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Obama to forgive the student debt of permanently disabled people
Washington Post ^ | April 12, 2016 | Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

Posted on 04/12/2016 8:20:11 PM PDT by Leaning Right

The Obama administration plans to forgive $7.7 billion in federal student loans held by nearly 400,000 permanently disabled Americans.

By law, anyone with a severe disability is eligible to have the government discharge their federal student loans. The administration took steps four years ago to make the process easier by letting people who are totally and permanently disabled use their Social Security designation to apply for a discharge, but few took advantage.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: debt; disabled; education; obama; studentdebt
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To: Leaning Right

Best I could find: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that outstanding student loan debt is approaching $1.2 trillion as of May 2013.


41 posted on 04/13/2016 7:05:54 AM PDT by Harpotoo
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To: Leaning Right

If you have an iq less than 90 are you permanently disabled?


42 posted on 04/13/2016 7:07:09 AM PDT by BRL
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To: BRL

No, just a Democrat.


43 posted on 04/13/2016 7:07:45 AM PDT by antidisestablishment (If Washington was judged with the same standard as Sodom, it would not exist.)
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To: Leaning Right

Personally, as a mom of two special needs kids and a daughter of two, one still alive, special needs (alzheimers) elderly parents, I believe our country should spend $ on those who can not help themselves.

I am for supportive state stipends to keep our helpless fed, safe, and happy, and even for a federal law regarding it.

That is where our social help in this country needs to go. I would not give ONE PENNY to anyone, not one service, to anyone not legally in this country. I might not even give any social service to mere residents, either. They have another country to go to. I would not allow family members from foreign lands to come and receive services. I wouldn’t give a lot of the corporate or farming tax breaks, I’d not try and keep evil world powers at bay with our money either.

But I’d make sure our disabled (including helpless seniors) had everything they needed to live a decent life. Period. I think that is money well spent.


44 posted on 04/13/2016 7:14:51 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: napscoordinator

Autism is a condition by spectrum, or degrees. Yes, many people with more severe autism are helpless and fully disabled.


45 posted on 04/13/2016 7:16:02 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: notaliberal

this is Obama doublespeak.

This is ALREADY the law under the bankruptcy code. Obama is just legacy building by jumping in front of the parade.


46 posted on 04/13/2016 7:22:15 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Yaelle

Ok good point, but some who are mild end up getting all kinds of freebies from the government. If they can’t function then we’ll have to figure something out.


47 posted on 04/13/2016 7:26:26 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
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To: Yaelle
But I’d make sure our disabled (including helpless seniors) had everything they needed to live a decent life. Period. I think that is money well spent.

Well said! As I'm sure you already know, the problem is that the government makes it too easy for frauds to game the system, and then punishes them too lightly if they get caught. That demoralizes all the good folks.

In my neck of the woods, a law firm was falsifying medical data to get ineligible people onto social security disability. A corrupt doctor was also involved. Well, they got caught.

Result? The law firm paid a fine. They're still in business, and they're still advertising on TV: We'll get you the benefits you deserve!

48 posted on 04/13/2016 7:32:07 AM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: Leaning Right

I agree that we need a crucial screening program before providing cradle to grave support for disabled. I am referring to the truly helpless, not someone with bipolar or a bad back. I wouldn’t even accept a dx as proof they are helpless, either. Look at Down Syndrome. Plenty of people with it can work, but some really truly cannot. The screening would have to involve ability to do simple tasks and self care.

It would also be great to provide companies with incentives to hire the disabled who need work and can’t work but have one difference that makes them limited in ability, either mobility, fragile immune system, highly functioning autism, severe anxiety. Maybe half their pay comes from the state, and they too have to be screened. Small companies could get help for half the cost, and people could work from home or whatever.


49 posted on 04/13/2016 12:36:57 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Leaning Right

Just as Social Security disabilities claims/approvals have risen drastically these last 19 years...so too expect this ‘new’ enabling way to discharge student loans be extremely abused.


50 posted on 04/14/2016 4:48:47 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen (Was addicted to the Hokey Pokey...but I turned myself around...((@))
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