How can I get around my husbands student loans?

Question

Ok heres the thing, I want to go to college. I had a child in highschool so never applied then. I married & now that the kids are older (12, 10, 9) I want to go back to school. Every time I apply for aid I get turned down because of outstanding student loans. I have called them and they are my husbands not mine. They told me that I married him, hence I also married the outstanding loan. I know we are married but its not my fault he never paid the loan back once he was out of school. Its a 40,000.00 dollar loan and its just not in the butget right now to make 250.00 monthly pmts, which is what they want. All we can afford is about 50.00 a month, which will take a lifetime to pay back to 0.00. Is there any way aroun his student loan besides divorce?

Answer 1

Try a William D Ford consolidation, it will pull the loan out of default in 30 days and set you up in an income contingent repayment plan, the payments will be based on your disposable income not the balance of the loan. Its a federal program for people who have good intentions on the loan but cant afford to make the full payment. You will get all of your title IV benefits back (financial aid, student loans) so you will be able to go to school. Get started here:
http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/borrower/borrower.shtml

Answer 2

Well the first thing you could do is to try refinancing the student loans. If you otherwise have good credit it might be possible to refinance your loans in a way to give you access to more lending options, you should talk to your banker.

Assuming this is out of the question, you should look into night courses specifically in the field you're interested in. Let's assume for a second you're interested in education, you may want to take some of the basic psych courses for that degree at community college at night (on the cheap) such as cognitive development or human motivation and learning or something like that, then try and parlay that into some sort of research in the field. Basically you can try and pad your resume a bit.

Once you've made yourself a better candidate you can apply for scholarships and merit loans. Scholarships are generally free money for school and merit loans are generally based upon your academic worth rather then your credit situation.

I would definetely recommend this by saving up and taking a night class, once you're in it, get in good with the teacher, go to every office hours no matter what, and use your teachers as a resource. They can direct you to all sorts of opportunities that can improve your chances for scholarships and merit loans. Plus taking a college course will definetely improve your standing as far as applying to college full time goes.

Answer 3

Well how about making that $50.00 per month payment? It's better than nothing now isn't it? And, you say it will take you a lifetime at that rate to pay it off. What's your point? How long do you think it will take you at ZERO dollars per month? What is your logic behind ZERO is better than FIFTY?
I'm sorry, but because this money was made available to him he was able to secure an education. Now it's time to pay it back so that someone else (like YOU, maybe) can still have the benefit in the future. I just can't believe your attitude...you and your husband stiff the student loan program out of FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS and now you wonder why they won't loan any money to you? Grow up! Pay your debt!

Answer 4

They would rather have you make $50 payments than no payments at all. Do what you can. The loan doesn't have to be totally paid off before they will give you another one. They just don't want to give someone money that has already burned them.

Answer 5

Even if you divorce your husband, you are still responsible for paying back the loans. Once you are married you inheirit all debt. Forever and ever amen.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

is the debt collecting intrest???? if it is how much???? because sometimes with small monthly payments its not worth it...... i worked as a debt collector, and i saw people who owed alot of money and payed only 50 a month and the time of the month they would pay would be to late because the 45.00 intrest would hit there account the a few days later they would pay the 50.00 so then that means they were realy only paying 5.00 twords the account.........and yes that would take a life time......what i said to the debtors was to go and see if they could get a debt consolidation loan. and pay them back small monthly payments set your self up for small monthly payments...... and if you could double up and pay more sometimes............and when you get your taxes back each year you could make a huge payment.....