Student Loan Assistance
The Student Loan Crisis
Student loan debt currently affects more than 44 million Americans. The Federal Reserve reports that as of the second quarter of 2019, the amount of outstanding student loans is over $1.6 trillion. About 65% of college seniors who graduated in 2017 had student loan debt, with an average of about $35,000 each. The average payment for all borrowers is about $280 per month. In 2018, about one out of ten student loan borrowers were either late with their payments, or not paying them at all. Student loan debt has now exceeded credit card debt.
This is more than a problem; it’s an epidemic.
Calling your Federal Student Loan Servicer is a great place to start. However, Servicers have no obligation to YOU when it comes to making sure you are on the best possible repayment plan based on your financial situation. Their only concern is that you remain current. Therefore, the only option they usually offer borrowers facing hardship is forbearance
A forbearance is almost always a bad option. Placing your loans in forbearance not only accrues interest but then capitalizes that interest when you begin repayment again. Your loan principal balance increases, and the interest resulting from that larger balance is now higher every month.
There are, however, several programs available to Federal Student Loan borrowers that can help lower their monthly payments to as low as $0. These are all repayment programs that keep you out of forbearance and do not increase your principal balance. None of these require bankruptcy. Several programs allow for a portion, or even the entire balance of your Federal Student Loans to be forgiven after a certain number of qualifying years. Teachers, Nurses government employees and employees of non-profits even received special benefits if eligible.
Navigating the maze of available programs, however, is difficult even for the savviest of borrowers. Yearly certification of income, confusing spousal language and forms, and different eligibility requirements for each plan are almost designed for you to fail.
What is the Right Repayment Plan for Me?
Choosing the best repayment plan is not an easy process. There are currently nine different options for repayment of Federal Student Loans. Only some of them provide forgiveness options, and most of them require that your loans be a certain type. All the income-driven plans, also require yearly re-certification.
By performing a thorough analysis of all your Federal Student Loans, I can help you better understand your options, and choose the plan that’s best for you.
A Miami native, Miami Bankruptcy Attorney and Mediator Tony Roca attended the University of Miami on an academic scholarship. Mr. Roca received his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1998, and continued his studies there post Law School, focusing on International Business as part of the U of M’s prestigious International Foreign Law Program.
For almost 10 years, Mr. Roca focused his career on developing business relationships and negotiating agreements internationally in the Telecommunications and Technology space. He has negotiated international service agreements with companies such as Telmex, America Movil, Embratel, Entel, and Petrobras.
In 2009, Mr. Roca opened The Roca Law Firm, P.A. in Miami, Florida focusing on assisting clients in matters of general civil litigation, including foreclosure, debtor’s rights, student loan law and federal student loan assistance, personal injury, and the representation of debtors in Federal Bankruptcy proceedings under the US Bankruptcy Code. He is admitted to practice in Florida as well as the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, including the Southern District’s Bankruptcy Courts.
Mr. Roca is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and Circuit Civil Mediator, and has special training in the areas of Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation. He has mediated thousands of cases dealing with matters of Mortgage Foreclosure, Condominium Disputes, and Tort litigation.
He is a member of the Dade County Bar Association, the Cuban American Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Belen Alumni Lawyers Section.
Let me Help you with your Federal Student Loans
To get started right away, or for more information, get in touch with me directly. I will send you a private and secure intake form for you to fill out, so I can customize an offering that best suits your needs.