What happens if I want to return to school and receive new loans after receiving a total and permanent disability discharge?

If you are granted a TPD discharge of your federal student loans or TEACH Grant service obligation, you will not be eligible to receive a new Direct Loan, Perkins Loan or TEACH Grant in the future unless:

1. you obtain a certification from a physician that you are able to engage in substantial gainful activity* 
2. you sign a statement acknowledging that the new loan or TEACH Grant service obligation cannot be discharged in the future on the basis of any injury or illness present at the time the new loan or TEACH Grant is made, unless your condition substantially deteriorates so that you are again totally and permanently disabled

If you are approved for TPD discharge based on SSA documentation or a physician’s certification, and you request a new Direct Loan, Perkins Loan or TEACH Grant during your three year post-discharge monitoring period, you must resume repayment on the previously discharged loans or acknowledge that you are once again subject to the terms of your TEACH Grant service obligation before you can receive the new loan or TEACH Grant.

If you are granted a conditional TPD discharge and you request a new Direct Loan, Perkins Loan or TEACH Grant during the conditional discharge period, you are not eligible to receive the new loan unless: 

1. you obtain a certification from a physician that you are able to engage in substantial gainful activity* 
2. you sign a statement acknowledging that neither the previous conditionally discharged loan(s) nor the new loan you receive can be discharged in the future on the basis of any injury or illness present when you applied for a total and permanent disability discharge or at the time the new loan is made, unless your condition substantially deteriorates so that you are again totally and permanently disabled 
3. you sign a statement acknowledging that the conditionally discharged loan(s) will be removed from conditional discharge status  
4. the Department of Education has removed the conditionally discharged loan(s) from conditional discharge status  

*Substantial gainful activity is defined as “a level of work performed for pay or profit that involves doing significant physical or mental activities, or a combination of both.”

Additional information can be found on the Federal Student Aid TPD Discharge website. If you have questions regarding the three year post-discharge monitoring period, you can call the Department’s Total and Permanent Disability servicer, Nelnet, seven days a week at 888-303-7818 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern), or you can email DisabilityInformation@Nelnet.net.