Student Loan Help Options

Federal Student Aid’s current plan table shows different formulas and timelines; the older 20–30-year range is not universal. Subject to eligibility, PAYE uses 10% of discretionary income and a 20-year repayment period. IBR uses 10% or 15%, with a 20- or 25-year period depending on when you first borrowed. ICR uses the lesser of 20% of discretionary income or an income-adjusted 12-year fixed amount, with a 25-year period. RAP uses 1%–10% of adjusted gross income divided by 12, less $50 per claimed dependent (with a $10 minimum), and has a 30-year period.

Which plan is available can depend on federal loan type and disbursement dates. IBR, PAYE, and ICR generally require eligible loans disbursed before July 1, 2026; if all your loans were disbursed on or after that date, RAP is the only IDR plan. PAYE and ICR are scheduled to end no later than July 1, 2028. RAP is available to eligible Direct Loan borrowers; Parent PLUS loans are excluded. Under IDR, income and family-size information must generally be updated each year, though borrowers who authorize secure tax-data sharing may be recertified automatically. Interest benefits vary by plan, loan, and payment status: current guidance describes a three-year interest benefit on eligible subsidized loans under IBR and PAYE, and an unpaid-interest subsidy under RAP when the monthly payment is below accrued interest. These benefits are not universal across loans or plans.

Compare Federal Student Aid repayment plansCheck IDR eligibility and current termsReview RAP payment and interest detailsReview IBR payment and interest detailsReview PAYE payment and interest details

PSLF may discharge a remaining Direct Loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments while you meet the program’s employment and other requirements. Whether your employer, loans, and payments qualify is determined under the program rules.

Check PSLF requirements and employer eligibility

Eligible full-time teachers may qualify after five complete, consecutive academic years at a qualifying low-income school or educational service agency. Loan type, teaching service, and other program conditions matter.

Review Teacher Loan Forgiveness rules

Borrowers who meet the federal definition of total and permanent disability may qualify for discharge of eligible Direct, FFEL, or Perkins loans. Some borrowers may qualify automatically; others need to apply and provide documentation.

Check TPD discharge eligibility and apply

To rehabilitate a defaulted Direct or FFEL loan, borrowers generally agree to make nine voluntary, reasonable, affordable monthly payments within 20 days of the due date. The nine payments must fall within 9 or 10 consecutive months, depending on the loan. For a Perkins loan, the borrower must make a full monthly payment within 20 days of each due date for nine consecutive months. The loan holder sets the required payment. Under a standard agreement, the formula may be 10% or 15% of annual discretionary income divided by 12, depending on when the loan was received; 15% is not universal.

Review current federal default and rehabilitation steps

These may temporarily postpone or reduce payments in qualifying situations. Loan type and status affect eligibility, and interest may continue to accrue. Ask your federal servicer which option applies before pausing payments.

Compare federal temporary-relief options

NFCC is a nonprofit network that connects borrowers with certified credit counselors. Its student-loan guidance describes help reviewing income, expenses, and budget priorities; checking credit reports; weighing debt strategies; and discussing creditor hardship options. Counselors can also discuss private student loans, consolidation, and cancellation or forgiveness questions. NFCC says you do not need to be behind on payments to seek help.

NFCC offers free online student-loan repayment guidance, and says most member agencies offer free credit counseling. Fees may apply to other services such as a debt management plan; ask the agency about any cost before agreeing to a service.

Use NFCC student-loan guidance or connect with a counselorRead NFCC’s counseling services and who can use themCheck NFCC member counseling fees

Sallie Mae Bank makes Sallie Mae private student loans, and Sallie Mae says it services private student loans rather than federal loans. It is a commercial provider, not a government program or nonprofit. Options depend on the loan and borrower’s account status.

Confirm which loans Sallie Mae services

Published materials list in-school payment assistance for customers with scheduled payments. For eligible loans, the Graduated Repayment Period (GRP) allows 12 billing periods of interest-only payments after principal-and-interest repayment begins. A borrower must request it while the loan is current, during the six billing periods before or 12 billing periods after that repayment begins. The loan term does not extend, but total loan cost and later monthly payments increase.

See Sallie Mae’s published repayment assistance overviewCheck GRP eligibility and request window

Sallie Mae’s repayment guidance discusses forbearance for borrowers having difficulty and advises treating it as a last resort because interest continues on private loans during the pause. For delinquent customers, its FAQ lists a loan modification that may lower the monthly amount by reducing the interest rate and possibly extending the term; Payment Extension after three consecutive payments at least equal to the Current Amount Due; and a six-month interest-only Reduced Payment Plan. Availability depends on an account review and loan terms.

Review delinquency and repayment assistance termsRead Sallie Mae’s forbearance and interest guidance

An auto-debit rate reduction of 0.25 percentage point is described for eligible borrowers or cosigners who enroll and make the required payment by automatic withdrawal during active repayment. The benefit may be suspended during deferment or forbearance. It is not a promise of net savings; compare the full loan cost and account terms.

Check current auto-debit discount terms