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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 and interest does not accrue (accumulate), unless you have an unsubsidized Stafford Loan. In that case, you must pay the interest.
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) and economic hardship (for up to three years).
Yes, as long as the loan isn’t in Default.* 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).
An active duty military deferment is available for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2001. The deferment may not exceed three years and is available only for periods when the borrower is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation, or national emergency or is performing qualifying National Guard duty under the same circumstances. Therefore, not all active duty military personnel are eligible for this new deferment.
Documentation for this deferment may include a copy of military orders or a written statement from the commanding officer or personnel officer verifying that you are on active duty under these circumstances.
Payments you made during a period that is now considered to have been covered by a military deferment cannot be refunded to you.
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 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 borrowers should contact their lender.
For more information on deferments, contact your lender or the financial aid office at your school.
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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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| Loan Deferment Summary Chart
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| Deferment Condition |
Stafford Loans |
Perkins Loans |
| 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 |
YESd |
| Active Military Duty (for loans first disbursed on/after July 1, 2001; while borrower is on active duty during a war or other military operation, or national emergency) |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
Up to 3 Years |
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 Applies to loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1993, to a borrower who has no outstanding FFEL or Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (Federal SLS) loan on the date he or she signed the Promissory Note.* (Note that the Federal SLS Program was repealed beginning with the 1994-95 award year.) Different deferments are available for borrowers with pre-July 1, 1993 loans.
d More information on teaching service deferments and cancellations can be found online at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. At the site, click on the “Students, Parents and Counselors” tab.
If you temporarily can’t meet your repayment schedule but you’re not eligible for a deferment, your lender might grant you forbearance for a limited and specific period of time. Forbearance occurs when your lender or loan-servicing agency agrees to either temporarily reduce or postpone 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.
Generally, your lender can grant forbearance for periods up to 12 months at a time, for a maximum of three years. You’ll have to provide documentation to the lender to show why you should be granted forbearance. The lender must send you a notice confirming the terms that were agreed to and record them in your file.
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 (includes FFEL PLUS Loans)—Contact the lender or agency holding your loan.
Regardless of which type of federal student loan you have, you must pay the interest that accrues (accumulates) during any period of forbearance.
Yes. There are certain mandatory forbearances. Examples include borrowers who:
- are in a medical or dental internship or residency;
- have student loan payments that are 20 percent or more of their monthly income;
- have payments being made for them by the Department of Defense.
Contact your lender or loan-servicing agent for more information on the mandatory forbearance benefit.
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