<prompt> Human: So me and my wife got a rude awakening yesterday when we found out our tax return was totally offset by my student loan debt around 2k. It was my mistake to let my loan go in the red to begin with, but i had since started the rehabilitation process and this left me confused as my loan is currently n rehabilitation through a 3rd party group, which had expressed in the program I had no worries about money being garnished or collected. I called the department of education who informed me they sent a letter I never receivedand said all they are required to do is send one letter or saw that said my account was authorized to have a tax offset, and that as long as my loan was still in the rehabiliation process im in month 6 the offset could still occur. She explained to me I have two options: injured spouse claim or a letter of hardship to the department of education.My question is what could ensure we get the full tax return back or as quick as possible? We are both below the poverty line and were counting on the tax return to pay upcoming insurance bills and now are in crisis mode not having the 2k that we had been acquired.  <response>: tax return Tax refund. Tax return is your forms for filing taxes.My question is what could ensure we get the full tax return back or as quick as possibleIt sounds like youre going to have to try the letter of hardship route.For 2017, you should also consider adjusting your tax withholding. If you were due a 2,000 refund, that means you lent the government 2,000 interest free during 2016. It sounds like you could have used that money in your paychecks. 