`research/keyword-landers.md`

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# SDC Keyword Landing Pages — Research Brief
**Prepared:** April 25, 2026
**Audience:** Borrowers 45+, parents with PLUS loans, defaulted borrowers, PSLF/SAVE/IDR limbo
**Source validation:** studentdebtcrisis.org navigation audit, NCLC 2025-26 issue briefs, SDC news archive, studentloanjustice.org pain-point mapping

---

## Methodology Note

All 20 queries below were cross-referenced against:
- SDC's own news archive (topics with recent SDC coverage = confirmed searcher demand)
- NCLC's identified "most pressing 2025-26 issues" (7M+ borrowers affected by SAVE elimination, Treasury servicing chaos, default collections restart)
- Borrower pain-point language from studentloanjustice.org (non-payment crisis, garnishment fears, bankruptcy exclusion)
- Demographic skew confirmed: SDC's own guides include dedicated Parent PLUS and Delinquency/Default resources, validating those segments

Difficulty ratings are qualitative and based on commercial competition (lenders, loan servicers), existing authority content from DOE/CFPB, and SDC's relative domain authority as a nonprofit advocacy org.

---

## Landing Pages (20 Candidates)

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### 1. SAVE Plan Blocked — Policy News

**Target query:** `SAVE plan blocked what happens now`
**Search intent:** Informational (high urgency, news-driven)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — news cycle creates fresh demand, lenders not competing here
**URL slug:** `/save-plan-blocked-what-happens-now`
**H1:** The SAVE Plan Is Blocked: Here Is What Happens to Your Loans Right Now

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What the Court Ruling Actually Did to the SAVE Plan
2. Which Repayment Plans Are Still Available to You
3. Why More Than 7 Million Borrowers Are Now at Risk
4. What the Government Has (and Has Not) Told Borrowers
5. How to Protect Yourself While Litigation Continues
6. What Student Debt Crisis Center Is Doing About It

**Internal links:** Resources (IDR guide), News (SDC SAVE coverage archive), Take Action
**CTA:** Contact your congressperson — pre-filled letter demanding legislative protection for IDR plans

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### 2. Social Security Garnishment

**Target query:** `can my Social Security be garnished for student loans`
**Search intent:** Informational (fear-driven, high emotional load)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low-Med — CFPB and SSA have thin content; emotional query niche dominates
**URL slug:** `/social-security-garnishment-student-loans`
**H1:** Can the Government Garnish Your Social Security for Student Loans?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. The Short Answer: Yes, and It Is Happening to Borrowers Over 60
2. How the Treasury Offset Program Takes Your Benefits
3. How Much Can They Take — and What Is Protected
4. What Triggers Offset and How to Know If You Are at Risk
5. Steps to Stop or Reduce a Social Security Offset
6. Why This Is a Retirement Security Crisis, Not Just a Debt Problem

**Internal links:** Resources (Delinquency & Default guide), Student Debt Stories, Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Share your story — form to submit personal testimony about retirement-age garnishment impact

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### 3. Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness

**Target query:** `parent plus loan forgiveness options 2026`
**Search intent:** Informational / Commercial investigation
**Estimated difficulty:** Med — high competition from loan companies; advocacy angle differentiates
**URL slug:** `/parent-plus-loan-forgiveness-2026`
**H1:** Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness in 2026: What Options Actually Exist

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Why Parent PLUS Loans Are Different — and Often Worse
2. Income-Contingent Repayment: The Only IDR Plan Available to Parent PLUS Borrowers
3. PSLF and Parent PLUS: Can You Qualify?
4. Double Consolidation Loophole: What It Was and Why It May Be Gone
5. What Congress Has (and Has Not) Done for Parent PLUS Borrowers
6. If You Are Over 60 With a Parent PLUS Loan, Read This Section First

**Internal links:** Resources (Parent PLUS guide, IDR guide, PSLF guide), Take Action, Free the Degree
**CTA:** Sign the petition demanding Parent PLUS borrowers be included in all IDR plans

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### 4. Student Loans for Parents Over 60

**Target query:** `student loans for parents over 60 what are my options`
**Search intent:** Informational / Commercial investigation
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — extremely specific demographic query, very little advocacy content exists
**URL slug:** `/student-loans-parents-over-60`
**H1:** You Are Over 60 With Student Loans. Here Is What You Need to Know.

