Student-loan payments will resume this year — and it could happen with or without debt relief

• Education Sec. Miguel Cardona reiterated that student-loan payments will resume this year.
• It will happen 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court issues a decision on Biden's debt relief.

Supreme Court arguments on President Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness are now over, and many Americans are anxiously waiting to learn if — and when — they'll resume their monthly debt payments with any relief.

After two years on pause, the resumption of payments depends on when the justices issue a final decision on the legality of the plan.

In November, Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers was put on pause by two conservative-backed lawsuits seeking to permanently block the plan. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on both cases on Tuesday — the first case it took on was filed by six Republican-led states who argued the relief would hurt their states' tax revenues, and the second case wsa filed on behalf of two student-loan borrowers who sued because they didn't qualify for the full $20,000 amount of relief.

Following the conclusion of the arguments, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona emailed about 6.5 million people who signed up to receive notices about student debt, according the Education Department. He expressed confidence that the plan will prevail — and also reiterated that borrowers will be resuming payments this year.

"While opponents of this program would deny relief to tens of millions of working- and middle-class Americans, we are fighting to deliver relief to borrowers who need support as they get back on their feet after the economic crisis caused by the pandemic," Cardona wrote.

"While we await the Supreme Court's decision, the pause on student loan payments remains in effect," he continued. "Payments will resume 60 days after the Supreme Court announces its decision. If it has not made a decision or resolved the litigation by June 30, payments will resume 60 days after that."

This means that student-loan payments could resume in September at the latest, and as of now, that could happen even if the Supreme Court strikes down Biden's debt relief plan. The Education Department has not yet commented on any additional measures for relief — like another extension of the payment pause — if the ruling does not go in its favor.

The payment pause has been instrumental for many student-loan borrowers struggling financially during the pandemic. Alexandria Mavin, a borrower with $90,000 in student debt, previously told Insider that the pause allowed her save about $400 a month to put toward home and car repairs, basic necessities, and food and clothes for her daughter, and she said it helped her "afford life."

"With the freeze and being able to save that money, I'm not worried about random expenses that pop up with my home, my child, my husband, nothing," Mavin said. "But now that's coming to an end soon."

Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley told Insider on Tuesday that she will push for payments to remain on pause until borrowers get relief.

"It's been game changing and transformative for so many people," Pressley said, referring to the pause. "By eliminating that bill, I mean, do you all understand that there are people that are paying monthly student loan of bills that are the equivalency of a mortgage?"