$6 Billion Student Loan Reimbursement Program Launching in Connecticut (NBC Connecticut)

Connecticut is launching a pilot program for student loan reimbursement.The program was part of a bipartisan effort passed by the state legislature, and in response to the overwhelming number of Connecticut residents struggling with their loans. The Office of High Education projects 100,000 borrowers are eligible to enroll when the program begins on January 1, 2025.

The Office of Higher Education may approve the participation of any person in the student loan reimbursement program who (PA 24-81): 

1. Must have graduated from a Connecticut state public or private college or university with a bachelor’s or associate degree or have an occupational/professional license or certificate or left such college in good standing and was granted a hardship waiver by the Office of Higher Education.
2. Must be a Connecticut resident for at least five years.
3. Must have a Connecticut adjusted gross income of not more than $125,000 for single applicants and file a federal tax return as unmarried or have a Connecticut adjusted gross income of not more than $175,000 for married applicants and file a federal tax return as head of household, married filing jointly or a surviving spouse.
4. Must have an outstanding student loan balance and made payments in 2024 toward federal direct loans, federal direct PLUS loans, federal Perkins loans, CHESLA loan or other state’s sponsored student loan, or a private student loan.
5. Must have volunteered for at least 50 hours at a Connecticut nonprofit organization that is registered with the Department of Consumer Protection, municipal government, served on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit organization or has military service after Jan. 1, 2024.

ACTION NEEDED: Proposed Rules on Student Debt Relief Based on Hardship (US Department of Education)

This is an opportunity for student loan debtors and their allies to voice their opinions about student loan debt relief. Tell them your stories and explain how this rule will help yourself and others. It can make a difference.  

The Secretary of Education proposes to amend the regulations related to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to provide for the waiver of certain student loan debts.  

The proposed regulations would specify the Secretary’s authority to waive all or part of any student loan debts owed to the Department based on the Secretary’s determination that a borrower has experienced or is experiencing hardship related to such a loan. 

DATES: The Department of Education must receive your comments on or before December 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at Regulations.gov. 

The specific page to make your comment is at https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2023-OPE-0123-32489. Once you get to that page, hit the comment button and make your comment. We suggest writing your comment out, then cutting and pasting it into the comment section.

Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for finding a rule on the site and submitting comments, is available on the site under ‘‘FAQ.’’ If you require an accommodation or cannot otherwise submit your comments via Regulations.gov, please contact regulationshelpdesk@gsa.gov or by phone at 1–866–498–2945.

After you submit your comment, you will receive a receipt like the one below.