If you are unable to make your student loan payments, first check to see if there are any forbearance programs in place or consider cutting expenses to see if you can cover the bill. If you are still unable to, contact your loan servicer, explain the situation and work with them to adjust your payment schedule. Though you won't go to jail for defaulting on student loans, borrowers could switch to a better income-driven repayment plan or could consolidate their loans to reduce the amount they have to pay per month.