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How the Student Loan Payment Pause Affected Borrowers’ Credit Access and Credit Use

Author

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  • Daniel H. Cooper
  • Maddie Haddix

Abstract

This brief examines how the pandemic-related, 43-month moratorium on federal student loan payments and interest accruals affected borrowers’ credit card limits and balances. The pause freed up an average of $280 a month for each of the 17 million student loan holders in active repayment, and it included a provision that erased previous defaults on student loans.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel H. Cooper & Maddie Haddix, 2025. "How the Student Loan Payment Pause Affected Borrowers’ Credit Access and Credit Use," Current Policy Perspectives 25-1, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbcq:99440
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Dinerstein & Constantine Yannelis & Ching-Tse Chen, 2024. "Debt Moratoria: Evidence from Student Loan Forbearance," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 6(2), pages 196-213, June.
    2. Gizem Koşar & Davide Melcangi & Laura Pilossoph & David Wiczer, 2023. "Stimulus through Insurance: The Marginal Propensity to Repay Debt," Staff Reports 1065, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    student loans; payment pause; consumer behavior; credit cards;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H81 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Governmental Loans; Loan Guarantees; Credits; Grants; Bailouts
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid

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