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Local Bankruptcy Attorney Weighs in on Student Loan Payments Restarting | News

Options For Student Loan Repayments



UTICA, N.Y. — 40 million.

That’s the number of Americans with student loan debt.

For some, that debt is in the thousands.

For others, it could approach a quarter of a million dollars.

During the pandemic, payments were passed by both the Trump and Biden administrations.

That pause expired in August after congress passed a provision in the debt ceiling bill that said the president could not extend the pause without an act of Congress.

This meant interest restarted on loans last month, and payments this month.

It’s an issue that bankruptcy attorney David Gruenwald sees every day.

Student loan debt is a big problem, and with the push for repayment, that could put extra pressure on households.

For some, the pressure could mean making tough decision to make those payments.

But there are options available for people struggling to make payments.

The Biden Administration recently launched the save program, which reduces payments based on a person’s income.

One lesser-known option, bankruptcy.

“The thing I want people to know is that it’s not entirely true, there’s that rumor, you can’t get rid of student loan debt through bankruptcy. That’s not entirely

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Republican seeking Passaic sheriff post is coming off personal bankruptcy

The Republican candidate for Passaic County sheriff filed for bankruptcy in 2016 after falling more than $850,000 in debt, including unpaid taxes.

Mason J. Maher III, a Paterson police detective lieutenant who is challenging four-term incumbent Richard Berdnik, owed money to 27 different creditors, including five mortgages and loans on two Cadillac Escalades, along with $120,365 in credit card debt, court records show.

He owed $9,618 in unpaid federal and state income taxes.

The debt comes despite he and his wife, Jennifer reporting a combined annual income of over $193,000.  They listed their total monthly expenses as $10,557 and assets of $658,825.

Maher’s personal financial problems stemmed from a losses at a Hackensack nail salon owned by his wife.

“Like a lot of families who own small businesses, he and his wife ran into some tough times, but they pulled themselves out of it and even repaid their debts early,” said Chris Russell, a spokesman for Maher.  “This kind of personal smear won’t stick.”

His creditors included the Paterson Police Federal Credit Union.

In 2017, Maher received a $250,000 settlement for injuries he sustained in a car accident.  He was permitted to retain $23,675 of that, with $133,304 used to

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