A candid look at what our student loan experts are seeing in real-time consultations. The throughline: borrowers need to pull their heads out of the sand because too many are sitting on consolidation deadlines, surprise recertifications, and PSLF misconceptions that could cost them years of credit. The conversation moves from urgent Parent PLUS deadlines to PSLF edge cases, then to disability planning and ABLE accounts — every topic drawn from patterns the team is seeing across recent consults.

Key moments:

(03:47) Parent PLUS borrowers must consolidate before July 1 to preserve IDR access

(08:09) Servicers are pulling tax data months early — revoke IRS consent to control your recertification

(22:29) Big Beautiful Bill removes IBR's hardship test, reopening PSLF for high earners

(36:13) Disability creates two tracks: IDR recalculation for income drops, or Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

(42:07) ABLE accounts let families save for disability expenses with tax-free growth, and 529 funds can roll in

Resources mentioned:

• StudentAid.gov - official Federal Student Aid site for IDR, consolidation, PSLF, disability discharge, and more

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