What to do when a MOHELA account holder dies
Report the death to MOHELA Death Discharge at 1-888-866-4352
Notifying MOHELA of a death is not a claim for money. It is the step that stops the account and starts whatever the loan's terms provide at the borrower's death, from a discharge of the balance to a claim the estate settles. MOHELA Death Discharge (1-888-866-4352) handles it.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting MOHELA.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with MOHELA:
Filing a claim
- Upload it after logging in at mohela.studentaid.gov with the Upload Documents option, which MOHELA says is the fastest route
- Fax to 866-222-7060 for Direct Loans (international 636-787-4038 in the site footer, or 636-787-2790 on the Contact Us page), or to 1-888-212-5912 for FFEL and CASHLoans
- Mail to MOHELA, 633 Spirit Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63005-1243, the correspondence address; MOHELA states "Do not submit payments to this address"
Required Documents
- Death certificateMOHELA states that a clear photocopy is acceptable.
- Alternative proof of death showing the decedent's name and date of birth, for a federally held Direct Loan only, if a death certificate cannot be obtainedCounty clerk verification that a death certificate could not readily be provided, a clergyman or funeral-director letter on official letterhead, or a local newspaper death announcement.
- Proof of death of the borrower or of the student, for a Direct PLUS or Parent PLUS LoanEither death qualifies the loan for discharge.
- A short cover letter identifying the borrowerWith the borrower's 10-digit account number or Social Security number, and your name, relationship and contact information.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
MOHELA's Death Discharge page covers the death of "a borrower or the dependent student of a PLUS Loan," and describes a loan as eligible for "partial or full discharge."1
Notification alone does not pause the account: if no acceptable proof of death is received, MOHELA begins servicing the loans at the same level of delinquency they had reached when it was first notified. It reports a loan delinquent once it is 90 or more days past due at month end.1
What MOHELA's agreement and guidance say2
- Payments after the death
MOHELA reviews the proof of death, returns any payments made after the confirmed date of death to the estate, and then discharges the remaining balance.1
Not in MOHELA's published guidance2
- A claim form
- How long a claim takes
Sources1
MOHELA Death Discharge can be reached by phone at 1-888-866-4352 and fax at 1-866-222-7060 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from MOHELA primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
MOHELA death claims support
MOHELA Death Discharge
Phone
Death-discharge fax (international, site footer)
Document fax (international, Contact Us page)
FFEL Program and CASHLoan servicing
FFEL and CASHLoan fax
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your MOHELA accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
