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Essential Updates on Federal and Private Student Loans: January '26

In this episode of the Escape Student Loan Debt Podcast, we share updates on federal and private student loans in January 2026.

Key topics include the delay of wage garnishments for defaulted loans, the elimination of the partial financial hardship requirement for income-based repayment plans, and the discontinuation of the forgiveness tracker on studentaid.gov. 

Additionally, we cover the Department of Education's stance on student loan forgiveness under income-driven repayment plans and the impact of international politics on private loan interest rates. 

Tune in for information to help on your student loan journey!

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:03 Wage Garnishments Update
04:39 The Death of the Forgiveness Tracker
09:38 Partial Financial Hardship Removal
12:28 Fate of the SAVE Plan
16:34 Forgiveness Updates and Delays
18:39 Impact of International Politics on Loan Interest Rates
19:34 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes