How to get a student loan refund if you paid during the COVID-19 pandemic

When President Biden in August announced a plan to forgive student loan debt, many borrowers who kept making payments during the pandemic wondered if they'd made the right choice.

Borrowers who paid down their debt during a pandemic freeze that started in March 2020 can in fact get a refund, and then apply for forgiveness. But the process for doing that hasn't always been clear. If you think you're eligible, here's what you need to know: