Legal & Debt Relief Pillar

Student Loan Forgiveness for Disabled Borrowers (TPD Discharge)

Complete walkthrough of the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program under 34 CFR § 685.213, eliminating monitoring periods and federal tax liability.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge Framework

Under 34 CFR § 685.213, federal student loan borrowers who suffer from a severe, long-term physical or mental impairment can have 100% of their Federal Direct, FFEL, and Perkins loans discharged through the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge program.

Three Qualifying Certification Pathways

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating or individual unemployability (IU) determination qualify automatically.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Borrowers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) qualify if their next medical review is scheduled in 3 years or longer.
Physician Certification (M.D. / D.O.): A licensed doctor certifies that your condition prevents substantial gainful activity for at least 60 continuous months or can be expected to result in death.

Permanent Tax-Free Status

Under federal law and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, balances discharged through TPD discharge are permanently tax-free at the federal level. You will not owe income taxes on discharged student debt.

Financial Assistance Notices

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which entity manages TPD discharge applications?

Nelnet acts as the Department of Education's exclusive servicing contractor for TPD applications via disabilitydischarge.com.

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Debt Relief Calculators

Model statutory discharge formulas:

• PSLF 120-Payment Milestone Tracker • SAVE Plan Discretionary Relief

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