<prompt> Human: My 55 yo cousin passed away several years ago with about 30k in unpaid student debt held by Navient. His mother originally cosigned for his loan. I found out she had kept up with the monthly payments on the loan since his death in 2013. Navient was unwilling to modify the loan even after speaking with several of their operators last year.She lives on 800mo social security and I told her to stop paying on the loans, 8 months ago. The loans are now in default and a Navient collections agency is calling her. The good news is theyre willing to negotiate. My question, what recourse is there on the Navient collections on a 94 yo woman if she simply does not pay? If she makes a modified payment and passes away, what happens to the unpaid balance? The Navient collections agent wouldnt answer my question.Assistant: These loans are considered private and are not federal student loans. They cannot garnish her Social Security. She has no assets outside of her home, which she does own.I dont understand, if someone has 20k in credit card debt and they pass away, the credit card company doesnt sue the estate for the balance. It is a WRITE OFF. If this is private debt, why wouldnt that be the same situation?FOLLOW UP QUESTION... Navient has offered two options, whether theyre legitimate I dont know, nothings been offered in writing... a lump sum payoff amount that is a 70 reduction in the loan balance, or a monthly payment plan with a small upfront payment then80mo. If she begin payments, I would say time is on her side.And yes I agree, DO NOT CO-SIGN FOR ANY LOANS.  <response>: I dont understand, if someone has 20k in credit card debt and they pass away, the credit card company doesnt sue the estate for the balance. It is a WRITE OFF.This is wrong. The CC company absolutely will go after the estate. It just so happens that most people with 20k CC debt have no estate to speak of. But if a wealthy person ran up a 20k bill on the card before having a massive heart attack, the card will definitely recoup the 20k from the estate. She has no assets outside of her home, which she does own.Depending on the value of the home, it may be worthwhile to try to settle the debt, especially if you can get them to accept a lower amount than the principal. Your grandma likely doesnt care about the derogatory mark on the credit report for setting for a lower amount, but the creditor will recover the full amount if the debt is not settled before she passes. 