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. How Older Borrowers Got Here: The Parent PLUS and Co-Signer Trap
2. The Retirement Cliff: What Happens When Loan Payments Exceed Your Fixed Income
3. Social Security Offset Risk at Retirement Age
4. Income-Driven Repayment Eligibility When You Are Near or Past Retirement
5. Death and Disability Discharge: What Happens to Your Loans
6. Advocating for Yourself When the System Was Not Built for You

**Internal links:** Resources (Parent PLUS guide, Delinquency & Default guide), Student Debt Stories, Donate
**CTA:** Share your story — senior borrower testimony submission

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### 5. Borrower Defense Application 2026

**Target query:** `how to apply for borrower defense to repayment 2026`
**Search intent:** Transactional / Procedural
**Estimated difficulty:** Low-Med — DOE page exists but is bureaucratic; advocacy org guidance is more accessible
**URL slug:** `/how-to-apply-borrower-defense-2026`
**H1:** How to Apply for Borrower Defense to Repayment in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What Borrower Defense Is and Who Qualifies
2. Which Schools Have Approved Borrower Defense Claims
3. What the Application Requires: Documents, Evidence, and Timeline
4. What Has Changed Under the Current Administration
5. What to Do If Your Application Has Been Pending for Years
6. Free Help and Legal Resources for Borrower Defense Applicants

**Internal links:** Resources hub, News (Borrower Defense coverage), Take Action, Student Debt Stories
**CTA:** Email signup — get notified of borrower defense application status changes and policy updates

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### 6. Navient Settlement Check 2026

**Target query:** `Navient settlement check 2026 am I eligible`
**Search intent:** Transactional / Commercial investigation (high intent)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — time-sensitive, scammy sites dominate; authoritative nonprofit fills trust gap
**URL slug:** `/navient-settlement-check-2026`
**H1:** Navient Settlement 2026: Are You Eligible for a Payment?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What the Navient Settlement Covers and Who Was Harmed
2. How to Find Out If You Are in the Eligible Borrower Group
3. What the Checks Actually Covered (and Why Many Borrowers Feel Cheated)
4. The Difference Between Cy Pres Relief and Direct Loan Cancellation
5. If You Did Not Receive a Check: What to Do Next
6. Why Settlement Money Is Not Enough: The Broader Navient Accountability Fight

**Internal links:** News (Navient coverage), Take Action, Student Debt Stories, Donate
**CTA:** Share your story — Navient borrower testimony to support ongoing accountability advocacy

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### 7. Student Loan Default Restart 2025

**Target query:** `student loan default collections restarted 2025 what to do`
**Search intent:** Informational (crisis-driven, high emotional urgency)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — very specific query, borrowers in panic mode, lenders avoid this
**URL slug:** `/student-loan-default-collections-restarted-2025`
**H1:** Student Loan Collections Have Restarted: What Happens If You Are in Default

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What "Collections Restarted" Actually Means for You
2. The Consequences of Default: Wage Garnishment, Tax Refunds, and Benefits Offset
3. Loan Rehabilitation: How to Get Out of Default Step by Step
4. Fresh Start Program: Is It Still Available in 2026?
5. If Garnishment Has Already Started: Your Rights and Options
6. Why This Collections Restart Is Happening to 9 Million Borrowers at Once

**Internal links:** Resources (Delinquency & Default guide), News (Wage Garnishment articles), Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Contact your congressperson — demand a collections pause for borrowers in IDR limbo

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### 8. PSLF Denied — What To Do

**Target query:** `PSLF denied what to do next 2026`
**Search intent:** Informational / Transactional (post-denial, high frustration)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low-Med — government pages explain rules but not advocacy; emotional gap exists
**URL slug:** `/pslf-denied-what-to-do-2026`
**H1:** Your PSLF Application Was Denied. Here Is What to Do Next.

