Federal scholar mortgage repayments have been paused for greater than two years, and President Biden not too long ago introduced a last extension by way of the top of 2022. Whether or not you are eligible for scholar mortgage forgiveness or not, if you have not logged into your scholar mortgage account because the cost freeze started, now is an effective time to examine in. 

For those who had Navient federal scholar loans owned by the US Division of Training, your loans have moved to a brand new mortgage servicer, Aidvantage. There’s one exception: For those who’re within the Public Service Mortgage Forgiveness program, your loans have seemingly moved to MOHELA or quickly will.

Here is the whole lot you should find out about what occurred to Navient, and find out how to log in to your new Aidvantage scholar mortgage account.

Why did Navient exit the coed mortgage trade?

Navient was lengthy beneath fireplace from the Shopper Monetary Safety Bureau, which sued the mortgage servicer in 2017: It claimed the corporate had pushed debtors into expensive, subprime non-public loans they’d be unable to repay. In January, Navient canceled $1.7 billion in non-public scholar loans for almost 66,000 debtors after coming beneath scrutiny for partaking in abusive and misleading practices, together with focusing on college students the corporate allegedly knew could not pay again loans. 

In 2020, the US Division of Training introduced adjustments to mortgage servicing in an effort to modernize the federal scholar mortgage system. As a part of the Subsequent Gen Initiative, the Division of Training prolonged its partnership with 5 of the 10 present mortgage servicers, which might proceed servicing federal scholar loans however beneath stricter authorities laws. Navient, together with FedLoan and Granite State, opted to finish their participation in federal scholar mortgage servicing on the finish of 2021.

Michael Lux, a scholar mortgage skilled, legal professional and founding father of the Scholar Mortgage Sherpa, stated that the “improve in federal regulation and authorities scrutiny over federal mortgage servicing is sort of actually in charge for Navient’s departure.” 

Did Navient change into Aidvantage?

No. On the finish of 2021, Navient transferred its caseload of 5.6 million scholar loans to Maximus, one other federal scholar mortgage contractor. Maximus is working its scholar mortgage servicing beneath the identify Aidvantage.

How do I log into my Aidvantage account?

For those who attempt to log into your former Navient account, you will discover a $zero stability, which merely means your loans have been moved to Aidvantage. To log in to your new account, go to aidvantage.com and enter your Navient login data.

The method is sort of similar to Navient’s. When you enter your login and password, you will be prompted to enter your Social Safety quantity or account quantity and date of delivery to verify your id. 

From there, you will be taken to the Aidvantage account house web page, which appears similar to the Navient touchdown web page, proper right down to the left-hand navigation choices and shade scheme.

If you cannot keep in mind your login data, choose “Forgot consumer ID” or “Forgot password” and make sure a private identification query to have a brand new one emailed to you. For those who nonetheless cannot get in or not have entry to the e-mail on file, attain out to Aidvantage for help at 800-722-1300.

When you’re in, double examine your cost preferences

Any cost phrases you arrange with Navient — autopay, deferment, income-driven compensation plans — ought to have transferred seamlessly to Aidvantage. Since federal scholar mortgage funds have been paused for greater than two years, you could must overview the cost particulars, significantly with the top of forbearance approaching. 

In case your job scenario has modified because you final reviewed your mortgage compensation choices, you could need to apply for income-driven compensation or different compensation choices by way of Aidvantage now, so that you’re able to go when compensation begins in September.

Put together for compensation in January

Federal scholar mortgage funds stay on pause by way of Dec. 31. For those who have not already been paying your loans through the forbearance interval, make certain you already know what your month-to-month cost will probably be now, so you’ll be able to issue this into your funds. You too can discover the compensation choices for those who want extra help. 

If you wish to discover additional deferment or forbearance choices, you are able to do this by way of your account on-line beneath “Compensation choices.” You too can converse to Aidvantage straight at 800-722-1300.

Ought to I pay my scholar loans through the cost pause?

For those who’re capable of, paying through the pause can decrease your principal mortgage quantity, serving to you get monetary savings on curiosity when funds resume.

The one debtors who might not need to contemplate paying now are these working in the direction of Public Service Mortgage Forgiveness. Through the cost pause, every month counts towards your 120 qualifying funds — whether or not you are paying or not. So there’s little profit to creating funds through the freeze.