On Aug. 24, 2022, the Biden-Harris administration announced that on Jan. 1, 2023, there will be partial or complete forgiveness of Americans’ student debt. The deadline to apply for this forgiveness is Dec. 31, 2022. For Pell Grant recipients, the forgiveness will be up to $20,000; for non-Pell Grant recipients, the forgiveness could be up to $10,000. 

When interviewing my mom, Paula Voegel, she said she “was very grateful because she [has been] making payments for years on her student debt. She needed to go back to school because she could not make what she would in her job without having a college degree. She went back to school and therefore had to take out student loans. Due to the “ridiculous interest on the loans,” she has continued to pay them off for years more than she should have. This forgiveness greatly relieves a middle-class, hard-working woman like her and others. This forgiveness is significant because Voegel was a Pell Grant recipient, meaning this will wipe out her remaining student debt. 

This forgiveness comes at great controversy because of claims that state that funds will be paid with taxpayer money or will have to be paid back. However, these claims are simply invalid. This forgiveness comes with great relief and gratitude for many working middle-class families. It will help many people like Voegel in future endeavors like getting a house, a car or even going to school to get a job.