Student loan discharge or cancellation
Student loans may be cancelled (or "discharged") if the primary borrower, cosigner, or student has died.
Student loan discharge due to death
Can a student loan be cancelled if the primary borrower, cosigner, or student is deceased?
A student loan may be eligible for discharge (cancellation) due to death depending on the loan program type, guarantor, or the terms of the loan promissory note.
Please contact us at (888) 2-SALLIE (888-272-5543) with any questions.
What information does Sallie Mae need about a deceased borrower?
When notifying us about the death of the primary borrower, cosigner, or student on an account, you will be asked to provide some or all of the following information for our records:
- City, county, and state where the death occurred
- Date of death
- Name of the hospital or funeral home and the county where it is
- Executor or best person to contact
- Mother's maiden name
- Father's name
You should be prepared to submit an original death certificate (with a raised seal and Social Security number) to:
Sallie Mae
Attn: Claims Department
P.O. Box 9400
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773-9400 If the cosigner has passed away, please include the name of the deceased and the loan they cosigned. We will try to contact the cosigner ("due diligence") until we receive a certified copy of the death certificate.
Additional documents may be required, depending on the loan guarantor. Please contact us at (888) 2-SALLIE (888-272-5543) for a complete list of required documents for your loan(s).