My fiancé has over $180k in school loans she was stuck with after a bad marriage and divorce. They have been consolidated and 1/3 are Fed Sub and the other 2/3 unsub. She is a social worker, now 50 and makes under $50/yr. Is our only hope paying extra to principle each month? At this rate it will be 20 yr payoff. Would she be better defaulting on the portion she can prove was for living vs education expense?

I don't believe they care how the money was spent?

Defaulting is never a good idea if it can be avoided.