NASW Seeks Stories from Social Workers Affected by New Student Loan Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On July 1, 2026, unprecedented cuts to the federal student loan system because of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) went into effect. In response, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) as part of a broad coalition of labor unions, consumer protection, student, borrower advocacy, and civil rights organizations launched the "One Big Bill" campaign today to elevate the stories of millions of Americans with student loan debt, documenting their increased student loan bills and the financial challenges many families are now facing as these changes ripple through households and communities across the country.

Borrowers are invited to share their stories and new monthly student loan bills at onebigbill.org and describe how rising costs have impacted their households. The stories collected through this campaign will help show policymakers what these changes look like in real life and why they matter. The story-gathering campaign is backed by Protect Borrowers, AFT, NASW, NAACP, Student Debt Crisis Center, Young Invincibles, EdTrust, American Association of University Women, Consumer Federation of America, United States Student Association, and the Council on Social Work Education.

NASW encourages social workers to share this opportunity with clients, colleagues, and community members who may be affected so their experiences can help shape the national conversation about student loan policy.

In addition, the groups will be monitoring stories for examples of student loan servicers failing to do their jobs and making it even harder for working families to repay their student loan debt.

"Social workers are saddled by untenable student loan debt. NASW is partnering with Protect Borrowers and other One Big Bill coalition members to highlight the challenges social workers face due to exorbitant student loan debt," says NASW COO Heidi McIntosh, MSW. "NASW will continue to advocate for fair student loan debt relief through programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program."

Background

The launch of this campaign comes as the student loan cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) take effect, triggering massive cuts to the long-standing student loan safety net and financial aid programs, while gutting other critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The launch also coincides with the Trump Administration's decision to force 7 million borrowers out of the Biden-era Saving on an Affordable Repayment (SAVE) Plan into significantly more expensive plans.

Rising student loan costs are hitting Americans as they face an ongoing cost-of-living, affordability, and debt crisis. Most Americans are already struggling to afford rent, groceries, and childcare. Many social workers are experiencing these same financial pressures while helping clients navigate them every day.

In particular, the OBBBA changes arrive at a moment of serious chaos and hardship in the student loan system. One out of every 5 borrowers (nearly 9 million Americans) is in default, and 1 in 4 borrowers with a payment due are now delinquent. During the first year of the Trump Administration, a student loan borrower defaulted every 9 seconds, which is three times higher than before the pandemic, according to the coalition.

By collecting these stories now, the coalition hopes to put real faces and real experiences behind the numbers and highlight the impact these policy changes are having on borrowers, families, and communities.

How to Share Your Story

Social workers, borrowers, and others affected by changes to the federal student loan system are encouraged to share their experiences and submit their updated monthly student loan bills through our partner link found here at onebigbill.org.

These stories will help document the impact of rising student loan costs and support efforts to advocate for policies that address the challenges facing borrowers.

To learn more about how these changes directly impact social workers, visit:
Student Loan Limits

And for more information on the social work perspectives or quotes, contact:
Dina Kastner, MSS, MLSP, at [email protected]

Further Reading

Read about NASW's commitment to advocating for policy changes that address the critical issue of student loan debt. Student Loan Debt Relief for Social Workers

Read Protect Borrowers' analysis of how OBBBA will burden student loan borrowers with additional taxes: Tax Breaks for Billionaires, Tax Bombs for Borrowers: The "One Big Beautiful Bill" Slams Americans Who Earn Student Debt Cancellation with Thousands of Dollars in Additional Taxes Starting 2026

Read a blog on OBBBA: What Students and Borrowers Need to Know Now that President Trump's "One Big Terrible Bill" is Law

Read a Deep Dive on OBBBA: Deep Dive: The OBBBA Law Makes Paying for College More Expensive and Risky

Read a report on the broken student loan servicing companies in charge of OBBBA changes: New Report Shows Trump's Deadline Will Thrust Millions of Student Loan Borrowers into Broken and Corrupt Servicing System

Read a blog on student loan companies: The Student Loan Companies Driving the System Today

Read a blog on SAVE ending:So Much for Saving on a Valuable Education: What Borrowers Need to Know Now That SAVE Is No Longer An Option