The student loan payment pause — which was set to end Dec. 31, 2022 — will be extended to the end of June 2023 as the Biden administration awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling on the federal student debt forgiveness program, the White House announced on Nov. 22.

                By                    Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy

See: Student Loan Refund Checks Are In the Mail for Anyone Who Paid During the COVID-19 MoratoriumStudent Loan Forgiveness: Approval Letters Are Being Sent, But It Doesn’t Mean You’ll Get Money — Here’s Why

“The Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments to allow for the Supreme Court to rule in the case on the student debt relief program. The pause will end no later than June 30, 2023. Payments will resume 60 days after the pause ends,” the White House tweeted.

The announcement came on the heels of the student debt relief program being blocked by federal courts.

The Department of Education said that the extension will alleviate uncertainty for borrowers as the administration “asks the Supreme Court to review the lower-court orders that are preventing the Department from providing debt relief for tens of millions of Americans,” according to a Nov. 22 statement.

It added that if the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023, payments will resume 60 days after that.

The department reiterated that 26 million people have applied for debt relief, and 16 million borrowers have thus far been approved.

“But court orders are blocking the Department from discharging student loan debt and accepting additional applications,” it said.

Biden Administration Asks Supreme Court To Lift Injunction

On Nov. 17, the Biden administration said it was planning to ask the Supreme Court to lift the injunction on its student debt relief program, according to court papers.

The filing came just three days after a federal appeals court issued a nationwide injunction on Nov. 14, temporarily barring President Biden’s student loan debt relief program.

Take Our Poll: Do You Think Student Loan Debt Should Be Forgiven?More: How Gen Z Plans To Avoid Student Loans