Deferment and Forbearance
The following deferment and forbearance options are available to Federal Stafford-, PLUS- and Consolidation-loan borrowers whose loans were issued since July 1, 1993. Different deferment options apply to borrowers with loans issued prior to July 1, 1993. If you have a loan issued prior to July 1, 1993, contact your lender or loan servicer for details.
Economic-Hardship Deferment| Education-Related Deferment| In-School Deferment| Military Deferment| Unemployment Deferment| Forbearance
Deferment
Economic Hardship
Who Qualifies
You must meet one of the following criteria:
- You are receiving federal or state public-assistance payments.
- You are working full time and earning less than the federal minimum wage or 1.5 times the poverty level for the number of members in your family.
- You are working full time, have total federal education-loan payments that equal at least 20 percent of your monthly income, and your monthly income minus your student-loan payment is less than the larger of 2.2 times the monthly federal minimum wage or 1.5 times the poverty level for the number of members in your family.
- You are working less than full time or not working, your monthly income is no more than the larger of two times the federal minimum wage or 1.5 times the poverty level for the number of members in your family, and your monthly income minus your student-loan payment is no more than the monthly federal minimum wage or 1.5 times the poverty level for the number of members in your family.
- You are serving as a Peace Corps volunteer.
- You have been granted economic-hardship deferment on another federal education loan.
What to File
You must file an Economic Hardship Deferment Request form and supporting documentation with your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Period of Deferment
Three years.
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Education-Related
Who Qualifies
You must be studying full time in a graduate-fellowship program or you must be receiving rehabilitation-training services.
What to File
You must file an Education-Related Deferment Request form and supporting documentation with your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Deferment Period
Unlimited, as long as participating in graduate fellowship or rehabilitation training.
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In-School
Who Qualifies
You, or the dependent undergraduate for whom you borrowed a PLUS loan, must be attending an eligible postsecondary institution at least half time.
What to File
May be granted based on enrollment-verification information received from your school, or you may file an In-School Deferment Request form with your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Deferment Period
Unlimited, as long as attending at least half time.
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Military Service
Who Qualifies
You must meet one of the following criteria:
- You are serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency.
- You are performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency.
What to File
You must provide documentation requested by your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Deferment Period
Unlimited, as long as you are performing qualifying military service. Deferment also is available for 180 days following demobilization.
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Unemployment
Who Qualifies
You must be actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment in the United States.
What to File
You must provide evidence of eligibility for unemployment benefits or file an Unemployment Deferment Request form and supporting documentation with your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Period of Deferment
Three years.
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Forbearance
Who Qualifies
In most cases, you must be experiencing financial hardship and must be unable to make your monthly loan payments. You typically must receive authorization from your lender
or loan servicer.
What to File
Request forbearance from and provide supporting documentation to your lender or loan servicer.
Maximum Forbearance Period
Typically, up to one year for each request.
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