How To Use studentloans.gov [Explained]

Looking for a one-stop location to help manage your federal student loans? Look no further! You have studentloan.gov as your helper. This website will act as the core of all activities and solutions to queries regarding your federal student loans.

Due to a fear of data breach, the internal revenue service had shut down its data retrieval tool. This was done in good intention with their users in mind, but this left a majority of the federal student loan borrowers in disbelief and confusion.

This tool was responsible for providing an easy way for borrowers to apply for Income-Driven Repayment. But in two months, the feature was back, but this time it was again introduced as studentloans.gov. This website is the Federal student aid site of the Department of Education. Read more to find out how you can make the best use of this website.

Table of contents

Who is the studentloans.gov
How do I get started
What can I do with it
What help do I get from the FederalStudentAid website

Who is studentloans.gov for?

This website is specifically for those who are either:

Graduates who have just graduated and are in the process of repaying their debt
Individuals who are looking to get loans to fund their education. They can be students or parents

Those who have queries regarding their federal loans can find relevant and resourceful content on the website. They have had technical issues in the past; they have a user-friendly navigation system that helps users easily handle the website and get the information they need.

Getting started with studentloans.gov

To log into the website you need an FSA ID, here are the steps to help you get an FSA ID:

Fill the form available on fsaid.ed.gov page.
Verify your age stating that you are at least 13 years old.
Create a username, password, and also provide your email address. This ID created will act as an electronic signature in case you would like to apply for financial aid or sign a promissory loan note or any other legal document through the website.
You will have to further provide your social security number, date of birth, contact, and information, and in addition to all of this, you will have to give answers to some challenging questions.
You must accept some terms and conditions before going further, so it is advised to check all the information you have entered so far.
As per the email provided to create your FSA ID, you will receive a code to that email address to verify. You have the option to use that email address instead of a username.

After obtaining this FSA ID, you can file a FAFSA right away. It should be noted that there might be a delay in login with other US Department Education websites using the same FSA ID.

What can I do with studentloans.gov?

As discussed earlier, this website is your one-stop to manage your federal loans, let's get into detail with everything you can do once logged into this site:

1) Apply for student loans

There are several loans that you can apply for on this website, and each loan will require different details. Undergraduate students will be directed to FAFSA.gov to apply for the loans they are eligible. Graduate students, professional students, and even parents can apply for PLUS loans here.

2)Get access to videos that educate viewers on student loans

There are videos present on the site which cover topics like repayment plans, student aid programs, steps to be taken in case you forget your FSA ID, tips for parents regarding the FAFSA form, and many more.

3) Counseling on Debt

There is a false notion that counseling regarding debt should start once you are neck-deep in debt, but that is not true. You can start educating yourself on matters concerning debt even while you decide to take up a student loan.

As per the website, these counseling sessions take about 20-30 minutes.

4) Take an appeal against a credit decision

If a borrower is unhappy with a decision taken regarding the loan application or credit, he/she can appeal this decision made via the website.

5) Apply for an income-driven repayment plan

Are you finding it challenging to meet your monthly payments? Then you should consider an income-driven repayment plan which will adjust your monthly payments as per your income.

There are a number of income-driven repayment plans available; it is advisable to go through all the plans and then make a decision.

6) Looking for a co-signer or endorser?

This application is essential for arent PLUS loans; for those borrowers who need a co-signer for their loan, they can get help on the website.

7) Repayment estimator

Before getting yourself a loan, it is essential to understand that you will have to one day repay the loan, so estimating how much you will have to pay each month is crucial, so you don't fall into default or delinquency.

The amount you will have to start making during the repayment period should not come as a shock to you, so use the estimator tool on the website to get an idea.

8) Consolidating loans

If you have several loans, you will have to make several payments. Keeping track of these payments can be confusing; to tackle this problem, consolidate your loans so you will have to make just one payment at the end of each month. You can complete your loan consolidation on the website.

9) Find forms

If you doubt regarding a particular form, then you can access the Forms Center at the website where you can find and download applicable forms related to repayment, forbearance, forgiveness, discharge, etc.

In case you have difficulty deciding or are simply unaware of which document you need, you can take up the quick quiz about your situation on the website. For example, for someone who can’t meet the monthly payment requirements needs documents to get into deferment or forbearance.

Worried about college tuition? Learn all about student loans

What help can I get from the website?

StudentLoans.gov is the right tool when you need to get answers to questions on federal student loans. It helps direct you to the right places for, such as:

Getting in contact with the Financial Aid office for queries regarding:

Loan status
Loan cancellation
Loan disbursements and amounts

Getting in contact with the loan servicer for queries regarding:

Loan balance amount
Loan repayment status
Deferment status
Forbearance

They also have an FAQ page that covers all aspects of student loans with a rich answer base to all the possible questions in a borrower's mind. You can contact them through the live chat function or by calling them at 1-800-557-7394.

If you are looking to educate yourself about loans, then StudentLoans.gov is an excellent source; it helps to manage your loans and find a repayment plan that works best for you.

Having everything you need in one place makes life easier for the borrower and helps them confidently and comfortably repay their loans.