The toughest consequences of late student-loan payments and nonpayments have returned, and many borrowers are buckling — including those who have a track record of paying their bills on time. On Monday,

Now, approximately 1.8 million delinquent borrowers will be placed on repayment plans, and loans in default will be sent to collections. Those unable to pay face wage garnishment, loss of tax refunds, and most especially, damage to credit scores, a critical factor in securing a mortgage.​

The Trump administration has restarted collections on all student loans that are in default, ending the pandemic-era pause that began in 2020