Under certain circumstances, you can receive periods of deferment or forbearance that allow you to postpone loan repayment. These periods don’t count toward the length of time you have to repay your loan. You can’t get a deferment or forbearance for a loan that is already in default.
A deferment is a period of time during which no payments are required. To qualify for a deferment, you must meet specific eligibility requirements. Interest does not accrue (accumulate) on subsidized Stafford Loans during a deferment period, but you are responsible for paying the interest that accrues during a deferment on unsubsidized Stafford Loans. If you don’t pay the interest that accrues on an unsubsidized Stafford Loan during a deferment period, it will be capitalized (added to the loan principal balance) at the end of the deferment.
The most common loan deferment conditions are enrollment in school at least half-time, inability to find full-time employment (for up to three years), economic hardship (for up to three years) and and military service (see below).
Yes. Generally, the same deferment provisions that apply to Stafford Loans apply to PLUS Loans. Because PLUS Loans are unsubsidized, parents and graduate and professional degree students will be charged interest during periods of deferment. If they don’t pay the interest as it accrues, it will be capitalized (added to their outstanding principal balance). PLUS borrowers may defer repayment while the student is enrolled at least half-time.
An active duty military deferment is available to borrowers in the FFEL, Direct Loan and Perkins Loan programs who are called to active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency. This deferment is available while the borrower is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency, or performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency, and, if the borrower was serving on or after Oct. 1, 2007, for an additional 180-day period following the demobilization date for the qualifying service.
A borrower who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces (current or retired) and is called or ordered to active duty while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school or within 6 months of having been enrolled at least half-time is eligible for a deferment during the 13 months following the conclusion of the active duty service, or until the borrower returns to enrolled student status on at least a half-time basis, whichever is earlier.
Yes. Generally, the same deferment provisions that apply to Stafford Loans apply to PLUS Loans. Because PLUS Loans are unsubsidized, parents and graduate and professional degree students will be charged interest during periods of deferment. If they don’t pay the interest as it accrues, it will be capitalized (added to their outstanding principal balance). Parent PLUS borrowers may defer repayment of PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, while the student for whom the loan was obtained is enrolled at least half-time, and for an additional six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
The Loan Deferment Summary Chart below shows Stafford and Perkins Loan deferments for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 1993. For information on deferments for loans received before that date, Direct Stafford and PLUS Loan borrowers should contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1-800-848-0979. TTY users should call 1-800-848-0983. Or, go online at www.dl.ed.gov. FFEL Stafford and PLUS Loan borrowers should contact their lender. For more information on deferments, contact your lender or the financial aid office at your school.
If you are temporarily unable to make your monthly loan payments (for example, due to illness or financial hardship) but you do not meet the eligibility requirements for a deferment, your lender may grant you forbearance for a limited and specific period of time. Forbearance allows you to temporarily postpone or reduce your student loan payments. Interest continues to accrue (accumulate), however, and you are responsible for paying it, no matter what kind of loan you have.
In some cases, your loan holder is required to grant forbearance if you meet certain requirements. For example, your loan holder must grant forbearance if you:
- are in a medical or dental internship or residency;
- have student loan payments that are 20 percent or more of your monthly income;
- have payments being made for you by the Department of Defense.
You must request forbearance and in some cases must provide documentation showing that you meet the eligibility requirements.
Contact your lender or loan servicing agency for more information.
Loan deferment Summary chart
|
Stafford Loans |
Perkins Loans |
| Deferment Condition |
Direct Loansa,b |
FFEL Loansa,c |
|
| At least half-time study at a postsecondary school |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Study in an approved graduate fellowship program or in an approved rehabilitation training program for the disabled |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Unable to find full-time employment |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
| Economic hardship (includes Peace Corps Service) |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
| Engages in service listed under discharge/cancellation conditions |
NO |
NO |
YES c |
| Active Military Duty while borrower is on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency and if the borrower was serving on or after Oct. 1, 2007, for an additional 180-day period following the demobilization date for the qualifying service |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| For a borrower who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces (current or retired) and is called or ordered to active duty while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school or within 6 months of having been enrolled at least half-time, during the 13 months following the conclusion of the active duty service, or until the borrower returns to enrolled student status on at least a half-time basis, whichever is earlier |
YES |
YES |
YES |
a For PLUS Loans and unsubsidized Stafford Loans, only principal is deferred. Interest continues to accrue.
b A Direct Loan borrower who had an outstanding balance on a FFEL Loan first disbursed before July 1, 1993, when the borrower received his or her first Direct Loan, is eligible for additional deferments.
c More information on teaching and other types of service deferments and cancellations can be found online at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. At the site, click on "Students, Parents and Counselors."
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You MUST continue making payments on your student loan until you have been notified that your request for deferment has been granted. If you don’t, and your deferment is not approved, you will become delinquent and may default on your loan.
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Receiving deferment or forbearance is not automatic. You or your parents must apply for it.
- Federal Perkins Loans—Contact the school that made your loan or the school’s servicing agent.
- Direct Loans (includes Direct PLUS Loans)—Contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at: 1-800-848-0979. TTY users should call 1-800-848-0983 or go to: www.dl.ed.gov.
- FFEL Loans— Contact the lender or agency holding your loan.
You are responsible for paying the interest that accrues (accumulates) during a period of forbearance on any type of loan, whether subsidized or unsubsidized.
NOTE: Receiving deferment or forbearance is not automatic, you must apply for it.
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