The US Supreme Court will hear arguments next month about whether President Biden has the authority to forgive up to $20,000 in student debt for millions of borrowers. Part of the Biden administration's legal argument rests on the claim that borrowers as a group were made worse off financially by the pandemic. Urban Institute's analysis indicates that most borrowers are currently in a similar or stronger financial position than they were in 2019, but there are warning signs that many borrowers will be in a weaker position once the payment pause ends. Key findings from this report include: (1) Most borrowers said they were doing at least as well financially in 2021 as they were before the pandemic; (2) Credit records also show financial improvement; and (3) The role of the payment pause is unclear, as is what will happen when payments resume.