Student loan deferment allows you to temporarily stop making payments. 
Find out if a deferment is the best option for your situation. With deferment , you won t have to make a payment. However , you probably won t be making any progress toward forgiveness or paying back your loan. As an alternative , consider income - driven repayment. 

Get Relief With Lower Payments on an Income-Driven Repayment Plan 
If you re having trouble repaying your loans due to circumstances that may continue for an extended period, or if you re unsure when you ll be able to afford to make your monthly loan payments again , a better option might be to consider changing to an income - driven repayment plan. Income - driven repayment plans base your monthly payments on your income and family size. In some cases , your payment could be as low as $0 per month. Income - driven plans can also provide loan forgiveness if your loan isn t paid in full after 20 or 25 years. Always contact your student loan servicer immediately if you re having trouble making your student loan payments. If you re seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness PSLF or income - driven repayment forgiveness , in most cases deferment will not allow you to make progress toward forgiveness. 

Be Aware That Interest Might Accrue During Deferment 
If you re granted a deferment , you might still be responsible for paying the interest that accrues during the deferment period. The table below shows when you are responsible for paying the interest and when you are not responsible based on loan type. When you are responsible for paying the interest on your loans during a deferment , you can either pay the interest as it accrues , or you can allow it to accrue and be capitalized added to your loan principal balance at the end of the deferment period. If you don t pay the interest on your loan and allow it to be capitalized , the total amount you repay over the life of your loan may be higher. Unpaid interest is capitalized only on Dir

user: What loan types can get deferments?

assistant: If you have a Direct Loan, FFEL Program loan, or a Perkins Loan you can apply for a deferment.

assistant: Did you receive a Perkins Loan?

user: Yes, I have a Perkins Loan.

assistant: Then you are also eligible for a deferment while you are working toward cancellation on your Perkins Loans.  

user: What will happen if I stop paying while my deferment is not approved?

assistant: You loan will be considered delinquent and you might go into default.

user: Will I be responsible for paying the interest while on deferment?

assistant: Yes, you might still be responsible for paying the interest that accrues during the deferment and you can look at the tables below to show when you are responsible for the interest based on loan type.

user: Do I need to complete the Parent PLUS Borrower Deferment Request?

assistant: Yes, you would need to since you are the parent requesting the deferment.

user: Could I be qualified for a Rehabilitation Training Deferment?

assistant: You may qualify for the Rehabilitation Training Deferment if you are enrolled in an approved rehabilitation training program that provides vocational, drug abuse, mental health, or alcohol abuse rehabilitation treatment.