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. The Most Common Reasons PSLF Applications Are Denied
2. Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF): Is It Still an Option?
3. How to File a Reconsideration Request (With What to Include)
4. What the IDR Waiver and One-Time Adjustment Mean for Your Denial
5. Free Legal Help for Denied PSLF Borrowers
6. Why So Many Public Servants Are Still Being Denied — and What We Are Doing About It

**Internal links:** Resources (PSLF guide), News, Take Action, Student Debt Stories
**CTA:** Share your story — denied PSLF borrower testimony for congressional advocacy

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### 9. Student Loans Transferred to Treasury

**Target query:** `student loans transferred to Treasury Department what does it mean`
**Search intent:** Informational (breaking news, high confusion)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — very recent news (March 2026), almost no content exists yet
**URL slug:** `/student-loans-transferred-treasury-department`
**H1:** The Department of Education Transferred Your Loans to Treasury. What Now?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Why the Department of Education Is Moving Loans to the U.S. Treasury
2. What This Means for Your Servicer, Account Access, and Payment Schedule
3. The Risk of Errors When 40+ Million Accounts Change Systems
4. What Borrowers Who Have Already Had Servicing Errors Should Do Now
5. The Political Context: What This Administrative Move Signals
6. How SDC Is Tracking Servicer Errors and Fighting for Borrowers

**Internal links:** News (DOE Transfer article), Resources, Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Email signup — early-alert list for Treasury transfer errors and borrower rights updates

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### 10. IDR Plans Being Eliminated

**Target query:** `income driven repayment plans being eliminated what happens to my loans`
**Search intent:** Informational (policy fear, high emotional load)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low-Med — NCLC and SDC both cover this; keyword specificity is the differentiator
**URL slug:** `/income-driven-repayment-plans-eliminated`
**H1:** Income-Driven Repayment Plans Are Being Eliminated. What Happens to Your Loans?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Which IDR Plans Are Being Cut and Which May Survive
2. The Budget Reconciliation Bill: How Congress Is Ending Affordable Repayment
3. If You Are Currently on SAVE, IBR, PAYE, or REPAYE: Your Immediate Options
4. How Repayment Changes After July 1, 2026 (SDC Guide Breakdown)
5. Who Gets Hurt Most: Borrowers on Fixed Incomes, Parents, and Public Servants
6. What You Can Do Before the July 2026 Deadline

**Internal links:** Resources (IDR guide, Repayment after July 2026 guide), News, Take Action
**CTA:** Contact your congressperson — pre-filled letter opposing IDR plan elimination

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### 11. Wage Garnishment Student Loans

**Target query:** `wage garnishment for student loans how much can they take`
**Search intent:** Informational (procedural, fear-driven)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — SDC already has wage garnishment FAQ; this expands it into a full landing page
**URL slug:** `/wage-garnishment-student-loans-how-much`
**H1:** Student Loan Wage Garnishment: How Much Can They Take From Your Paycheck?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. How Federal Student Loan Wage Garnishment Works (Administrative vs. Court Order)
2. The Legal Limits: What Percentage of Your Wages Can Be Withheld
3. How to Get a Hearing and Challenge a Garnishment Order
4. Hardship Exemption: Can You Reduce or Stop Garnishment?
5. Getting Out of Default to End Garnishment: Rehabilitation vs. Consolidation
6. If Your Employer Has Already Been Notified: Steps to Take Today

**Internal links:** Resources (Delinquency & Default guide, Wage Garnishment FAQ), Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Share your story — wage garnishment testimony for congressional record

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### 12. For-Profit College Loan Discharge

**Target query:** `for profit college closed loan discharge how to apply`
**Search intent:** Transactional / Procedural
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — high volume of affected borrowers, bureaucratic government pages leave gap
**URL slug:** `/for-profit-college-closed-school-loan-discharge`
**H1:** Did Your For-Profit College Close? How to Apply for a Loan Discharge

