Heya. Not to be a negative nancy... I worked for a company that gathered information on deceased and incarcerated individuals who still owed Student Loans via the Department of Education. ...as far as I know - Dying and being in Prison (the later which only freezes it) are the only way(s) to "get out" of a student loan. At least, as far as the DoE is concerned. It has, though, been a few years... but I'm pretty sure you're not going to be done with this for quite some time, even if you think you are. Good luck during tax time and any income coming in :/
(Yes, they can/will garnish wages - again, though... been a few years)
The Brunner Test. You can also be in a persistent vegetative state. I think the age of this guy's loans is the reason the government hasn't ruined his life.