Thanks to an increasing trend toward inclusion, students with disabilities enjoy more access to college than ever before. These students often have the same financial issues as their peers, namely, too much student loan debt.
Financial Trouble
Disabled students often need student loans as much or more than their non-disabled counterparts. For example, only certain schools in certain regions offer the inclusive or specialized programs some students want or need. This may necessitate taking out loans for private or out-of-state schools. Also, some of these programs require students to turn over all SSI funds to a caregiver or aide. During college years, paying student loans can become unduly difficult. After college, many of these students still struggle to land the jobs they want or move away from SSI and toward a living-wage income.
Making Students Able to Pay
Fortunately, students with disabilities have several options that will enable them to pay off their loans. Many qualify for Pell or Stafford grants, which may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under President Obama’s Pay as You Earn program. Disabled students may also choose to file for bankruptcy if necessary.
Despite the fears and negativity associated with this word, bankruptcy does not mean a hopeless future for these students. The right bankruptcy lawyer can guide a disabled student through the process of filing for chapter 7 or chapter 13 so that he or she can keep property, maintain a respectable standard of living, and avoid foreclosures and wage garnishment.