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Closed School Discharge vs. Borrower Defense: Which One Applies to You
2. Schools Currently Covered Under Automatic Closed School Discharge
3. What Documentation You Need and Where to Find It
4. The Application Process: Timeline and What to Expect
5. What Happens If the Current Administration Rescinds These Protections
6. For-Profit College Survivors: You Were Defrauded, Not Irresponsible

**Internal links:** Resources (Borrower Defense content), News, Student Debt Stories, Take Action
**CTA:** Share your story — for-profit college survivor testimony

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### 13. Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform

**Target query:** `can you discharge student loans in bankruptcy 2026`
**Search intent:** Informational / Transactional
**Estimated difficulty:** Med — legal sites and law firms compete here; advocacy angle differentiates
**URL slug:** `/discharge-student-loans-bankruptcy-2026`
**H1:** Can You Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy in 2026?

**Page structure (H2s))**
1. The "Undue Hardship" Standard: Why It Is Nearly Impossible to Meet
2. The Brunner Test Explained in Plain English
3. Recent Court Wins: When Judges Have Discharged Student Loans
4. What Proposed Legislation Would Change About Student Loan Bankruptcy
5. How Student Loan Bankruptcy Exclusion Was Created — and Why It Needs to End
6. What to Do If You Are Considering Bankruptcy With Student Debt

**Internal links:** News, Resources, Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Sign the petition — demanding Congress restore bankruptcy rights for student loan borrowers

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### 14. Spouse's Student Loans After Death

**Target query:** `am I responsible for my spouse's student loans if they die`
**Search intent:** Informational (grief + fear, deeply personal)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — almost no nonprofit content exists on this specific query
**URL slug:** `/am-i-responsible-spouse-student-loans-death`
**H1:** Are You Responsible for Your Spouse's Student Loans If They Pass Away?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Federal vs. Private Loans: The Rules Are Very Different
2. Federal Student Loan Death Discharge: What Is Required and How to Apply
3. Community Property States: When You May Be on the Hook for Federal Loans
4. Private Student Loans After a Spouse Dies: What Lenders Do Not Tell You
5. Parent PLUS Loans and the Death of the Student: What Parents Need to Know
6. How to Protect Your Family From Student Loan Liability

**Internal links:** Resources, Student Debt Stories, Donate, Take Action
**CTA:** Email signup — get the SDC guide on navigating student loans during family crises

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### 15. PSLF and Part-Time Work

**Target query:** `does part time work count for public service loan forgiveness`
**Search intent:** Informational / Procedural
**Estimated difficulty:** Low-Med — rule-specific query, government page is dense; cleaner advocacy version needed
**URL slug:** `/part-time-work-public-service-loan-forgiveness`
**H1:** Does Part-Time Work Count Toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. The 30-Hour Rule: What PSLF Actually Requires for Part-Time Employees
2. Working Multiple Part-Time Jobs: How to Combine Hours for PSLF Eligibility
3. Which Employers Qualify — and Some That Surprise Borrowers
4. How to Document Part-Time PSLF Employment Correctly
5. Common Mistakes That Disqualify Years of Part-Time Service
6. Why PSLF Rules Punish Non-Traditional Workers — and What Should Change

**Internal links:** Resources (PSLF guide), Student Debt Stories, Take Action
**CTA:** Share your story — part-time worker PSLF denial testimony

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### 16. Tax Refund Seized for Student Loans

**Target query:** `IRS seized my tax refund for student loans what can I do`
**Search intent:** Informational / Transactional (crisis, immediate action needed)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — high urgency, underserved by existing content, borrowers in panic mode
**URL slug:** `/irs-seized-tax-refund-student-loans`
**H1:** The IRS Seized Your Tax Refund for Student Loans. Here Is What You Can Do.

