Title 20 › Chapter 28— HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter IV— STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part G— General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs › § 1092a
Some federal lenders can, if the borrower asks, combine certain student loans into one payment plan so the borrower gets a single bill each month (or other regular period). The lender must follow the rules for consolidation and for the public health loans that are included. A lender may only offer the combined plan if it already holds one of the borrower’s loans selected for the plan, or if the borrower says they tried but could not get the plan from the other loan holders. If more than one lender offers to run the plan, the borrower picks which lender will administer it. The chosen lender can replace (reissue) loans it does not already hold and pay the original holders, but only after checking that each loan is valid, was made and serviced legally, the loan’s insurance is in force, and the loan was not in default when the borrower asked. The borrower must sign a new note for any reissued loan. The Department of Health and Human Services will fully insure reissued loans under a comprehensive certificate with no insurance limit, covering principal and interest. A reissued loan can include outstanding principal, capitalized interest, unpaid accrued interest not yet capitalized, and allowed late charges. Loan terms stay the same except repayment cannot exceed the remaining time allowed on the original loan (and if the lender holds several loans the maximum may extend to the latest allowed date). Once a borrower receives a combined payment plan, they are no longer considered eligible for one. No origination fee or insurance premium may be charged to the borrower, and the lender does not pay those fees to HHS. Repayment must begin within 60 days after the later of the borrower accepting the lender’s offer, the consolidation loan being made, or any reissued loan being made.
Full Legal Text
Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1092a
Title 20 — Education
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60