The federal government began accepting applications for student loan forgiveness, but a federal appeals court temporarily blocked plans to cancel billions of dollars in college debt.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay to block any student debt waivers under the program until the court rules on a lawsuit filed by six states, which asked for an injunction while they appeal a federal judge’s decision to throw out their lawsuit.

Students can still apply for college debt relief at studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application. But a message on the site on Saturday said “Application is open, but debt discharge is paused.”

The waiver program, announced in August, will forgive up to $10,000 in federal loans to borrowers who meet the income limits. The amount potentially eligible for forgiveness rises to $20,000 for borrowers who meet the income limits and received a Pell Grant.

About a third of PNW students received a Pell Grant last year.

To qualify for federal student loan forgiveness, your adjusted gross income must have been less than $125,000 in 2020 or 2021 as a single tax filer, or less than $250,000 as a couple.

Debt relief will be offered automatically to you if you’ve already reported your income to the Department of Education. If not, you must submit an application form.

The online form asks for little information. It requires only for the name that appears on your loan records, Social Security number, date of birth, phone number and email address. It also asks you to attest, under penalty of perjury, that you meet the program’s income limits.

Department officials say the form is so simple that it can be filled out on a smartphone in a few minutes.

If your parents claimed you as a dependent on their federal income tax form, their income, not yours, may determine whether you’re eligible for the one-time relief.

The forgiveness applies only to loans issued or held by the federal government. It doesn’t include loans issued or held by private lenders.

No one is required to accept the loan forgiveness, which would be considered taxable income in some states. If you qualify automatically for relief, the department said, it will email you to confirm that you want to accept it before forgiving the applicable amount of your debt.

While the debt reduction is not taxable as income by the federal government, it may be taxed in some states.