Member Login
Join the Union
  2. /
  3. Forms

Forms

An Argument for Loan Cancelation for the Art Institute

Posted on by Paul

Thanks for arriving here. Your participation is important to our movement. We are hoping to get the Department of Education to recognize that all borrowers who attended any of The Art Institute schools deserve to have all their loans canceled, and all past payments returned, due to the predatory nature of these loans.

Here are some FAQs to go over, so everyone is on the same page. 

What will this form do?

This form has two purposes:

  1. Compile victim stories of the impact these loans have had on your lives individually, and collectively as a group.
  2. Create analytical data we can use for our argument for group-wide cancellation. Which will be sent as a report and argument to the DOE as a whole. 

Does filling out this form promise my loans will be canceled?

NO, however, that is the intent behind it. There is power in numbers, and every person who fills out this form will help the cause.

I filed for BDTR. Isn’t that enough?

That’s a good step, but we know the backlog is massive, and a real human might not even look at your application for years (besides those in Sweet v. Cardona full class). With the impending election, we need cancellation now. This is our organizing effort to make this happen sooner.

If you have a BDTR application on hand some of the questions will be the same. So you may want to pull that out and copy and paste them here. 

What type of loans are included?

All loan types:  Federal, Private, Parent. 

Loans can be in good standing, or in default. 

Right now, our strategy is to push for the government to recognize that borrowers from this school were harmed and should have their loans canceled. We will then be pivoting for private loan cancellation.

What if I don’t know all the answers? 

That’s OK. Just fill it out as best you can.

These questions are geared towards student borrowers, but I’m a parent borrower. Should I fill this out? 

Yes! While the questions are geared towards the student, if you have suffered hardship from these loans, you have a right to argue for their cancellation.

Where is this information going? Is it safe? 

It is powered through the Debt Collective and EveryAction. The only people who will have access to this information will be organizers through the Debt Collective and their respective legal teams. We would never ever sell your information. You may occasionally receive emails from The Debt Collective regarding student loan cancellation.

Who is the Debt Collective? 

Debt Collective is an organization responsible for much of the student loan advocacy you see. They helped Corinthian students organize after the collapse in 2015 and created the very first Borrower Defense application that the Department of Education  then used when forming their own. They are now the first to unionize debtors! Learn more about the Debt Collective. 

What is the timeframe on this?

We are hoping to assemble our reports by May 1, 2024, BUT PLEASE do not wait until then. We need time to prepare and need to get as many people on board as possible to make this effective.

How do I know if I am or am not part of the Sweet v. Cardona class? 

FULL CLASS – You filed your BDTR application BEFORE June 23, 2022

POST CLASS – You filed your BDTR application BETWEEN June 23, 2022 and Nov. 16, 2022 

NOT IN SWEET LAWSUIT – You filed your BDTR application AFTER Nov. 16, 2022 or have yet to file. 

What do I need to have on hand before filling this out? 

  • A completed or in-progress BDTR application, if possible; or the answers typed in a word document. This will allow you to copy and paste some of your answers into the form.
  • The amount you currently owe on your loans.

THIS IS NOT A BORROWER DEFENSE TO REPAYMENT APPLICATION, NOR LEGAL DOCUMENT. If you have federal student loans and have not yet filed for Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDTR), it is in your best interest to do so as soon as possible. For information on filing for BDTR, please visit:  https://studentaid.gov/borrower-defense.

Cuestionario de Deuda de Renta

Posted on by Robert

Si en algún momento usted le ha debido renta atrasada a su arrendador, ¡está en el lugar correcto! Y ¡no está solo! Los inquilinos a través del país le deben billones de dólares a sus arrendadores por deudas atrasadas, y como inquilinos somos más poderosos si respondemos juntos a esta situación. En este punto estamos realmente aprendiendo juntos. Llene esta forma para ayudarnos a entender mejor lo que está sucediendo con las deudas de renta y haga clic en “Sí” en la parte inferior si quiere involucrarse en organizar para luchar contra esto.

Nota: hacemos varias preguntas sobre raza, género y sexualidad porque a menudo los más marginados entre nosotros somos los más afectados por cosas como la deuda de renta. Contestar a estas preguntas nos ayuda a entender quién está afectado y cómo, y nos ayuda a identificar el prejuicio y la discriminación.

Rent Debt Questionnaire

Posted on by Paul

If you owe unpaid rent to your landlord, you’re in the right place! And, you are not alone! Tenants across the country owe landlords billions of dollars in back rent, and as tenants we are stronger if we respond to this situation together. At this stage, we’re very much learning together. Fill out this form to help us better understand what’s going on with your rent debt and click “Yes” at the bottom if you want to get involved in organizing to fight it.

Note: we ask several optional questions about race, gender, and sexuality because often the most marginalized among us are the worst affected by things like rent debt. Answering these questions helps us understand who is affected and how, and helps us identify prejudice and discrimination.

Community Conversation: Medical Debt in Pittsburgh

Posted on by Debt Collective

The country is facing a medical debt crisis, and we’re feeling it in Pittsburgh. 