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Why the Government Took Your Refund: The Treasury Offset Program Explained
2. How to Find Out If Your Refund Was Taken for Student Loans
3. Injured Spouse Claims: Protecting Your Spouse's Portion of a Joint Refund
4. How to Request an Offset Bypass Refund Due to Financial Hardship
5. Getting Out of Default to Prevent Future Offset
6. If the Refund Was Wrong: How to Dispute a Tax Offset

**Internal links:** Resources (Delinquency & Default guide), News, Take Action, Donate
**CTA:** Contact your congressperson — demand automatic hardship exemptions from tax offset

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### 17. Student Loan Forgiveness After 20 Years

**Target query:** `student loan forgiveness after 20 years not happening what is wrong`
**Search intent:** Informational (high frustration, betrayal narrative)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — emotionally specific phrasing, borrowers who followed the rules and got nothing
**URL slug:** `/student-loan-forgiveness-20-years-not-happening`
**H1:** You Were Promised Forgiveness After 20 Years. Why Has It Not Happened?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What the 20-Year Forgiveness Rule Was Supposed to Mean
2. Why Servicer Errors and Payment Count Problems Are Blocking Forgiveness
3. The IDR Adjustment: Did It Fix Your Payment Count — Or Was It Too Late?
4. How the SAVE Plan Elimination Affects Borrowers Who Were Close to Forgiveness
5. What "Forgiveness" Means for Your Tax Bill (and Why It Is Not Free)
6. Thousands of Borrowers Are in Your Situation. This Is What We Are Fighting For.

**Internal links:** Resources (IDR guide, SAVE guide), News, Student Debt Stories, Take Action
**CTA:** Share your story — 20-year forgiveness betrayal testimony for congressional advocacy

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### 18. Disability Discharge Student Loans

**Target query:** `total and permanent disability discharge student loans 2026 how to apply`
**Search intent:** Transactional / Procedural
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — underserved demographic, SSA/VA benefit recipients 45+
**URL slug:** `/total-permanent-disability-discharge-student-loans-2026`
**H1:** Total and Permanent Disability Discharge for Student Loans in 2026: How to Apply

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Who Qualifies for TPD Discharge (SSA, VA, and Physician Certification Paths)
2. What the Automatic TPD Discharge Means If You Receive SSA Disability
3. The Three-Year Monitoring Period: What You Are Required to Report
4. What Happens to Taxes on Discharged Loan Amounts Under Current Law
5. If Your TPD Application Was Denied: Reconsideration Steps
6. Disability and Student Debt: A Crisis Within a Crisis

**Internal links:** Resources, Student Debt Stories, Donate, Take Action
**CTA:** Email signup — get the SDC disability discharge checklist and status alerts

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### 19. Co-Signer Student Loan Liability

**Target query:** `I co-signed my child's student loan and they can't pay what happens to me`
**Search intent:** Informational (fear-driven, parent demographic, high emotional weight)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — extremely specific query, almost no nonprofit content
**URL slug:** `/cosigned-student-loan-child-cant-pay`
**H1:** You Co-Signed Your Child's Student Loan and They Cannot Pay. Now What?

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. What Co-Signing Actually Means: You Are Equally Responsible
2. How Private Loan Defaults Affect Your Credit, Wages, and Retirement
3. Co-Signer Release: Does It Exist, and Can You Qualify?
4. If Your Child Declares Bankruptcy: Does It Discharge Your Co-Signer Liability?
5. Refinancing Options to Remove Yourself as Co-Signer
6. Federal vs. Private Loan Co-Signing: The Critical Difference Parents Miss

**Internal links:** Resources, Student Debt Stories, Take Action, Free the Degree
**CTA:** Share your story — co-signer parent testimony for private loan reform advocacy

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### 20. IDR Application Backlog 2026

**Target query:** `IDR application stuck pending 2026 what to do`
**Search intent:** Informational / Transactional (bureaucratic frustration, immediate need)
**Estimated difficulty:** Low — extremely timely, very little content exists on backlog specifically
**URL slug:** `/idr-application-stuck-pending-2026`
**H1:** Your IDR Application Is Stuck. Here Is Why — and What You Can Do About It.

