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Deferments and Forbearance Options

Deferments

If you are unable to repay a loan that is part of the federal education loan program, there are deferment options for which you may be eligible. A deferment allows you to stop making scheduled payments temporarily. If the loan is a subsidized Stafford/Direct loan, the federal government may pay the interest. If the loan is an unsubsidized Stafford/Direct loan, you can pay the interest or it will be capitalized back to the principal of the loan. You should notify your lender immediately upon realizing you are, or may be, having difficulty in repaying your student loan obligation.

Forbearance

If you are willing but unable to pay on your FFELP/FDL loan(s) and you do not qualify for a deferment, you can request forbearance. Forbearance is a temporary release from making loan payments, an extension of time for making payments, or a temporary reduction in payment amounts. Forbearance is less favorable than a deferment for your subsidized loan(s) because you are responsible for paying any interest that accrues on your loan during the forbearance period. You may pay the accruing interest, or add it to the loan principal (this is called "capitalizing") and pay it later when the forbearance ends. Remember, however, that capitalization means you will be paying interest on interest - the total cost of your loan repayment will be considerably higher.

To see if you qualify for any deferment or forbearance options, please answer the questions below:

  1. Are you enrolled in school?
  2. Are you a volunteer in the Peace Corp, ACTION Program, or Tax-Exempt Organization?
  3. Are you unemployed?
  4. Are you pregnant or are you a working mother?
  5. Are you in the military, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps, or Commissioned Corps of Public Health of the United States?
  6. Has the borrower or student died?
  7. Have you or your spouse or your dependent become disabled?
  8. Have you filed for bankruptcy?
  9. Has your school closed?
  10. Are you a teacher?
  11. Are you a childcare provider?
  12. None of the above.

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