Student Loan Updates | More RAP Woes, End of Year Loan Planning — Escape Student Loan Debt Podcast

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Federal Student Loan Updates: New Default Portal, PSLF Risks on RAP, and Year-End Tax Moves to Lower IDR Payments

The host shares quick federal student loan updates and year-end planning reminders, including options to get a private, abbreviated, extended, or free de-identified live loan review via escapestudentloandebt.com/session and escapestudentloandebt.com/review. Key updates include a new Treasury/Department of Education portal to centralize information for borrowers exiting default, with a note that loan rehabilitation remains once for now but will be allowed up to twice starting July 2027. The host also relays Stanley Tate’s warning that missed or late payments under the Repayment Assistance Plan can leave borrowers perpetually one month behind, potentially preventing future payments from counting toward PSLF unless a double payment is made. Finally, the episode explains how lowering Adjusted Gross Income via year-end pre-tax retirement contributions and benefits (HSA/FSA/Dependent Care FSA) and evaluating Married Filing Jointly vs Separately—especially before the tax deadline—can reduce IDR-based payments.

00:00 Federal Loan Updates
00:25 Loan Review Options
02:27 Default Portal Launch
04:32 RAP Late Payment Trap
07:40 Year End Tax Moves
08:51 Retirement And HSA Planning
09:53 Open Enrollment Decisions
10:50 Married Filing Strategy
11:56 Common Law Example
14:17 Community Property Twist
16:56 You Can Amend Later
18:59 Wrap Up And Next Steps