**Page structure (H2s):**
1. Why IDR Applications Are Backlogged: The Processing Crisis Explained
2. What Happens to Your Loans and Interest While Your Application Is Pending
3. How to Check Your IDR Application Status (Step by Step)
4. When to Call Your Servicer — and What to Say
5. Escalation Options: Ombudsman, CFPB Complaint, and Congressional Inquiry
6. Why the Processing Backlog Is Not Your Fault — and What Needs to Change

**Internal links:** Resources (IDR guide), News, Take Action, Student Debt Stories
**CTA:** Contact your congressperson — pre-filled letter demanding servicer accountability for IDR backlogs

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## Priority Tiers

### Tier 1 — Publish First (highest urgency + lowest competition)
1. `/save-plan-blocked-what-happens-now` — news cycle peak, 7M+ affected borrowers
2. `/student-loans-transferred-treasury-department` — March 2026 news, almost zero content exists
3. `/student-loan-default-collections-restarted-2025` — 9M borrowers re-entering collections
4. `/idr-application-stuck-pending-2026` — NCLC-confirmed processing crisis
5. `/irs-seized-tax-refund-student-loans` — tax season urgency, March-May spike

### Tier 2 — High Emotional / Demographic Value
6. `/social-security-garnishment-student-loans` — retirement-age fear, evergreen
7. `/student-loans-parents-over-60` — underserved demographic, low competition
8. `/cosigned-student-loan-child-cant-pay` — parent pain point, unique angle
9. `/student-loan-forgiveness-20-years-not-happening` — betrayal narrative, evergreen
10. `/am-i-responsible-spouse-student-loans-death` — grief + fear, unique advocacy gap

### Tier 3 — Procedural / High-Intent Transactional
11. `/parent-plus-loan-forgiveness-2026` — perennial high-volume query
12. `/how-to-apply-borrower-defense-2026` — procedural gap content
13. `/pslf-denied-what-to-do-2026` — post-denial frustration, high share intent
14. `/for-profit-college-closed-school-loan-discharge` — high-volume, underserved
15. `/total-permanent-disability-discharge-student-loans-2026` — procedural, 45+ audience

### Tier 4 — Long-Term Authority Building
16. `/income-driven-repayment-plans-eliminated` — broad policy page
17. `/wage-garnishment-student-loans-how-much` — expands existing FAQ
18. `/navient-settlement-check-2026` — cy pres / settlement angle
19. `/discharge-student-loans-bankruptcy-2026` — competitive but unique advocacy frame
20. `/part-time-work-public-service-loan-forgiveness` — rule-specific, niche but loyal audience

---

## SDC Internal Link Map (Reference)

All pages should link to at least 3 of these core destinations:

| Core Page | Path | Anchor Text Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Take Action | `/take-action` | "tell Congress," "contact your representative," "take action" |
| Student Debt Stories | `/student-debt-stories` | "read other borrowers' stories," "you are not alone" |
| Resources | `/resources` | "download the free guide," "get the full breakdown" |
| News | `/news` | "read our latest coverage," "follow the latest" |
| Donate | (ActBlue) | "support this fight," "fund our advocacy" |
| Free the Degree | `/free-the-degree` | "college affordability reform," "make college affordable again" |
| About | `/about-us` | "who we are," "our movement" |

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## CTA Assignment Summary

| CTA Type | Assigned Pages |
|---|---|
| Contact congressperson (pre-filled letter) | SAVE blocked, IDR eliminated, Tax refund seized, IDR backlog, default collections |
| Share your story (testimony submission) | Social Security garnishment, PSLF denied, wage garnishment, for-profit college, 20-year forgiveness, part-time PSLF, co-signer parent, spouse death |
| Sign petition | Parent PLUS forgiveness, bankruptcy reform |
| Email signup (alert/guide) | Borrower defense, Treasury transfer, disability discharge, spouse death guide |
| Donate | Navient settlement (accountability framing) |