A major deadline for certain federal student loans is only two weeks away, and failing to act could be a costly mistake for hundreds of thousands of borrowers. But many of them may not even be aware that they have to take action. Here’s what student loan borrowers should know about the upcoming consolidation deadline, and what’s at stake.

A student loan borrower legal organization is urging certain borrowers to take immediate action or they may lose access to key repayment plans and loan forgiveness paths as Congress moves forward with major legislative changes.