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Discharge Programs

Your federal student loan debt may qualify for loan discharge if the loan was issued under certain conditions. The following loan discharges are available for AES-guaranteed student loans:

You will get a refund for your payments if your lender discharges your loan debt; therefore, you will not owe any more payments on the loan. Also, the lender will inform credit-reporting agencies about the discharged loan and tell them to delete any adverse credit history resulting from nonpayment. You may be eligible to apply for future federal student financial aid.

If you have questions about the loan discharge process, please email us. We will research your inquiry and respond within 10 business days.

NOTE: Email is not a secure method of communication because third parties may intercept it. Please do not include sensitive or private information in your email correspondence directed to AES.

Closed School Loan Discharge

What Is It?

Your lender may discharge your federal student loan debt if your school closed while you were enrolled, and you could not complete the degree where your loan was intended. You must have been on an approved leave of absence or attending school within 120 days of the closure date.

How to Apply

Download and print the School Closure Loan Discharge Application (PDF) or contact AES.

How to Obtain Academic and Financial Aid Records

If you are trying to locate your academic and financial aid records from a closed school, contact the state licensing agency where the school was located to ask whether the state decided to store the records. Academic and financial aid records may be useful to substantiate your claim for a loan discharge. You may need your academic records if you plan to attend another school and wish to have your coursework at the closed school considered.

View a list of state licensing agencies (PDF) to obtain the telephone number of the state licensing agency where your school was located.

Additional Information

Your loan cannot be discharged if:

  • You completed the program of study through a teach-out or by transferring academic credits or hours earned from the closed school to another school.
  • Personal circumstances caused you to withdraw more than 120 days before the school closed.
  • You are completing a comparable educational program at another school. If you do this after your loan is discharged, you may have to repay the amount of the discharge.
  • You completed the program's coursework, even if you did not receive a diploma or certificate.

Go to the FSA's Closed School Weekly and Monthly Reports page to find the official school closure date of your school.

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False Certification of High School Graduation Status Discharge

What Is It?

You may qualify for loan discharge if you reported that you did not have a high school diploma or its equivalent and did not satisfy the alternative to graduation from high school requirements that were in effect when your loan was originated or if you reported that you did not have a high school diploma or its equivalent and the school certified your eligibility to receive the loan based on a high school graduation status that the school or third party falsified.

How to Apply

Download and print the False Certification of High School Graduation Status Discharge Application (PDF) or contact AES.

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False Certification (Disqualifying Status) Loan Discharge

What Is It?

You may qualify for loan discharge if the school certified your eligibility; but, because of a physical or mental condition, age, criminal record, or other reason you are disqualified from employment in the occupation where you were being trained.

How to Apply

Download and print the False Certification (Disqualifying Status) Loan Discharge Application (PDF) or contact AES.

How to Obtain Academic and Financial Aid Records

If you are trying to locate your academic and financial aid records from a closed school, contact the state licensing agency where the school was located to ask whether the state decided to store the records. Academic and financial aid records may be useful to substantiate your claim for a loan discharge. You may need your academic records if you plan to attend another school and wish to have your course work at the closed school considered.

View a list of state licensing agencies (PDF) to obtain the telephone number of the state licensing agency where your school was located.

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False Certification (Unauthorized Signature or Unauthorized Payment) Loan Discharge

What Is It?

You may qualify for loan discharge if the school signed your name on the loan application or promissory note without your authorization and you did not attend class.

How to Apply

Download and print the False Certification (Unauthorized Signature/Unauthorized Payment) Loan Discharge Application (PDF) or contact AES.

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False Certification as a Result of Identity Theft Loan Discharge

What Is It?

You may qualify for loan discharge if your loan was falsely certified because of identity theft.

How to Apply

Download and print the False Certification Identity Theft Discharge Application or contact our Loan Discharge Unit at LoanDischarge@aesSuccess.org to discuss your situation. You will need to present evidence that identity theft occurred.

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Unpaid Refund Loan Discharge

What Is It?

You may qualify for a partial unpaid refund loan discharge if your school failed to pay a tuition refund required under federal law if you withdrew during the refund period published by the school. Only the amount of the unpaid refund will be discharged. You may qualify for this refund whether the school is closed or opened.

How to Apply

Download and print the Unpaid Refund Loan Discharge Application (PDF) or contact AES.

How to Obtain Academic and Financial Aid Records

If you are trying to locate your academic and financial aid records from a closed school, contact the state licensing agency where the school was located to ask whether the state decided to store the records. Academic and financial aid records may be useful to substantiate your claim for a loan discharge. You may need your academic records if you plan to attend another school and wish to have your coursework at the closed school taken into consideration.

View a list of state licensing agencies (PDF) to obtain the telephone number of the state licensing agency where your school was located.

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Spouses and Parents of September 11, 2001 Victims Loan Discharge

What Is It?

You could have your federal student loan debt discharged if you are the spouse or parent of an eligible public servant or other eligible victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks who died or became permanently and totally disabled. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) deems these loans eligible for discharge:

  • Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
  • Federal Perkins Loan Program
  • William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

How to Apply

Download and print the Spouses and Parents of September 11, 2001 Victims Loan Discharge Application or contact AES.

Contact us to discuss your situation. You will need to present evidence to be considered for this discharge program.

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