<p>^^^ But marriage creates an array of new obligations, including the education of the step children. A number of DD’s friends are “keeping house” and delaying marriage to take advantage of grad school loan forgiveness programs - - once married, the spouse w/ the loans would be required to acknowledge his/her partner’s income, which in most cases would render the spouse w/ the loans inelig for the forgiveness prgm. </p>
<p>One such couple recently set the daye b/c the woman (the one w/ the loans and loan forgiveness) received an inheritance and was inelig for further aid from the forgiveness prgm. That she would have been better off financially had the inheritance come after the school had forgiven her debt doesn’t make the program or it’s process unfair. No was the couple’s delaying marriage to take advantage of the loan forgiveness unfair (by delaying the marriage, one risk that it might never occur).</p>
<p>I’m not sure what a “fair” system would look like. Where ever you draw the line, it will be a hardship for some and a windfall for others.</p>