Disability Discharge
Total & Permanent Disability Discharge
Borrowers with a total and permanent disability may qualify to have their federal student loans discharged. There are three qualifying paths, and we help you use the one that fits your documentation and file it correctly.
Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge is one of the more straightforward federal relief programs, and as of 2026 it is more borrower-friendly than it used to be, with no post-discharge income-monitoring period. There are three ways to qualify: through the Social Security Administration, through the VA, or through a physician's certification. Many veterans and SSA recipients even qualify automatically through data matching. The challenge is usually knowing which path fits and assembling clean documentation.
This may be a fit if…
- You receive SSDI or SSI with a disability review at a longer interval
- You are a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating
- A licensed medical professional can certify your disability
- You feel overwhelmed by the paperwork and want it done right
How we help
- 1Confirm which of the three TPD qualifying paths applies to you
- 2Help you gather the SSA, VA, or physician documentation required
- 3Prepare and help you submit a clean TPD discharge application
- 4Track the application and respond to any additional requests
Our honest take
For many veterans and SSA recipients, TPD discharge can happen automatically through a government data match, with no application and no fee to anyone. If that is your situation, we will tell you. Where we add value is on the physician-certification path and cases where the automatic match did not happen and the paperwork needs to be done right.
Common questions
See what you actually qualify for.
A free, honest evaluation with a real advisor. No pressure, no obligation, and no cost.