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: Hello, I need to know if I can somehow lower my student loan payments. Times are tough.

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

user: That's reassuring. But what if I don't recertify on time?

assistant: In that case you'll be removed from the income-driven repayment plan and your monthly amount due will very likely increase.

user: Well, I don't want that. What can you tell me about the process of recertification?

assistant: Do you want to recertify your income-driven repayment plan?

user: Yes, please tell me more about that.

assistant: 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.

assistant: Can you NOT afford your current income-driven payments because you've had a drop in income?

user: Yes, unfortunately.

assistant: Then you can recertify early to have your new income taken into account right away.

user: I see. How do I provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency?

assistant: 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.