Your Guide to Total and Permanent Disability Student Loan Discharge

The Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD) program is often described as one of the easiest and quickest ways for many borrowers to get federal student loan debt relief, especially for older adults in retirement. Many older borrowers may assume, “I’m not disabled, so I won’t qualify.” However, the truth is that if your health truly prevents you from working full-time, TPD could be your path to student loan freedom.

How to qualify for Student Loan Discharge

1. Have a medical professional certify your medical condition: This is the most common process for getting your loan discharged, especially for individuals who are not receiving formal disability benefits but are experiencing physical or mental challenges that prevent them from working full-time.
   • Who qualifies? The eligibility criteria for TPD are different from other disability programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To qualify, your medical professional must certify that you are unable to work full-time performing significant physical and mental activities due to a physical or mental health condition that is expected to last at least five years or is expected to result in death.
   • Who can certify your condition? The program accepts certifications from a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or licensed psychologist. This means you may not need to see a specialized doctor or get a new diagnosis to qualify.
   • How complicated is the application? The application your medical professional needs to complete is just three pages and includes a few short questions about your condition. Unlike other disability benefits, you do not need to attach any documentation about your condition.

2. Veteran status: If you are a veteran and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has determined you have a 100% service-connected disability, you are eligible for TPD Discharge.
3. Social Security Disability benefits: If you are receiving SSDI or SSI benefits and fall into one of these four categories, you are likely eligible for TPD Discharge:
   • Your next scheduled medical review is in 5–7 years (or your 3-year review has been renewed).
   • Your disability started at least 5 years before you began receiving benefits.
   • You are in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Compassionate Allowance program.
   • You were on SSDI or SSI benefits before switching to SSA retirement benefits.

How do I know if my student loans are eligible?

The following types of student loans are eligible for TPD discharge:

A note for parent borrowers

Parent PLUS loans can be discharged through TPD if the parent borrower has a qualifying disability. The eligibility is based solely on the parent borrower’s condition, not the student’s condition. If the parent’s spouse is disabled but not listed as the borrower on the loan, their condition cannot be used to qualify for discharge..

If you are unsure your loans are eligible, or even aren’t sure what types of student loans you have, you can follow these steps to check your eligibility and understand what types of loans you have.

Many older borrowers may assume, ‘I’m not disabled, so I won’t qualify.’ However, the truth is that if your health truly prevents you from working full-time, TPD could be your path to student loan freedom.

Applying for Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

A couple of ways your loans can be discharged are by submitting an eligible application or through automatic eligibility. 

1. Automatic eligibility:
   1. The Department of Education receives information from the VA and SSA four times a year about borrowers who meet the criteria for automatic TPD discharge. If you are identified this way, you may receive a letter notifying you of your eligibility, and your federal loans could be automatically canceled without you needing to apply.
   2. If automatic eligibility doesn’t apply to your situation, an online application is available that is designed to be as straightforward as possible.
2. Submit an application (online or printed): 
   1. Option 1: Complete the full TPD application online (Highly Recommended): This is often the fastest and most reliable method, as online submissions are processed much faster and have fewer errors or opportunities for paperwork to get lost.
      • Log in to your account at studentaid.gov/tpd-discharge/.
      • Select the option that matches your eligibility (VA/SSA benefits or medical professional certification).
      • In the application, you need to submit proof of your eligibility. If you’re using the Medical Professional Certification, your medical provider will need to complete part of the application certifying that you meet all of the requirements. 
   2. Option 2: Complete the TPD application online, print for signature, then submit signed application online: If you don’t have your medical professional’s email address or they prefer to sign a physical copy, you can complete your portion online, then print a paper version of the application that your medical provider can manually sign. Once signed, you can scan the paper form and upload it to your studentaid.gov account. This creates an electronic record and is much more reliable than mail or fax.
   3. Option 3: Download a blank TPD form, complete by hand, and mail/fax your application: You can download a blank application from studentaid.gov, complete your portion by hand, then have your medical professional manually sign it. Note that this method may take longer to process and carries a higher risk of issues, such as your form being difficult to read or getting lost. This option should be a last resort.
      • Mail: U.S. Department of Education – TPD Servicing, P.O. Box 300010, Greenville, TX 75403.
      • Fax: 540-212-2415.

