More than 300,000 US student loan borrowers were denied access to income-driven repayment plans after the Education Department rejected nearly 328,000 applications in August. A court filing cited ambiguity over selecting the lowest-payment option, leaving many borrowers facing higher bills or interest-accruing forbearance. With over 800,000 applications still pending, advocates warned of delayed forgiveness, while experts urged borrowers to reapply and choose specific repayment plans.
