COVID-19 Information for Direct Loans

On March 13, 2020, President Trump announced that interest would be waived for all federal student loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education. On March 27, 2020, the president signed the CARES Act into law. This provides relief for your Direct Loans due to the COVID-19 emergency. We will continue to provide updates here regarding the action we are taking to help you:

0% Interest Rate

• As of March 13, 2020, your interest rate is 0% until September 30, 2020.

• Payments made on or after March 13, 2020 were automatically adjusted.

• Payments are applied first towards the interest accrued prior to March 13, 2020 and the remainder is applied to the principal balance.

Temporarily Postponed Payments Through September 30, 2020

• In addition to receiving a 0% interest rate effective March 13, 2020, an Administrative forbearance has automatically been placed on your Direct Loans from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020 to temporarily postpone your payments.

• Notification has been sent to you.

• Monthly billing statements stopped on April 2, 2020. No payments due.

• Auto-Debit stopped for the April 3rd due date forward. No payments due.

During the Administrative Forbearance

• If your income has changed and you would like to recalculate or apply for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR), visit StudentAid.gov/idr. If approved, the IDR payment plan will begin after the forbearance ends.

• If you are on a qualifying repayment plan prior to the suspension, and work full-time for a qualifying employer during the suspension, you will receive credit toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for the period of suspension as though on-time monthly payments were made.

• If you are currently on an IDR plan, the administrative forbearance period counts toward Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness.

• You can continue to make payments at any time on mohela.com, by mail or through your bank (excludes our auto-debit program).

• If you made a payment on/after March 13, 2020 and would like this refunded, please contact our customer service.

• In August, we will begin to contact you to remind you that payments will resume after the administrative forbearance ends on Sept. 30, 2020. Please keep your contact information up to date on mohela.com.

Opting Out (Ending) the Administrative Forbearance

• If you prefer to be due for payment before September 30th, resume billing/auto debit, you can request to end this forbearance by contacting MOHELA through one of the methods listed below:

  • Calling Customer service

  • Logging in to mohela.com to submit your request by secure email

  • Mailing your request to: MOHELA 633 Spirit Drive Chesterfield, MO 63005

• If you choose to end this forbearance, please allow at least 21 days to begin billing you again.

• If your loans become more than 30 days past due, this forbearance will automatically be applied again through September 30, 2020.

For more information, please visit Federal Student Aid’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) information page located at StudentAid.gov/coronavirus. The page includes information about relief to student loan borrowers, including those who have defaulted on their federal student loans. Please visit the page regularly for updates.

National Emergency Information for FFELP Loans

With the National Emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, due to the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we want to provide you an update regarding your student loan account.  We are here to assist with your student loan needs and will continue to provide updates regarding the actions we are taking to help you.

• If your loans are more than 14 days past due, a National Disaster/National Emergency forbearance is automatically applied for 90 days.  NO action is required by you, and you can view your current status on mohela.com

• If your loans are less than 15 days past due, you can request the National Disaster/National Emergency forbearance by calling customer service at 888.866.4352 or sending a secure message through your online account.

• All late fees that may have been assessed to your account will be waived.  No action is required, this will happen automatically.

• If you are participating in Auto Debit and you need relief from making payments, you can suspend yor Auto Debit by calling customer service at 888.866.4352.

• To apply for or renew an Income-Based plan, please visit studentAid.gov.

National Emergency Information for CASHLoans

We are here to assist with you student loan needs during the emerging COVID-19 situation.  If you or your family has been impacted by COVID-19, please contact MOHELA at 888.866.4352 or send us a secure message through your online account at mohela.com.  Options are available to help manage your student loan repayment which include pausing of payments through forbearance or a modification to existing loan terms.