John Hine

Federal student loan wage garnishment is back and set to begin the week of January 7, 2026 , according to recent federal announcements. Notices will go out to borrowers in default, and if you don’t act quickly, your employer could be asked to withhold part of your paycheck to repay defaulted federal student loans. This is a seismic shift from the pandemic-era relief many borrowers experienced. After years of payment breaks, federal collections are resuming and could impact millions of...

With ongoing changes across the federal student loan system, one of the simplest yet most overlooked steps borrowers can take is confirming who currently services their loans. Servicing transfers have become increasingly common over the last two years, especially with major updates to repayment programs and account adjustments. But many borrowers only discover their servicer has changed after a missed payment, a delayed update, or an unexpected notice. Staying ahead of these changes can...

Big recent moves in the federal student loan world mean it’s more important than ever to stay informed and proactive. Here are three headline-changes and how you should respond to each. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is heading into major rule-making. The U.S. Department of Education has concluded a negotiated rule-making session tied to the law, which aims to simplify repayment plans and reshape graduate loan limits. The Department of Education has issued a final rule tightening...