Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on student loan processors to ramp up hiring and prepare for the influx of borrowers seeking help applying for relief.

Last week, President Joe Biden outlined a plan that would forgive $10,000 to $20,000 of student loan debt for millions of Americans. With the application process set to begin in October, Schumer said at a press conference Sunday that loan processors' current customer service capacity is not sufficient to take on the incoming demand.

"They made money on this deal, now they got to make sure they protect the students they're supposed to protect, plain and simple," Schumer said. "We need our student loan processors to get with it and inform students how to do this."

"Right now, because of the overwhelming interest you call up these loan processors and either no one answers or you have to wait on the phone three, four hours, and a lot of them don't know the answers," New York's senior senator added.

He also called on the federal Department of Education to encourage processors to hire and train workers, noting the department had agreed to provide more funding for the companies to do just that.

Schumer estimated half of New York's 2.25 million student borrowers would see their debt completely wiped out.

For those still left with debt, Schumer said he would pursue even further relief. Currently, New Yorkers owe $93 billion in student debt, he said.

"College used to be a ladder up, but student debt has become an anchor around the ankles of our students. The amount of debt is just overwhelming, and it's just unfair to these students," Schumer said. "Do I want to do more? Am I going to keep fighting for more? Absolutely. I'd ask for $50,000."

He also pointed out that under new federal Department of Education rules, borrowers can apply for a repayment plan that would cap monthly payments at 5% of income, down from 10% currently.

Schumer invited two advocates with student debt to speak at the press conference to offer their perspective on the debt relief plan.

"It gives me a lot of hope," said Darrell Holman, a 29-year-old living in Manhattan who took on $97,000 in debt attending college in Michigan. "It's a huge step in the right direction."