Section 110 ILCS 992/5-30 - Specialized assistance for student loan borrowers(a) A servicer shall specially designate servicing and collections personnel deemed repayment specialists who have received enhanced training related to repayment options.(b) A servicer shall refrain from presenting forbearance as the sole or first repayment option to a student loan borrower struggling with repayment unless the servicer has determined that, based on the borrower's financial status, a short term forbearance is appropriate.(c) All inbound and outbound calls from a federal loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist and a private loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist shall be routed to a repayment specialist.(d) During each inbound or outbound communication with an eligible federal loan borrower, a repayment specialist shall first inform a federal loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist that federal income-driven repayment plans that can reduce the borrower's monthly payment may be available, discuss such plans, and assist the borrower in determining whether a particular repayment plan may be appropriate for the borrower.(e) A repayment specialist shall assess the long-term and short-term financial situation and needs of a federal loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist and consider any available specific information from the borrower as necessary to assist the borrower in determining whether a particular income-driven repayment option may be available to the borrower.(f) In each discussion with a federal loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist, a repayment specialist shall present and explain the following options, as appropriate: (1) total and permanent disability discharge, public service loan forgiveness, closed school discharge, and defenses to repayment;(2) other repayment plans;(g) A repayment specialist shall assess the long-term and short-term financial situation and needs of a private loan borrower eligible for referral to a repayment specialist in determining whether any private loan repayment options may be appropriate for the borrower.(h) A servicer shall present and explain all private loan repayment options, including alternative repayment arrangements applicable to private student loan borrowers.(i) A servicer shall be prohibited from implementing any compensation plan that has the intended or actual effect of incentivizing a repayment specialist to violate this Act or any other measure that encourages undue haste or lack of quality.(j) The requirements of this Section shall not apply if a repayment specialist has already conversed with a borrower consistent with the requirements of this Section.Added by P.A. 100-0540,§ 5-30, eff. 12/31/2018.