I Need to Lower or Suspend My Student Loan Payments 
We ll help you stay on the path to successful repayment of your federal student loan. Whether you are just beginning to repay your student loan s or have been in repayment for a while , sometimes you might have trouble affording your payment amount. Fortunately , there are solutions. 

Automatic Suspension of Monthly Payments as a Result of the COVID-19 National Emergency 
To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency , federal student loan borrowers are automatically being placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payments. This suspension of payments will last from March 13 , 2020, through Sept. 30 , 2020 , but you can still make payments if you choose. Have questions? Find out what loans qualify and get additional information about this forbearance and other student loan flexibilities due to the COVID-19 national emergency. 

Apply for an Income-Driven Repayment Plan 
An income - driven repayment IDR plan can make your payments more affordable because they are based on your income. Under an IDR plan , payments may be as low as $0 per month. You can estimate your monthly payments using Loan Simulator. After you apply , your federal loan servicer will notify you regarding your eligibility and, if you qualify, the payment amount. Apply for an IDR Plan 

Recertify or Change Your Income-Driven Repayment Plan 


Recertify Your Income-Driven Repayment Plan 
Enrollment in an income - driven repayment plan is good for one year. Before the year is over , you need to recertify your income and family size to stay on the plan. Your federal loan servicer will notify you when it is time to recertify. If you can t afford your current income - driven payments because you ve had a drop in income , you can recertify early to have your new income taken into account right away. It s important to recertify every year! If you don t rec

user: Hi, I have come on hard times and am battling to pay my student loan. Is there a way I could lower my payments for a time?

assistant: Yes there is a way  you can make lower payment, we will help you successfully repay your loan.

user: If I qualify and apply for an Income-Driven Repayment Plan and am successful with my application, what happens after I apply?

assistant: Once you have applied your federal loan servicer will let you know regarding your eligibility and, if you qualify, what you loan payment amount will be.

user: I have an Income-Driven Repayment Plan but my income has decreased again what can I do?

assistant: If you income has dropped again you can recertify to have your new income taken into account.

user: Do I have to recertify every year for my Income-Driven Repayment Plan?

assistant: Yes it is important that you recertify every year.

user: I have lost my part time job as a result of COVID-19 and am unable to make my payments on my student loan. Can I get help with this?

assistant: Am I correct then in assuming that you will not be able to make any sort of payment on your loan?

user: Yes that is correct.

assistant: As a result of the COVID-19 national emergency all federal student loan borrowers are automatically being place in an administrative forbearance, which allows students to temporarily stop making their monthly loan payments. This suspension of payments will be from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020.