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: I'd like to suspend my student loan payments, but I don't know if or how I can.

assistant: Of course. We'll help you stay on the path to successful repayment of your federal student loan.

user: Great. Can you tell me more about deferment and forbearance, for starters?

assistant: Yes. You can learn more about deferment and forbearance on our website.

user: Alright, then I guess I'll check there. What options do I have if I had a decrease in income?

assistant: You can apply to have your current IDR plan recalculated. You don't have to wait until your annual recertification is due.

user: I see. Is there a way to get temporary relief?

assistant: A deferment or forbearance allows you to temporarily stop making your federal student loan payments or temporarily reduce your monthly payment amount. This may help you avoid default.

user: Can you also tell me why I should apply for an income-driven plan?

assistant: Yes. 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.

assistant: Do you want to know what to do after you apply?