Sign in to StudentAid.gov, open My Aid on your Dashboard, and check the status of each loan. A red warning on the Dashboard or a warning banner in a loan’s details indicates that it is in default. If the loan is handled by the Department of Education’s Default Resolution Group (DRG), check MyEdDebt.ed.gov too; it is a separate system with a separate account.
Check your loan status on StudentAid.gov
- Sign in to StudentAid.gov. Open your Dashboard and find My Aid.
- Review each loan individually. A borrower can have multiple loans with different statuses, so do not rely on a single overall impression of the account.
- Look for a default warning. Federal Student Aid says a loan in default should trigger a warning in a red box on the Dashboard. Open the loan details to check its status; a defaulted loan should also show a warning banner there. See Federal Student Aid’s default and collections FAQs.
Check MyEdDebt if the loan is assigned to DRG
MyEdDebt is the Department of Education’s portal for borrowers with defaulted federal loans assigned to the Default Resolution Group. It is separate from StudentAid.gov, so your StudentAid.gov username and password will not sign you in; you need to create a separate account.
Once signed in, review Status Message and Loan Summary. A “Servicer Name” of “Default Resolution Group” generally confirms default status for a loan assigned to DRG. The summary also shows loan and debt details. The Department’s Debt Resolution site provides access to the portal.
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Know which organization handles your loan
MyEdDebt is not the only possible route. Some commercially held Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) loans are handled by a guaranty agency rather than DRG. If DRG does not appear, that alone does not establish that the loan is current. Check the loan holder or servicer listed in your StudentAid.gov loan or servicer details, and review official notices for the organization handling it. Federal Student Aid explains the distinction in its default guidance.
If the account and a notice seem inconsistent, contact the official organization named in the account or notice and ask it to verify the loan’s status. Keep your mailing address and other contact information current so notices can reach you.
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How to interpret the signs
| What you see | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| A red Dashboard warning or a warning banner in an individual loan’s details | Federal Student Aid’s stated indicator that the loan is in default. Check the status on that specific loan. |
| “Default Resolution Group” as the Servicer Name in MyEdDebt | Generally confirms default for a loan assigned to DRG. |
| A guaranty agency listed for a commercially held FFEL loan | The agency may be the relevant organization for status questions and next steps; DRG may not handle that loan. |
| A new servicer listed after rehabilitation | May reflect the transfer after successful rehabilitation. Request a letter confirming the loan is no longer in default if you need proof. |
Use missed-payment timing as context, not as the status check
Federal Student Aid says Direct and FFEL loans generally enter default after at least 270 days without scheduled payments. Its FAQ also says a loan is likely in default if you have not made a full payment in at least a year and are not in deferment or forbearance. These timing clues do not replace checking the official status of each loan, since the account and the organization handling the loan are the practical sources for what to do next.
If you completed loan rehabilitation
After successful rehabilitation, the loan is transferred to a new servicer. Check the MyEdDebt Loan Summary for the new servicer’s name and transfer information. If you need written evidence that the loan is no longer in default, ask for a confirmation letter. Federal Student Aid describes the process in its rehabilitation FAQs.
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Use the official government sites and organizations identified in your account or official notice. The Default Resolution Group does not charge for its services. Federal Student Aid warns borrowers to be wary of companies that demand enrollment, subscription, or maintenance fees to help get out of default. Do not give your account credentials to a company that contacts you unexpectedly; use Federal Student Aid’s scam guidance if you are unsure.
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