Apply for hardship waiver of BAföG repayment debt after rejection of a cooperation waiver

Your decision for or against a BAföG education loan should not lead you to fears of debt. Thus, you can apply for a hardship waiver if the cooperation waiver was rejected.

Hardship means only a minor violation of your obligations to pay and cooperate throughout the repayment period.

Your request may

• lead to a hardship waiver:
  
  • You will have the (remaining) debt of your BAföG loan forgiven.
• lead to a rejection:
  
  • You must repay the remaining debt in the amount of your BAföG loan, including outstanding costs and interest.

You can submit your application informally

• by telephone,
• in writing and
• online

at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

Requirements

You can submit an application if

• You have been denied a cooperation waiver by the Federal Administrative Office (BVA).

Requirements for the hardship waiver:

• within the repayment period
  
  • Address investigation charges have been levied against you on no more than 1 occasion
  • • This happens if you did not report the change in your name or changes in your home address and the Federal Administrative Office (BVA) had to determine them.
  • no final fine has ever been imposed on you
  • • fines are levied if you have not notified changes in the relevant family and income circumstances during an exemption or deferral period
  • you have paid all payment obligations, including costs and interest
  • • interest on arrears is accrued for no more than a total of 150 days.

Note
Interest will be charged whenever you are more than 45 days behind on a payment.