Defer those student loans

[Richard]

So you don’t end up like me… Wife has student loans and she forgot to defer them this year. Went through the whole process, got approved, got a DDD of 2/22, everything looked good. Woke up this morning to a tax offset message and an adjusted refund amount of $0. Called around, wife’s loans from before we were married defaulted. Whole check claiming all five of our children is gone.

We were relying on this money, and it’s possible we will have some serious issues with our bills. Hell, we already are.

Do your homework before you file in 2020. Don’t end up like me.

[James Evans]

WMR shows refund approved with a 2/27 DDD. Also shows TT 203. Was supposed to be offset last year, even got the notification letter and was supposed to get a check in the mail for the remainder amount. When the check came ot was for the WHOLE REFUND AMOUNT! I couldnt believe it, i cashed that check so damn fast! Now this year, same thing, an offset for the same exact debt (DOE) !! Can they do this? I mean they messed up last year! Kind of feels lile Double Jeopardy…can i be offset twice for the same exact debt??? Plz if anyone knows! I cant find not one darn answer anywhere!!

[Kristinp]

You can file an injured spouse form 8379. Check into it. I’m going through this same issue. Took all my husbands refund and he’s the sole income. Debts mine and I have no income atm. Good luck.

[Richard]

@Leslie

Hoping I can get my refund. A little annoyed with my spouse for not handling it, but it’s my fault as well. I will pursue this money solely because it’s mine, and I won’t let them take it without a fight.

[Leslie]

BUT…the D.O.E. (if you prove hardship) can actually send it back to you only once. I did it the first year and got back around half. Call the number they give you. Talk to them and see what you need to file hardship. I had to send copies of power bill and mortgage statement showing I was behind. Mine couldn’t direct deposit but they sent a check about 3 weeks later.

[Leslie]

It happened to me 2 years in a row. This is now my 2nd year that I don’t have to worry about it. Do it now though. It has to be in a deferment/payment plan for 9 months before they will remove you from offset list.

[someone]

Yep had the same thing happen to me this morning except they were my loans and that was from almost 8 years ago

[mermaid]

Would be great if there was an option for us single folks who don’t have spouses to try and get some of our refunds back. Does anyone know of what we can do? My consolidation will most likely be approved and these defaulted loans will switch to “paid” status. I really needed that money to play catch up on things.

[FinallyAdate]

Had this happen to me one year. File injured spouse paperwork and you will get your share of the refund back. You won’t be able to claim the children but it will get what just your refund was supposed to be minus the credits

[mermaid]

Same thing happened to me with the Dept. of Ed- it said they “may” take my refund. Received no notice from them on any defaulted loans. To make a long story short, WMR updated yesterday as my refund being sent with the full amount. I was all excited and when I woke up today, it was updated again to reflect the offset with a new amount of 0 to be given to me.

If your offset is more than your refund, they will take it. If it’s not, you’ll get whatever the balance is after the offset.

Moral of the story- if you get a code 203 on WMR, call the hotline to verify the debt. Make sure you press both #1 and #2 to find out- if there’s an agency that’s given to you, plan on being offset and not seeing your full refund this year.

I was all full of hope yesterday and now I’m just sick to my stomach. I pray things are better for the rest of you getting the 203 message.

[mermaid]

@Richard-
Same thing happened to me. Received no notice from Dept. of Ed this whole year regarding a potential offset. Had some loans that ended up in default because they switched lenders so I didn’t know about it till of course after I filed my taxes and had high hopes for my refund.

To anyone who is getting the code 203 message and calling the hotline to confirm their debts- if it’s from the Dept. of Education, don’t let the word “may” fool you. They WILL take your refund and if you owe more for your student loans than you plan to get back in your refund, be prepared not to see a dime of it.

WMR will fool you too- I had a DDD of 2/21/19 and when I woke up yesterday, the website claimed my refund was “sent” and the full amount was showing on the left side. I stumbled upon this website and tried to find as many forums as I could relating to my situation. Many people were in the same boat as me. I checked to see if anyone had also gotten the refund “sent” status and were one of the lucky ones to not be offset by the Dept. of Education.

Needless to say, I woke up today, still feeling excited until I checked WMR and saw that the status had changed overnight to reflect the offset being taken and the adjusted amount switched to 0 on the left side.

Bastards. Good luck to everyone else but please don’t get your hopes up if you have a code 203 and some kind of debt verified on the hotline…

[Opinion only]

Claim a hardship like a five day notice or eviction. Im sure you legitimately have one. Can probally google some examples. It might take a bit of work but you can get that money back but when you do TAKE CARE OF THAT STUDENT LOAN SO THEY DONT GET YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR LIKE MY GIRLFRIEND.

[Amb]

@Richard If you can prove hardship I heard they can release your money. The student loan money that was garnished. Contact them if you really need to.

[momjess]

An alternative to the deferment is an Income Based Repayment Plan. I was able to get $0/month payments with that and I recertify it every year.

[Lakewood joka]

Man i hope they dont take it i been working temp jobs all year start a full time 3/9 and need miney for vehicle its two citys away hut really good pay i need this man i bust my ass all year to get to this point pray for me

[Richard]

@Kokatsku

We are exploring a few options. Looks like it may take some time to get our money, but I’m reasonably patient. It says it’s a 9 month program. If I look at is positively, I can get that refund, then a few months later, get my 2019 one. It might work out great in the end.

[Kokatsu]

You can get your loan back. Send in the injured spouse form. It will take a little bit, bit you will get it all back. You can find the form on the IRS site. Hope it helps. Good luck to you.

[Smkillion]

I have nelnet and they start sending emails like nov or so and tell u not to forget to make sure your loans arent in default

[Citizen44]

Thank you for sharing your expierence, even though its a diffucult one… it’s an important topic to bring up.

🙁
My heart truly goes out to you guys, i know I will/would be in big trouble if I don’t get my refund (which i havent yet & no ddd so who even knows) but, I can imagine the stress your feeling.

[Richard]

@Booger Squasher

We’ll make it. Sucks but life goes on. Just a little PSA bc I saw it happened to some others too. Didn’t even think about the loans until it was too late.

Gotta be a little smarter in ’20.

[Henan]

They taking all the people who owe school loan money

[Randall]

Good advice, Richard. Really sorry that happened to your fam.

[Booger Squasher]

Hope you guys manage wel this year man. That sucks cuz lord knows I ain’t checked my student loans in a minute

[Author]

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