Deferment
If you are unemployed, facing certain economic hardships, serving on active duty in the military or returning to school for additional studies, you may qualify for a deferment. Borrowers who meet the qualifications and submit the required documentation are entitled to defer principal payments, in the case of unemployment or economic hardship, for up to a total of three years during the term of their loans. There is no maximum time limit for an in-school deferment. Contact your lender or servicer for more information about deferment. You can download deferment forms from this site. Because deferment options vary by the date you first took out a federal education loan and by the type of loan, you need to carefully read the deferment form to see if you qualify.

Forbearance
If you don't meet the standards for deferment but still need payment relief, you may appeal to your lender or servicer for forbearance. Forbearance permits a borrower to reduce or postpone payments or extend the time for making payments, usually at the discretion of the lender. Forbearance requests typically are granted for a period of up to 12 months. Apply through your lender or servicer.

Loan consolidation
By consolidating your education loans into a single monthly payment, you may be able to reduce your monthly payment by extending the repayment period. The maximum repayment term depends on your total outstanding federal education debt. Discuss loan consolidation with your lender or servicer.

Other repayment options
You may be able to obtain an affordable monthly payment by selecting one of the flexible repayment options, including graduated, extended or income-sensitive. Call your lender or servicer and ask about these repayment options.