What to do when a Nelnet account holder dies
Report the death to Nelnet's Loan Discharge or Forgiveness Claims
Notifying Nelnet 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 Loan Discharge or Forgiveness Claims handles it.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Nelnet.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Nelnet:
Filing a claim
- Verification from an official of a county clerk's office stating that the student/borrower is deceased, and that a death certificate could not be readily provided
- Letter from a clergyman or funeral director
- Confirmation of death from a nationwide consumer reporting agency
- An announcement of death from a local newspaper containing enough information to verify that the announcement is referring to the student/borrower
- Confirmation from the Social Security Administration's death registry
Required Documents
- Death certificateAn original or certified copy, or a photocopy.
- At least two of the alternative documents Nelnet lists, if no death certificate is availableAccepted case by case.
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
On discharge, no further payments are made on the loans. If no proof of death is obtained, the loan resumes servicing at the same delinquency level it was at when Nelnet was notified.1
What Nelnet's agreement and guidance say2
Not in Nelnet's published guidance1
- A fax number for claim documents
Sources1
Sources
Data sourced from Nelnet primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Nelnet death claims support
Loan Discharge or Forgiveness Claims
Mailing address
Website
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