Healthcare is getting more expensive, and salaries aren’t keeping up. Our families and communities are struggling – meanwhile, institutions like UPMC keep getting wealthier. It’s outrageous. That’s why the Debt Collective, Pittsburgh United, and the Right Care Alliance are inviting folks to come out THIS SATURDAY for a community conversation about medical debt. Join us as we share our experiences with the healthcare industry in Pittsburgh and discuss ways to support our communities and fight back.

Medical Debt Community Conversation 
Saturday, February 11 | 11AM – 1PM

Pittsburgh United Building
841 California Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Bring along your family, friends, and neighbors! Food will be provided, and children are welcome.

Contact Lindsey Muniak at lindsey@debtcollective.org with any questions.

Student Debt Strike

Posted on by Debt Collective

The Biden administration is threatening to restart student loan payments during a pandemic on August 29th , 2023 . Are you ready to strike your student debt? Curious about striking? This is the place to start! Learn more about what the Debt Collective means by a “student debt strike” and the multiple ways you can get safely to nonpayment.

What does it mean to strike your student debt?

The Debt Collective defines a student debt striker as anyone who is paying $0 a month for a combination of economic and/or political reasons—because they can’t pay and know they shouldn’t have to pay—and who is committed to joining the fight for broad-based cancellation. A student debt strike is about politicizing nonpayment collectively. Instead of doing things as individuals, we are doing them together as a united front.

Why does a debt strike work?

At the Debt Collective we believe that debt strikes are a central tactic in the arsenal of debtors’ unions. However, different debt types require different understandings of a strike. In a student debt strike, the main target is the federal government. The federal government is a unique target because we don’t actually hurt the government financially when we don’t pay our federal student loans. In fact, millions of people don’t pay their federal student loans every year! Since March 2020, most student debtors have paid nothing because of the payment pause! Even before the pandemic most people (about 55%) were paying $0 a month in one form or another. This proves the government doesn’t need our money and can easily cancel the debt. 

What if I’m already in default?

You are already on strike! People who have already defaulted have already been forced to deal with the consequences of default. By declaring yourself on strike (instead of merely in default) you are politicizing and reframing your situation: this is not a matter of personal failure, it is collective resistance. The Biden administration has released some information on how it intends to deal with defaults going forward, but the details are still hazy. You can find the latest official information on the administration’s options for defaulted borrowers here.

Can I strike my private student loans?

This strike is for federal student loans. For the reasons explained above under “What Can I Do?” borrower power operates differently for federal vs. private student loans. Even though this specific strike is not targeted toward private loans, collective action on private loans can make some waves. You can join the Debt Collective’s Private Student Debtor’s list by filling out this form, and join the fight against private student loans.

THE WAYS TO STRIKE YOUR DEBT

Option A: Borrower Defense to Repayment

The best way to strike your debt is to get it canceled. The law requires the government to cancel your debt if it finds that your school defrauded you. Did your school lie about job placement, or mislead you about the amount of debt you would be forced to take on? This kind of fraud was especially common at for-profit schools. If your school lied to you, and especially if you have debt from a school like Art Institute or DeVry, you should consider filing for borrower defense to repayment.

Option B: Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under the waiver

In theory, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a way for student debtors who work for governments or nonprofits to have their loans canceled. In reality it is a broken promise and a failed policy. After the first people became eligible for cancellation, ninety-nine percent of them got denied PSLF. After Congress “fixed” the program, 99% got denied again. The latest attempt to fix PSLF was a temporary waiver. Although many people are finally getting the long overdue cancellation they were promised, many others have encountered problems with the waiver, and many more were not able to apply during the waiver period. The Student Borrower Protection Center has the best resources for navigating PSLF.

Option C: $0 Income-Driven Repayment

Income-driven repayment (IDR) is supposed to be a pathway to cancellation. So far, that has been a lie. But even though the cancellation aspect of IDR has not worked, IDR can be used to reach $0 monthly payments depending on income and family size. Before the pandemic, roughly half of all people enrolled in IDR had $0 monthly payments. You can put in your information to calculate your IDR payments here, and you can apply for IDR directly through the Department of Education.

Option D: Safety Net

According to Politico: “Education Department officials are planning a “safety net” period in which borrowers aren’t penalized for missing payments once repayment begins, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Officials had previously settled on a grace period for the first 90 days after payments are due. But they are now considering extending that flexibility to borrowers for as long as a year after repayment starts, according to two people familiar with internal discussions, who also cautioned that the plans are in flux and could change.” 

Option E: Stay in School, Kids

If you are enrolled in school at least half time, you can get an in-school deferment for your federal loans. Depending on the type of loans you have, your loans may still accrue interest while you’re in school, but you will not be required to make payments. All current students are debt strikers and should join the strike.

What if none of these options work for me?

It is not always possible to safely get to $0 monthly payments. Just like other direct actions and civil disobedience, the risks do not fall equally on everyone. If you are not able to get to $0 monthly payments safely, it is okay to do what you have to do to protect yourself. Some of these options might not get you all the way to $0 a month but could dramatically lower your monthly payment, and that might add a measure of protection for you and your family. There are other ways to organize and build pressure to win student debt cancellation.

calendar-addcaret-downchevron-downchevron-rightchevron-upclosefacebook-squaregithub-squarehamburgerhomeinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplayrectangle-jadetwitter-squareyoutube-square