Is There Government Debt Relief?

When you’re drowning in debt, it can feel like there’s no way out. But you’re not alone. According to a study conducted by Northwestern Mutual, the average U.S. adult has almost $22,000 in personal debt, not including a mortgage.

There isn't a government debt relief program that targets credit cards or personal loans directly. However, some government programs could help with other types of debt. For example, there are government programs that help with housing, utility bills, and medical care. These programs could free up funds to pay off debt.

Learn more about strategies and programs you can use to manage your debt.

Key takeaways

• If you’re struggling with student loan debt, you could apply for an income-based repayment plan.
• If you’re facing medical debt, look into charity care.
• State and local programs may be able to assist with grants and loans to get caught up with bills.
• Balance transfer credit cards, credit counseling, and debt settlement are alternative routes to debt relief.

Types of government debt relief

The government offers programs that assist with certain types of debt. Some of these programs run for a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Government debt relief for mortgages

The federal government has periodically made some level of mortgage assistance available during times of crisis. This isn’t necessarily debt relief, as mortgages aren’t usually forgiven as part of these programs. Instead, homeowners could get help with mortgage payments, a forbearance on their mortgage (a temporary break from paying), or mortgage modifications to make them more affordable depending on the terms of the program.

The most recent program was the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), which was established as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The funds were distributed to states, U.S. territories, and Native American Indian tribes. Some areas may still have HAF assistance available.

To qualify, you must have experienced a financial hardship after January 21, 2020. You must meet certain income eligibility requirements as well.

Will we see more mortgage relief like this in the future? It’s not likely, according to Steven Kibbel, a Certified Financial Planner at Prop Firm App. “If we hit another economic mess like the COVID-19 crisis, maybe the government would step in to help homeowners,” said Kibbel. “But we can’t count on that happening.”

Government debt relief for student loans

If you have federal student loan debt, you may be eligible for some form of loan forgiveness through the Department of Education. Here are three loan forgiveness options:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

If you work certain jobs, you may qualify for federal student debt forgiveness. For instance, if you work for a nonprofit organization or the government, you may qualify for PSLF. This could include teachers, first responders, librarians, medical professionals at nonprofit hospitals, and many more professions.

With PSLF, your loan balance is forgiven after you work for a qualifying employer for 10 years while making payments on your loans. The forgiven balance is not taxable as income.

Income-driven repayment (IDR) plan forgiveness

If you can’t afford your payments, you may be able to lower them by applying for an IDR plan. And after 20 to 25 years of making payments on your loans, the remaining balance is forgiven. However, the forgiven amount may be taxable as income.

There are a few income-driven repayment plans. “The new SAVE plan seems really promising,” said Kibbel, “Since it stops unpaid interest from snowballing into your total debt.”

SAVE stands for Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, and I can personally attest to how much not having unpaid interest added to my loan balance would have helped me over the years. My undergraduate student loan debt doubled due to unpaid interest, making it almost impossible to pay off.

Fortunately, income-based repayment plans also include loan forgiveness after you make payments for a certain number of years (typically 20 to 25). So my loans will be forgiven once I’ve reached 25 years of payments on my income-based repayment plan.

Total and Permanent Disability Discharge

If you have a complete and permanent disability, you could qualify for loan discharge. If your loans are forgiven between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2025, the remaining balance is not taxable as income.

Government debt relief for medical bills

The federal government doesn’t pay off or forgive medical debt directly. It does have programs like Medicaid to help with medical expenses. If you’re a veteran who has medical debt from the VA, you can apply for financial assistance with your copays.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also requires nonprofit hospitals to provide free or discounted care. That information is required to be readily available and written in plain language. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has more information and resources about charity care.

“There are limited medical bill relief options,” said David L. Blain, Chartered Financial Analyst®. In addition to the options described above, Blain also noted that “Nonprofit organizations like Patient Access Network may provide grants for high medical costs.”

Alternatives to government debt relief

To find a debt relief program that best suits your needs, consider what kind of debt you have, how much cash flow you have, and how much you can realistically pay toward your balances each month. Once you have an idea of what you owe and how much you can afford, choose one of the following debt relief options:

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

If you’re active-duty military, you could qualify for some help through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SRCA offers some benefits and protections, such as reducing the interest rates on preexisting loans to 6% and limiting the collection activity agencies can do.

Taking advantage of the SCRA can reduce your interest rates when you’re deployed, making the payments more manageable and preventing the balance from ballooning over time.

To find out whether you qualify for assistance through the SCRA, contact your local Armed Forces legal assistance office.

State or local programs

You may also be able to get debt relief assistance from state or local organizations. For example, some chapters of United Way can connect you with grants and loans to help you manage your debt, prevent you from falling behind on your payments, and allow you to stay in your home. Or, you can meet with local nonprofits that offer budget counseling and financial education classes to empower you to get back on your feet.