What happens after you apply?

• Payments during application review: You should not have to make payments on your loans while your TPD discharge application is being reviewed. However, this forbearance may not be automatically applied. Call your loan servicer immediately after submitting your application to request that your loans be placed in a TPD discharge forbearance. If you continue to receive bills, follow up with your servicer.
• Post-Discharge monitoring period: If your TPD discharge is based on SSA benefits or a medical professional certification, you will be monitored for three years after your loans are discharged. During this time, your discharged debt will be reinstated only if you take out new federal student loans to cover school costs. Returning to work will not cause your loans to be reinstated. This offers peace of mind, especially if you’re considering part-time work.
• If your application is denied: Don’t give up! You can reapply. Understand why you were denied in order to correct any mistakes or gather more evidence. You can also ask the Department of Education to reevaluate your application within 12 months of denial if you have new supporting information.
• Tax implications: Currently, student loan debt discharged through the TPD program is not considered taxable income for federal tax purposes. However, this tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2025. We recommend consulting a tax professional for more detailed guidance regarding TPD tax regulations.

Common application mistakes

• Incomplete applications: Ensure all questions are answered, even if they are “not applicable.” When medical professionals describe your disability, they should avoid insurance codes or abbreviations for clarity.
• Incorrect or illegible signatures: Typed cursive or digital signatures (outside of the online tool’s electronic signature) are generally not accepted. If submitting by hand, ensure handwriting is clear and scans are high quality.
• Missing documentation: If applying based on VA or SSA benefits, make sure to include all required proof of eligibility.
• Lost applications: If you applied but haven’t received a response, it’s possible your digital submission was received in error, or if you mailed a physical application, it was lost. Contact your loan servicer or the Department of Education’s helpline to learn if you need to reapply.
• Expired certifications: Medical professional certifications are only valid for 90 days from the date they are signed, so submit your application promptly after receiving the signatures.
• Beware of scams: The student loan system can be confusing, and scammers take advantage of this. You never have to pay a fee to apply for federal student loan cancellation or discharge programs. Be cautious of any company that promises guaranteed forgiveness for a payment. Report scams to your state’s Attorney General.
• If you previously submitted an application to NelNet: NelNet is no longer the student loan servicer that handles TPD applications. If you previously submitted an application to NelNet and are waiting for a decision, call the TPD helpline and your loan servicer to check if you need to reapply.

Tips for talking with your medical provider:

If you are applying with the Medical Professionals Certificate, you may find that some healthcare professionals are hesitant to complete the form, often due to unfamiliarity with the program or misunderstanding the requirements.

• Be your own advocate: Explain the program, emphasizing that the standard is much lower than other disability benefits like SSDI. The information your medical provider needs to submit is also much shorter and you can mention that brief, simple answers are sufficient. Share the instructions on what counts and what doesn’t.
• Share your experience: Discuss your situation with your healthcare provider. Explain why returning to full-time or substantial work isn’t possible for you, and how your student loan debt is affecting your well-being and potentially worsening your health condition.
• Explore other options: Remember, a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or licensed psychologist can complete the form. This broadens your options for who can provide certification.
• Seek assistance: Legal aid, veterans’, and disability rights organizations can help advocate for you and may even connect you with medical professionals familiar with TPD.

If you need additional assistance or would like to check the status of your application, you can contact the TPD Call Center at 1-888-303-7818 or your loan servicer. Please be prepared for long wait times. Try calling at different points throughout the day. We recommend taking detailed notes from your conversation and documenting any issues. Ask for the name of the person you are speaking with and if they have a representative ID number. You can use this information if you need to call back or dispute an issue.

For more information about the application process, watch our webinar recording on Total and Permanent Disability Discharge.