Student Loans Unsecured Debts: When you borrow money for school, it’s important to know if your loan is secured or unsecured. Most student loans are unsecured, so you don’t need to offer anything valuable like a house or car. Federal loans have low, fixed interest rates and offer forgiveness programs. Private loans often have higher rates but sometimes let you delay payments while you’re still studying.
How Unsecured Student Loans Are Different from Secured Loans
Secured loans are very different. If you take a mortgage or a car loan, you have to promise something valuable like your house or your car. If you cannot pay the loan, the lender can take that thing away from you. Unsecured loans, like most student loans, do not have this kind of backup. Because of this, they are riskier for lenders, and they might ask for stronger proof that you can repay or charge higher interest rates.
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ED is committed to informing borrowers about productive paths towards repaying federal student loans. This effort is long overdue. Borrowers should look for more resources in the coming weeks via email & social media.
More information here: https://t.co/zQHzDTUt13 pic.twitter.com/uNh69qE9i5
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) April 25, 2025
If someone does not pay a secured loan, the bank can take their house or car. But with an unsecured loan like a student loan, the lender cannot just take your stuff. They must first sue you in court and get a judgment.
Then, they might try to take part of your wages or money in your bank account. Federal student loans work a little differently from other unsecured debts. If you cannot pay a student loan and you try to erase it in bankruptcy, you must show “undue hardship” in court. That is not easy to prove. Federal loans also give special help like deferments, forbearance, and forgiveness that most unsecured loans do not.
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Private student loans are tougher. They usually have higher interest rates and fewer ways to get help. Many private lenders expect you to start paying the loan right after they give you the money unless you ask for a delay. Private loans almost never have forgiveness programs.
What Happens if You Do Not Pay Your Student Loan?
If you do not pay your federal student loan, the government can take money to collect it. The IRS can take up to 15% of your SSDI benefits for old federal taxes or unpaid student loans. But SSI benefits are mostly safe from being taken.
If your Social Security, VA payments, or student aid go straight to your bank, banks must protect two months’ worth. For example, if you get $1,000 a month, $2,000 must stay safe. Money sitting for longer than two months could still be taken.
If your protected benefits are taken by mistake, you can fight back. Banks must tell you if they freeze or take your money. You can go to court and show proof that it comes from protected sources like Social Security or VA benefits. Free legal help is available by calling the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
