Student Loan Borrower Safety Net Act of 2021

To protect borrowers of Federal student loans during the transition period following the end of the COVID–19 student loan repayment pause, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Student Loan Borrower Safety Net Act of 2021 2. Extension of application and recertification deadline (a) In general Section 3513 of the CARES Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (1) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Notice to borrowers of covered loans relating to transition period Not later than the date that is 60 days prior to the first day on which a borrower’s payment obligations on a covered loan are no longer suspended, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary shall carry out a program to provide not less than 6 notices by postal mail, telephone, or electronic communication to such a borrower indicating— (1) when the borrower’s normal payment obligations will resume; (2) that the borrower may be eligible to enroll in income-driven repayment, including a brief description of available income-driven repayment options; and (3) the options, including a brief description of the benefits and consequences of these options, to rehabilitate or consolidate the loans of a borrower who is in default. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (h) Priority notification (1) In general In carrying out subsection (g), the Secretary shall give priority in accordance with paragraph (2) to notifying borrowers who— (A) during the 5-year period preceding March 31, 2020, missed a payment or payments for a period of not less than 60 days with respect to a covered loan; and (B) in the 5 years preceding March 31, 2020— (i) missed a payment in the first 3 months of entering repayment with respect to such a covered loan; (ii) entered into a non-administrative forbearance or a economic hardship deferment with respect to such a covered loan— (I) on 2 or more occasions; or (II) for a period of longer than 1 year; (iii) were enrolled and subsequently unenrolled, or changed to less-than-half-time enrollment status, more than twice after entering repayment with respect to such a covered loan; (iv) defaulted on such a covered loan; or (v) on 3 or more occasions, missed two or more consecutive payments with respect to such a covered loan. (2) Priority In carrying out paragraph (1) (A) notify borrowers described in such paragraph of the information specified in subsection (g) through at least 3 additional and subsequent notifications after the initial notification; or (B) carry out other evidence-based outreach activities that are designed to assist struggling borrowers or borrowers who were otherwise at risk for default before the COVID–19 pandemic, and report to Congress on such activities. (i) Application or recertification (1) In general A borrower of a covered loan may— (A) during the period beginning on the date of enactment of the Student Loan Borrower Safety Net Act of 2021 (B) under an application described in subparagraph (A) (2) Change of repayment plans With respect to a covered loan, in the case of a borrower of such a loan who opts to change the repayment plan in which such borrower was enrolled on the date of the enactment of this section, no fee or payment shall be required during the period in which it takes such borrower to become enrolled in such repayment plan. (3) Economic hardship (A) In general A borrower of a covered loan who, due to an economic hardship, is unable to make payments with respect to such loan on or after the first day on which the borrower’s payment obligations on such loan are no longer suspended, may apply to the Secretary for an economic hardship deferment for the period beginning on the date of enactment of the Student Loan Borrower Safety Net Act of 2021 (B) Notification The Secretary and any other servicer of a covered loan shall notify borrowers who miss a payment on such a loan of the availability of— (i) income-based and income-contingent repayment plans available in accordance with paragraph (1) (ii) an economic hardship deferment under this paragraph. (C) Treatment of borrower with economic hardship In the case of a borrower who submits certification of an economic hardship under subparagraph (A) 20 U.S.C. 1085(o) (j) Missed payments In the case of a borrower of a covered loan who misses a payment or payments on such a loan for the 60-day period beginning on the first day on which the borrower’s payment obligations on such loan are no longer suspended, the Secretary or the holder of a loan described in subsection (k)(2) (1) hold such loan in administrative forbearance for a 90-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days after the first day on which the borrower’s payment obligations on such loan are no longer suspended; and (2) contact such borrower on at least 6 separate occasions regarding the information included in subsection (g). (k) Covered loan In this section, the term covered loan (1) a loan described in subsection (a); or (2) a loan— (A) made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. (B) for which payments were suspended— (i) pursuant to the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 ( Public Law 108–76 20 U.S.C. 1070 (ii) during a qualifying emergency. .

Summary: Student Loan Borrower Safety Net Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out a program to notify borrowers that normal payment obligations on their federal student loans will resume. Not later than 60 days before payment obligations are no longer suspended (as determined by ED), ED must provide at least six notices to borrowers indicating that their payment obligations will resume. These notices must also indicate the options for (1) enrolling in income-driven repayment plans, and (2) rehabilitating or consolidating loans. ED must provide priority notification to certain borrowers, including those who missed a payment in the first three months of entering repayment on a loan. The bill allows borrowers to (1) submit an application or reapplication for an income-contingent or income-based repayment plan and self-certify their income and family size, (2) change their repayment plan without a fee, and (3) apply for an economic hardship deferment. If a borrower misses a payment or payments on a loan during the 60 days after the payment suspension ends, then the loan must be held in administrative forbearance for 90 days.