To find local agencies and services near you, call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org.

Balance transfers

If your balance isn’t too large — meaning you could reasonably afford to pay it off in a year or two — another option is to complete a balance transfer. With this approach, you transfer your credit card balance to another card with a lower APR. Some cards allow transfers of other types of debts like personal loans, but check with the issuer before applying for a card to be sure.

A 0% intro APR credit card offers 0% interest for a set introductory period, which gives you a year or more to pay off your debt without worrying about interest charges.

For example, a card might offer a 0% intro APR for the first 18 months. After that, its regular APR applies. A balance transfer fee also applies, so be sure to consider that as well.

With a 0% intro APR, the entirety of your payment goes toward the principal rather than interest. Taking advantage of a balance transfer can help you save money and pay off your debt faster. Especially if you can pay off your entire balance before the end of the intro period.

If this option sounds promising, our list of the longest 0% APR credit cards is a good place to start.

Debt consolidation

If you need more time to pay down your debt, consider a debt consolidation loan. With this repayment strategy, you take out a personal loan for the amount of your existing credit card debt, medical bills, and other debt. You use the loan to pay off those balances. After that, you’ll have just one loan and one monthly payment.

Debt consolidation loans tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards. And you could have up to seven years to repay your loan, which makes the payments more affordable.

I’m currently using personal loans to pay down some of my credit card debt. It’s been very encouraging to see the principal actually go down after feeling like I’m spinning my wheels with credit card payments.

If you qualify for personal loans and if the interest rate is lower than what you’re currently paying on your debt, it’s definitely worth considering. Just be sure to get quotes from a few companies so you get the best rate.

Credit counseling agencies

If you need more intensive help with loan or credit card debt relief, consider working with a private credit counseling organization. Reputable nonprofit credit counseling agencies can help you negotiate with your creditors to lower your interest rates and waive fees. Credit counselors can help you create a debt management plan so you can pay off your balances within five years.

Most companies don’t charge upfront fees. However, there are disreputable companies out there that charge high fees and encourage unscrupulous behavior, so make sure to do your homework before entering into an agreement with an organization. Look for a nonprofit credit counseling agency.

Our list of the best credit counseling companies has reputable options.

Debt settlement

Another option is debt settlement. With this approach, you work with a debt relief company. Typically, you stop making payments on your debt, and the debt relief company works with your creditors to convince them to settle for a smaller lump-sum payment. If the creditor accepts the offer, you can pay just a fraction of the amount owed and end any collection activity.

However, debt settlement programs can be risky. Because you stop making payments, your credit score can be severely damaged. There’s no guarantee that the creditors will accept a settlement, and debt settlement companies tend to charge high fees.

I’ve also worked with a debt settlement company, and I was, ultimately, able to save money on my debt repayments. But the fees were substantial, so be sure to carefully read the fine print of any program you’re considering, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. 

Our list of the best debt settlement companies is a good place to start. 

Bankruptcy

If you’ve exhausted all of your other options and can’t get out of debt, declaring bankruptcy could be a potential solution. If you go this route and your request is approved by the court, your debt can be discharged, and your creditors can no longer pursue you for money.

There are two main forms of bankruptcy for consumers:

• Chapter 7: All of your non-exempt assets are liquidated. You may be able to keep your home, car, and work-related tools, but all other valuables are typically sold to satisfy your creditors.
• Chapter 13: Under this type of bankruptcy, the court will approve a repayment plan that allows you to use your future income to pay down your debt rather than seizing your assets.

Although bankruptcy can satisfy your creditors, it should be viewed as a last resort. Court filing fees and attorney fees can be expensive. If approved, a bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, making it hard for you to qualify for a loan or credit card or even get approved for an apartment.

Bankruptcy can be beneficial if you’ve been significantly impacted by unexpected expenses, such as medical bills. However, the process can be expensive and time-consuming, and it should only be done if you can’t find another way to pay down your debt.

How can the government protect against debt and debt collectors?

The government has put laws in place to help protect consumers from unfair or deceptive debt collectors.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from several actions, including:

• Telling co-workers or friends that the consumer is in debt
• Contacting consumers at unusual times
• Abusing or harassing consumers
• Threatening to have consumers arrested

The CFPB recommends keeping records of communications with debt collectors. It also has resources to help you with replying to debt collectors, negotiating with debt collectors, and more.

FAQ

Bottom line

If you’re struggling with credit card balances, unfortunately, there are no federal government programs that directly pay them off. You could find relief in other areas, like getting lower student loan payments or assistance with medical bills, and use any funds that are freed up to help you pay down your credit card debt.

If you’re struggling, an accredited credit counseling agency could also help you develop a plan that works for you and your finances. And veterans and current service members should look into resources geared for their needs.