Tonya J. has been a lawyer and a White House appointee.
She also is close to a half a million dollars in student loan debt. “Most of that, 2/3 of that, I’d say is interest.”
Each month, she is expected to pay $278 for the loan and another $750 in interest.
The Silver Spring resident was one of about 40 people who attended Councilmember Kristin Mink’s student loan debt cancellation event Wednesday at the White Oak Community Recreation Center.
Another 10 people came to a previous event in Leisure World. The focus was on assisting senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Mink, as well representatives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid and the advocacy group Debt Collective, spoke with attendees while others spoke to a live person through the Internet.
After explaining their loan history, they were told what program might work for them and what papers needed to be filled out.
Councilmember Mink held a workshop Wednesday on ways to reduce student loans. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/pnBHHC64W9
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) January 15, 2025
“We have community members who are under a tremendous amount of pressure,” Mink said. “Many do not realize they are likely to be eligible” for some relief.
“Holding these debts are affecting their life choices,” including when to retire. It affects their mental and physical health, Mink said.
Nancy Court of Silver Spring owes $100,000, much of it in interest, she said. She attended college while raising four children alone, she said.
As for her debt, the 80-year-old woman said, “I paid for years and years.” She currently works parttime at the White Oak center.
Following her meeting Thursday, she was told she probably was eligible for relief through a disability program for those who cannot work at least 30 hours a week.
“It’s not finished yet, but hopefully it will work out,” Court said.
Patricia Prather owes about $70,000 even though she finished college 15 years ago.
When asked why she had trouble paying off her student loans, she replied, “Life happened,” including the need to take care of a sick family member.
She has tried to apply online for relief on her own. However, she said, “You get these emails, but you don’t know if they are scam.”
Prather saw a flyer for Mink’s event in her apartment building and jumped at the chance to attend. “This just came right at the perfect time,” Prather said, adding that she fears once President-Elect Donald Trump is sworn in, the relief programs will end.
