Can student loans be discharged because of disability?

Certain types of student loans may be discharged for people recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) as having a "total and permanent disability" or TPD.  To have a TPD, the person must have some sort of physical or mental disability that: (1) is expected to cause death; (2) is expected to last for an uninterrupted period of at least 60 months (5 years); or (3) has lasted for an uninterrupted period of 60 months.

A couple of things worth noting.  First, this discharge program only applies to disabled people with loans from the Federal Family Education Loans, Perkins Loans, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, or the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants. Second, the process for determining whether a person is disabled for purposes of this program is different from the process for determining if a person is disabled for SSDI or SSI benefits.  Finally, the TPD discharge applications (see link below) must be reviewed initially by the holder of the loan and by the applicable guaranty agency. If those two organizations approve the application, it is then reviewed by the DOE.  Good luck.