Education
Where can I get information about financial aid?
The Federal Student Aid Gateway-the source for free information,
guidance and tools for federal student assistance-from the U.S. Department
of Education's office of Federal Student Aid.
Where can students preparing for college get more
information?
For students, the place to find out more is College.gov, a fun,
interactive Web site that shows you how to plan and pay for
college, from how to pick the right school to the exact steps
you'll need to take-and when you need to take them. For parents, find helpful information to prepare your child for
college.
What if I'm having trouble with my student loan?
If you are having trouble making your education loan payments,
immediately contact the organization that services your loan. You
might qualify for a deferment, forbearance, or another form of
payment relief. It is important to take action before you are
charged late fees. For Federal Perkins Loans, contact your loan
servicer or the school that made you the loan. For Federal Family
Education Loans, contact the lender or agency that holds your loan.
For Direct Loans, contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center online
or by calling 1-800-848-0979 or 1-315-738-6634. TTY users should
call 1-800-848-0983. For more information on different options,
please see Student Aid on the Web. If you are unsure of
what type of loan(s) you have outstanding, you can check your loan
history with the National Student
Loan Data System. Additionally, you may be eligible for the Income Based Repayment Plan (IBR).
What happens if I default on my student loan or stop
payment?
If you default on your student loan, it means you failed to make
your loan payments as scheduled. Your school, the financial
institution that made or owns your loan, your loan guarantor, and
the federal government all can take action to recover the money you
owe. Here are some consequences of default: National credit bureaus
can be notified of your default, which will harm your credit
rating, making it hard to buy a car or a house.
- You would be ineligible for additional federal student aid if
you decided to return to school.
- Loan payments can be deducted from your paycheck.
- State and federal income tax refunds can be withheld and
applied toward the amount you owe.
- You will have to pay late fees and collection costs on top of
what you already owe.
- You can be sued. Obviously, you don't want to let your loan go
into default. However, should this happen, find out what options
are available. Click the link to the Guide for
Defaulted Borrowers to find comprehensive information developed
by the Department's FSA Collections section. Clicking on various
tabs within that publication will give you information about how to
remove your loan from default, what to do if you have a dispute
about your loan's default status, and how to get answers to
questions you might have.
What education programs are available for individuals with
disabilities?
Educational programs for children with disabilities and for
infants and toddlers and their families are supported through
grants to states under Parts B and C of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The U.S. Department of
Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) monitors
those programs to make sure they are administered in ways that are
consistent with federal requirements. This is done through OSEP's
Continuous Improvement and Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), which
is described below. In addition, OSEP has designated customer
service specialists and state contacts for each state. The staff
helps people understand IDEA requirements and access appropriate
dispute resolution mechanisms. If you need assistance, please
contact the OSEP customer service specialist or state contact
assigned to your state.
What if I have a complaint/concern with implementation of
education policy?
In most cases, with the exception of certain issues discussed
below, complaints should be addressed to local or state officials.
Complaints against public schools should be addressed first to the
local school district and then to the state department of
education. Colleges and universities (and other postsecondary
education institutions such as vocational-technical schools)
operate with considerable autonomy and with some state supervision.
Therefore, you should start by contacting your state department of
higher education to find out how they can help you resolve your
problem. Issues involving financial aid, fraud, waste or abuse of
federal funds, special education, or civil rights may come under
the U.S. Department of Education's jurisdiction. Listed below is
contact information for these issues:
- Office of the Inspector General investigates
allegations of fraud, waste or abuse of federal educational funds,
including federal student aid funds.
- Federal
Student Aid's Ombudsman will informally conduct impartial
fact-finding about your complaints. This office will recommend
solutions, but does not have the authority to reverse decisions. If
your student loan complaint is justified, it will work with you and
the office, agency, or company involved in the problem.
- Office of Special Education Programs is
responsible for monitoring state and local compliance to federal
special education laws. Office of Civil Rights is responsible for
investigating any claims of discrimination on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.