Advocacy groups pushing Biden to cancel student debt for disabled

Three advocacy groups are petitioning the Biden administration to cancel student debt for a certain contingent of disabled people, the Associated Press reported.

Backed by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the National Student Legal Defense Network, Community Legal Aid Society of Delaware and Justice in Aging filed a rarely used federal petition asking the Education Department to erase the debt of 400,000 people with severe disabilities.

The petition is aimed at people who are eligible debt forgiveness under a certain program but have not yet applied. It includes those with severe physical and mental disabilities that do not allow them to work, according to AP. 

Advocates say many people do not know they are eligible or are deterred by a host of requirements. The request aims to eliminate the application process and cancel the debt for people who are identified as eligible under the social security program. It is estimated to eliminate $14 billion in debt, the AP reported.

The petition comes as Democrats are pushing for the elimination of student debt. Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday to tackle student debt.