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What to do when a Navient account holder dies

Report the death to Navient's MOHELA at 1-888-272-5543

Notifying Navient 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. The MOHELA (1-888-272-5543) handles it.

Before contacting Navient, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.

Death claim process

The death claim process at Navient works as follows:

Filing a claim

1
Call MOHELA, which services Navient loans, at 888-272-5543 to discuss death discharge eligibility for the loan.
2
For a private loan, complete the forgiveness or discharge application MOHELA provides and return it with supporting documentation.
3
Include the account number on correspondence sent to MOHELA.

Required Documents

  • Completed forgiveness or discharge application, for a private loanProvided by MOHELA.
  • Supporting documentation, for a private loanMOHELA states that supporting documentation is required with the application.

Forms Navient issues1

Forgiveness or discharge application

Sent by the institution on request.1

What happens to each kind of account1

Loan

A private student loan's treatment at death follows the loan agreement. MOHELA states that private loans are "eligible for discharge due to death of the primary borrower."1

Accounts handled elsewhere1

Navient Office of the Customer Advocate

Questions on defaulted student loans, the rare exception Navient still services2

Not in Navient's published guidance1

  • How long a claim takes

Sources2

Download instructions for the whole estate

Navient's MOHELA can be reached by phone at 1-888-272-5543 and fax at 1-800-443-9723 for questions throughout the claims process.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Navient primary sources (12 pages reviewed). How we research.

Navient death claims support

MOHELA (servicing Navient private loans)

Fax

1-800-443-9723

Mailing address

MOHELA, P.O. Box 9640, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773-9640
Verified Sep 2026

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