Pub. L. 110–315, § 103(b)(7)Subsec. (c)(1). , substituted “authorizing committees” for “Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 432(b)(4)Subsec. (c)(5). , substituted “consumer reporting agencies” for “credit bureaus”.

Pub. L. 109–171, § 8012(1)2006—, in section catchline, substituted “schools that fail to provide a refund, attending closed schools, or falsely certified as eligible to borrow” for “closed schools or falsely certified as eligible to borrow”.

Pub. L. 109–171, § 8012(2)Subsec. (c)(1). , inserted “or was falsely certified as a result of a crime of identity theft” after “falsely certified by the eligible institution” in first sentence.

Pub. L. 105–2441998—Subsec. (c)(1). inserted “or if the institution failed to make a refund of loan proceeds which the institution owed to such student’s lender,” after “falsely certified by the eligible institution,” and inserted at end “In the case of a discharge based upon a failure to refund, the amount of the discharge shall not exceed that portion of the loan which should have been refunded. The Secretary shall report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate annually as to the dollar amount of loan discharges attributable to failures to make refunds.”

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(63)section 1078(a)(1) of this title1993—Subsec. (b). , amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If the collection of a loan described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of or sections 1078–1, 1078–2, 1078–3, or 1078–8 of this title is stayed in any action under title 11, the Secretary shall repay the unpaid balance of principal and interest owed on the loan.”

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(64)Subsec. (c)(1). , substituted “If a borrower” for “If a student borrower”, “under this part and the student borrower, or the student on whose behalf a parent borrowed, is unable” for “under this part is unable”, and “in which such student is enrolled” for “in which the borrower is enrolled”.

Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(c)(65)section 1087ee(a)(5) of this titleSubsec. (c)(4). , inserted at end “The amount discharged under this subsection shall be treated the same as loans under .”

Pub. L. 102–3251992— amended section generally, substituting subsecs. (a) to (d) for former subsecs. (a) and (b) which related to repayment by Secretary of loans of bankrupt, deceased, or disabled borrowers.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 402(e)(2)123 Stat. 1943

Public Law 110–315“The amendments made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall be effective as if enacted as part of the amendments in section 437(a) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act () [amending this section], and shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 437(c)122 Stat. 3258

“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–171section 8001(c) of Pub. L. 109–171section 1002 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–244Pub. L. 105–244section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–208Pub. L. 102–325section 5(a) of Pub. L. 103–208section 1051 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

Executive Documents

Discharging the Federal Student Loan Debt of Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans

Memorandum of President of the United States, , 84 F.R. 44677, provided:

Memorandum for the Secretary of Education [and] the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Since our Founding, the United States has been blessed with men and women willing to serve in defense of our Nation and our ideals. Many of those answering the call to serve make the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and many others carry physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives.

20 U.S.C. 1001The Higher Education Act of 1965 [ et seq.], as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act in 2008 and other acts (Higher Education Act), honors veterans who are totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service to the Nation by providing for the discharge of their Federal student loan debt. Borrowers who have been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected condition and who provide documentation of that determination to the Secretary of Education are entitled to the discharge of such debt.

For the last decade, veterans seeking loan discharges have been required to submit an application to the Secretary of Education with proof of their disabilities obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The process has been overly complicated and difficult, and prevented too many of our veterans from receiving the relief for which they are eligible. This has inflicted significant hardship and serious harm on these veterans and has frustrated the intent of the Congress that their Federal student loan debt be discharged.

Only half of the approximately 50,000 totally and permanently disabled veterans who currently qualify for the discharge of their Federal student loan debt have availed themselves of the benefits provided to them by the Higher Education Act. This has created a serious and critical problem for disabled veterans, who must deal with the day-to-day consequences of their service-connected injuries, and for our military, as readiness and recruitment suffer when we do not take care of our veterans. There is a pressing need to quickly and effectively resolve this problem. Therefore, my Administration will take prompt action to ensure that all totally and permanently disabled veterans are able to obtain, with minimal burden, the Federal student loan debt discharges to which they are legally entitled.

Accordingly, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to express the gratitude of our Nation for the service of our totally and permanently disabled veterans, I hereby direct the following:

SectionPolicy 1. . It shall be the policy of the Federal Government to facilitate—in a manner that is quick, efficient, and minimally burdensome—the discharge of Federal student loan debt for totally and permanently disabled veterans.

SecDirective to the Secretaries of Education and Veterans Affairs20 U.S.C. 108720 U.S.C. 1087e20 U.S.C. 1087dd. 2. . (a) The Secretary of Education is hereby directed to develop as soon as practicable a process, consistent with applicable law, to facilitate the swift and effective discharge of the Federal student loan debt of totally and permanently disabled veterans pursuant to section 437 of the Higher Education Act, ; section 455 of the Higher Education Act, ; and section 464 of the Higher Education Act, . To the maximum extent feasible and consistent with applicable law, the process developed by the Secretary of Education should account for and make use of disability determinations made available to the Secretary of Education by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b) The Secretaries of Education and Veterans Affairs (Secretaries) shall take appropriate action to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this memorandum as expeditiously as possible. To that end, the Secretaries shall consider all pathways for the Department of Veterans Affairs to share disability determinations with the Department of Education, so that veterans may be relieved of the burdensome administrative impediments to Federal student loan debt discharge.

SecDefinitions. 3. . As used in this memorandum:

(a) the term “Federal student loan debt” means liability to repay Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans, and Federal Perkins Loans.

(b) the term “discharge” means discharge of FFEL Program loans and Direct Loan Program loans and cancellation of Federal Perkins Loans.

SecGeneral Provisions. 4. . (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

Donald J. Trump.