The Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Application Is Now Open Through Beta Launch

“Tonight, the Department of Education will begin beta testing the student debt relief website,” a spokesperson for the Department of Education told CNN. “During the beta testing period, borrowers will be able to submit applications for the Biden-Harris administration’s student debt relief program.”

People who apply for debt relief during the beta period will receive a confirmation email. However, their application will not be processed until the site is formally available.

“Those borrowers will not need to reapply if they submit their application during the beta test, but no applications will be processed until the site officially launches later this month,” the spokesperson said. “This testing period will allow the Department to monitor site performance through real-world use, test the site ahead of the official application launch, refine processes and uncover any possible bugs prior to the official launch.”

Most qualifying borrowers are expected to receive debt relief within weeks after the official website is open.

President Joe Biden announced his student debt relief plan in August.

Biden said he would cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt for individuals making less than $125,000 a year. The president also said he would cancel as much as $20,000 for eligible borrowers who were also Pell Grant recipients.

According to USA Today, the administration is facing opposition from mainly conservative groups as it strives to move forward with the debt relief program.

Six conservative states recently brought their argument to a federal judge in Missouri, saying the plan is a governmental overreach. The judge, however, did not yet make a ruling in the case.

Officials are encouraging borrowers to file their forms by Nov. 15 and possibly finish the process before the administration ends the freeze period that was implemented due to the pandemic.