Do You Still Have to Pay Your Student Loans During The Government Shutdown?

The federal government’s shutdown is rippling through Georgia households, especially for the 1.6 million residents carrying student debt. Loan payments haven’t stopped, but the support systems borrowers rely on are grinding down.

💸 Why It Matters: Georgia ranks among the top 10 states for average student loan debt, with balances often topping $30,000 per person. For many families, even a short delay in help from Washington can tip budgets already stretched thin.

📞 What’s Happening: The U.S. Department of Education has furloughed nearly nine out of ten employees. Loan payments are still due, but:

• Borrowers trying to change repayment plans or apply for forgiveness face longer waits.
• Income-driven repayment applications and Public Service Loan Forgiveness reviews are piling up.
• Customer service lines are open, but responses are slower with fewer federal staff working.

⚠️ Between the Lines: The shutdown doesn’t erase debt or pause interest. A teacher in Macon or a nurse in Savannah still owes the same monthly bill. What’s different now is that if something goes wrong—a missing payment, a processing error—there are fewer people on the federal side to fix it.

🎓 Catch Up Quick: FAFSA applications remain open, and Pell Grants are still flowing to Georgia students. But if the shutdown drags on, the system that keeps that money moving will strain under reduced staffing.

🌍 The Big Picture: Georgia borrowers were already facing uncertainty as student loan relief programs shifted in recent years. Now, the shutdown adds another layer of instability. Payments keep coming due, but the safety net of federal help is caught in the shutdown’s crossfire.