Do Your Student Loans Qualify for Repayment Plans That Could Lower Monthly Payments?

Repaying student loans is hard. Really hard. More than eight million of us are defaulting on our student loans. And it’s not because we’re lazy, it’s because we’re not getting the information we need.

Not enough student loan borrowers know about the benefits of programs like income-driven repayment programs or public service loan forgiveness. That’s why we are joining the White House in asking employers, schools, and organizations to take the student debt challenge and make sure all of their employees and members know about these great programs. And we need your help!

Take the student debt challenge and get more info on it here.

WHAT IS AN INCOME-DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLAN?

Currently, there are several Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) programs available to reduce borrowers’ monthly federal student loan payments to an amount that is affordable based on your income, as well as programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. With these programs, paying off your loans can be much more affordable. Help your peers, co-workers, employees, families, and friends find out what repayment and forgiveness programs they may be eligible for.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I QUALIFY?

• Find out what types of student loans you have by logging into the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at nslds.ed.gov.
• Review our downloadable resources about the many different loans, repayment programs, and loan forgiveness options that may be available.
• Find out if you are eligible for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. Most federal student loans are eligible for at least one of several Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) programs available to reduce borrowers’ monthly payment amounts based on income. These programs include: Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE Plan), Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE Plan), Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan), and Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR Plan).
• Find out if you are eligible for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program or the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program.
  

  » Use our resources or visit StudentAid.gov to help guide you in your decision to choosing the best repayment or forgiveness plan available to you.

• Take advantage of the programs available to you! To apply for an Income-Driven Repayment Plan, you must submit an application called the Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request. You can submit the application online at StudentLoans.gov or on a paper form, which you can get from your loan servicer. The application allows you to select an income-driven repayment plan by name, or to request that your loan servicer determine what income-driven plan or plans you qualify for, and then place you on the income-driven plan with the lowest monthly payment amount. Contact your loan servicer if you have any questions. Your servicer will determine which plans you qualify for, and help you decide and enroll in a plan that is right for you.