The student loan payment pause ended two years ago as of September 2025, but borrowers were given a one-year "on-ramp" to resume payments. In April, the Department of Education announced that collections on student loans would start again. The California Policy Lab's prior work found that a large portion of borrowers were likely to struggle to repay their student loans once payments resumed. Late payments hurt one's credit rating and can also lead to mental stress and shortchanging essential expenses like food and healthcare.