If your federal student loan payments are high compared to your income, you may want to repay your loans under an income-driven repayment plan. 
Most federal student loans are eligible for at least one income - driven repayment plan. If your income is low enough , your payment could be as low as $0 per month. An income - driven repayment plan sets your monthly student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. We offer four income - driven repayment plans : Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan REPAYE Plan Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan PAYE Plan Income - Based Repayment Plan IBR Plan Income - Contingent Repayment Plan ICR Plan If you d like to repay your federal student loans under an income - driven plan , you need to fill out an application. Why pay for help with your federal student loans when your loan servicer will help you for FREE? Contact your servicer to apply for income - driven repayment plans, student loan forgiveness, and more. Learn more about loan servicers. If you're seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness , you should repay your federal student loans under an income - driven repayment plan. Try This Resource Federal Student Loans : Repaying Your Loans Provides information about federal student loan repayment plan options, finding loan history and loan servicers, and making payments. 

How is my monthly payment amount calculated under an income-driven repayment plan? 
Generally , your payment amount under an income - driven repayment plan is a percentage of your discretionary income. The percentage is different depending on the plan. The chart below shows how payment amounts are determined under each income - driven plan. Depending on your income and family size , you may have no monthly payment at all. * For the IBR Plan , you're considered a new borrower on or after July 1 , 2014, if you had no outstanding balance on a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program loan or Federal 

user: I need help with understanding annual re-certification requirements on income and family size.

assistant: I can help you with that. It's very important that you re-certify your income and family size by the given annual deadline.

assistant: Have you recertified your income by the deadline?

user: Yes, I have.

assistant: Excellent. Those who don't re-certify would be subject to varying consequences depending on their plan.

user: What does applying for an income-driven repayment plan allow me to do?

assistant: Completing the application allows you to select an income-driven repayment plan by name or  request that your loan servicer determine what plan you qualify for. The loan servicer would then place you on the plan with the lowest monthly payment.

user: What if I have an outstanding balance on a Direct Loan?

assistant: If you have an outstanding balance on a Direct Loan or FFEL program loan when you received a loan on or after Oct. 1st 2007, you will not qualify for the PAYE plan.

user: How do REPAYE and ICR plans work?

assistant: Under these plans, your payment is always based on your income and family size, regardless of income changes. For example, if your income increases over time, your payment may be higher than the amount you would have to pay under the 10 year Standard Repayment Plan.