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Cook County launches program to help with student loans

Cook County is teaming with the Joyce Foundation and the company Summer to provide free advice and support for student loan borrowers across the county.

Summer helps student loan borrowers navigate and reduce their debt with innovative tools combined with a team of student loan experts. Through an investment by the Joyce Foundation, Cook County residents can now access Summer's digital platform and advisory services for free, providing them with customized loan savings recommendations and enrollment assistance.

"This new partnership represents another critical step as we continue to find ways to ease the financial pain caused by the pandemic," county board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Residents with student loan debt can access Summer's platform to enroll in state and federal savings programs that reduce loan payments and qualify for loan forgiveness. Participants in Illinois who have enrolled with Summer so far have saved on average $154 monthly and $46,890 on the lifetime of their loan.

There are no income eligibility requirements to enroll. Borrowers who were unable to graduate but still hold student loan debt also can enroll. Residents looking to learn more and enroll should visit www.meetsummer.org/il.

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