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Here’s what you need to know about federal student loan payments, including how long the pause could last, what other benefits it includes and whether Biden will push for more student debt forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Three clues student loan payments might be paused again<\/h2>\n

President Biden has not indicated yet whether he will pause student debt payments again, but there are several indications he might.<\/p>\n

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1. Inflation is still a major problem<\/h2>\n

While the country has turned a corner on the coronavirus pandemic, the White House has repeatedly said decisions about pausing student loans would be driven by what’s happening with the economy. While , food, housing and other essential services are still sky high. On Aug. 10, grocery prices were up 13.1% year over year — that’s the largest increase since March 1979, .And economists still portend .\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Excessive inflation has increased prices for almost everything and most borrowers are likely not in a position to pay off their loans,” Tony Aguilar, CEO of student loan repayment app Chipper told CNET’s sister site, . “An additional extension also provides the White House with more time to review potential forgiveness plans.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Lenders were told to postpone contacting borrowers<\/h2>\n

“The situation is that we’re almost 30 days away from the planned resumption and the [Department of Education] has been telling servicers to hold off on resumption communications for the last few months,” Scott Buchanan, executive director of the nonprofit Student Loan Servicing Alliance, \u00a0on July 25. “Maybe the department expects that the White House will yet again kick the can down the road.”<\/p>\n

Zack Friedman, \ud074\ub808\uc624\uce74\uc9c0\ub178\uc8fc\uc18c CEO of online financial marketplace Mentor,\u00a0\u00a0that, in theory, “Biden could continue to extend student loan relief through multiple executive orders, creating a student loan payment pause ‘forever.'” Or at least until he leaves office.<\/p>\n

3. Another extension may woo young voters in the midterm elections<\/h2>\n

Despite improving job numbers and the declining price of gas, Biden’s approval ratings have not been great as the midterm elections approach. On Aug. 9, 55% of Americans disapproved of the president,\u00a0.Throwing a bone to the more than 40 million Americans with federal student loans could help boost Democrats’ appeal come Nov. 8.<\/p>\n