The U.S. Department of Education resumed collections on defaulted student loan payments from borrowers all over the country Monday following a five-year pause. Beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing through the Biden administration, many loans were allowed to defer without financial consequence. Beginning today, borrowers who find themselves in default may have their tax return or social security garnished if they make no effort to pay. The Department of Education says more than 42 million people currently hold student debt and about 5 million are in default.