If you do not qualify for a deferment but are having difficulty repaying your scheduled federal student loan payments, your loan holder or servicer may grant you a forbearance. A forbearance is a period of time when your payments on your federal student loan(s) are reduced or temporarily postponed. For more information about forbearance eligibility, contact your loan holder or servicer(s).

 

Interest

You are responsible for paying all interest on Federal Perkins Loans, Direct Subsidized Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Federal PLUS Loans, which accrues during a forbearance. Please note, if you do NOT make interest payments while in a forbearance, the accrued interest will be added to your principal balance when your forbearance ends, increasing your total debt.

 

Requesting Forbearance

  • Contact your loan holder or servicer(s). You should use the National Student Loan Data System to determine the servicer(s) of your loan(s) and your total debt if you do not know this information. You will need your FSA ID to access your NSLDS records. You may also retrieve this information by calling 800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
  • Provide all required documentation.
  • Keep a copy of your forbearance request and documentation, and follow up with your loan holder until your forbearance is granted or denied.
  • Do NOT stop making payments until you receive notice from your loan holder or servicer that your forbearance is granted.
  • Know when your forbearance is scheduled to end and the date you must begin making payments again.