If you are filling out the FAFSA form online or on the myStudentAid app , you will be asked whether you are able to provide information about your parents. If you are not , you will have the option to indicate that you have special circumstances that make you unable to get your parents information. You will then be able to submit your application without entering data about your parents.


However , it is important for you to understand the following : Although your FAFSA form will be submitted , it will not be fully processed. You will not receive an Expected Family Contribution EFC and must immediately contact the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend. The financial aid staff may ask for additional information to determine whether you can be considered independent and have an EFC calculated without parent data. Gather as much written evidence of your situation as you can. Written evidence may include court or law enforcement documents; letters from a clergy member, school counselor or social worker; and/or any other relevant data that explains your special circumstance. The financial aid office s decision about your dependency status is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.


What if my parents are unwilling to provide their information on my FAFSA form?


You can t be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with the FAFSA form. Still , we do understand that in some cases, the parents are not supporting the dependent student at all and refuse to provide their information on the student s application. If you re in that situation , here s the process for filling out the FAFSA form online or on the myStudentAid app : When the FAFSA form asks you to provide information about your parents , select the I am unable to provide information about my parent option. If you are using the myStudentAid app, you will need to select the Learn more link when you get to the point in the app where it tells you that it looks like parent information is required to calculate your EFC. You will then be provided with an explanation of what s considered a special circumstance. After reading through the options , select the one that says you don t have a special circumstance but you still can t provide parent information. If you are using the myStudentAid app, you will need to select the option indicating that you d like to be considered for an unsubsidized loan. The application explains that if your parents don t support you and refuse to provide their information on the application, you may submit your FAFSA form without their information. However , you won t be able to get any federal student aid other than an unsubsidized loan and even that might not happen. The decision is up to the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend. If you agree to this , you may submit your FAFSA form without parent information. Your FAFSA information will be sent to the colleges you list , but you won t get an EFC. You must immediately contact your school s financial aid office to discuss the possibility of getting an unsubsidized loan. The financial aid office may ask for a written statement from your parents, indicating that they refuse to provide their information on the FAFSA form and that they no longer support you. Forms of support include allowing you to live in their home, including you on their car or health insurance, providing a car to drive on a regular basis, and payment of your tuition or fees. The financial aid office will look at your situation and decide whether you may receive an unsubsidized loan. That decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.


If you re considering following this process, think about this first : If you submit your FAFSA form without parent information, you will not receive an EFC. Some state- or school - based aid programs look at the EFC in order to determine your eligibility for their funds ; because you won t have an EFC, you won t be considered for those aid programs. You could be giving up a chance at many sources of aid. So encourage your parents to provide their information doing so won t require them to support you in any way , it ll just help you be considered for as many sources of financial aid as possible.


What if my parents are concerned about providing their information because of their citizenship status?


Your parents citizenship status does not affect your eligibility for federal student aid. In fact , the FAFSA form doesn t even ask about your parents status.


How should we report information about my noncitizen parents on my FAFSA form?


Here are some tips for students with noncitizen parents : If your parent does not have a Social Security number SSN , you should enter all zeroes for him or her on the FAFSA form where it asks for that information. Do NOT enter a Taxpayer Identification Number in the SSN field. If your parent doesn t have an SSN , he or she won t be able to create an FSA ID which requires an SSN and therefore won t be able to sign your FAFSA form electronically either online or via the myStudentAid app. From the online form you can t print a signature page from the app , you ll need to select the option to print a signature page when you get to the end of the application. Print the page, have your parent sign it, and then mail it to the address indicated so that your FAFSA form can be processed. If your parent doesn't live in the U.S. , select " Foreign Country " from the dropdown box for the question that asks about the parents' state of legal residence. If your parents live and file taxes in a foreign country and don t file U.S. taxes , you ll have the opportunity to indicate that they have filed their taxes. Then , when the FAFSA form asks whether your parents filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return , you should select Yes. " Convert the amounts on the foreign tax return into U.S. dollars as directed by the FAFSA help and hints. If your parents live in one of the Freely Associated States , they should enter the Amount of Wages Earned from their Freely Associated States tax form in the field where the FAFSA form asks for adjusted gross income. If your parent doesn t file taxes at all , select Not going to file " for the question that asks whether the parent have filed taxes. Then you ll be asked for information about how much your parent earned from work, rather than being asked for information about specific items on the tax form.


Find and apply for as many scholarships as you can it s free money for college or career school!


Start researching early, and meet deadlines , and you may be on your way to scholarship success.


Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.


What kinds of scholarships are available?


Some scholarships for college are merit - based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship - giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need.


Many scholarships are geared toward particular groups of people ; for instance, there are scholarships for women or graduate students. And some are available because of where you or your parent work, or because you come from a certain background for instance, there are scholarships for military families.


A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition , or it might be a one - time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way , it s worth applying for, because it ll help reduce the cost of your education.


How do I find scholarships?


You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out our information on how to avoid scams.


Try these free sources of information about scholarships : the financial aid office at a college or career school a high school or TRIO counselor the U.S. Department of Labor s FREE scholarship search tool your state grant agency your library s reference section foundations , religious or community organizations , local businesses , or civic groups organizations including professional associations related to your field of interest ethnicity-based organizations your employer or your parents employers


When do I apply for scholarships?


That depends on each scholarship s deadline. Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts , so if you re in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years. But if you ve missed that window , don t give up! Look at scholarship information to see which ones you can still apply for now.


How do I apply for scholarships?


Each scholarship has its own requirements. The scholarship s website should give you an idea of who qualifies for the scholarship and how to apply. Make sure you read the application carefully, fill it out completely, and meet the application deadline.


How do I get my scholarship money?


That depends on the scholarship. The money might go directly to your college, where it will be applied to any tuition, fees, or other amounts you owe, and then any leftover funds given to you. Or it might be sent directly to you in a check. The scholarship provider should tell you what to expect when it informs you that you ve been awarded the scholarship. If not , make sure to ask.


How does a scholarship affect my other student aid?


A scholarship will affect your other student aid because all your student aid added together can t be more than your cost of attendance at your college or career school. So , you ll need to let your school know if you ve been awarded a scholarship so that the financial aid office can subtract that amount from your cost of attendance and from certain other aid, such as loans, that you might have been offered. Then , any amount left can be covered by other financial aid for which you re eligible. Questions? Ask your financial aid office.


Are you a federal student loan borrower? Are you confused about the student loan repayment process?


Don t let the student loan repayment process overwhelm you. Use this checklist to help you manage and repay your federal student loans.


Be an informed borrower by learning about your loans and what to do for a smooth repayment experience. As you work through this checklist , you ll find out how to make payments and figure out which repayment plan is best for you ; and you ll know what to do if you re having trouble making payments or think you might be eligible for loan forgiveness.


Remember : You never have to pay for help with your student loans!


Before You Graduate or Leave School


Review your federal student loan history. Get your loan history by logging in to " My Federal Student Aid " you ll need to create an FSA ID if you don t already have one. As you review your information , note the following : The current loan balance and interest rate for each loan The loan type depending on when you went to school and what loan programs your school participated in, you may have loans from different federal student loan programs; the types of loans you received can affect what benefits are available to you The name of the loan servicer for each loan a loan servicer is a company that handles the billing and other services on your loans; generally, you ll have one servicer for all your federal student loans, but there is a chance you could have more than one


Get to know your loan servicer. Your servicer helps you with your student loans for FREE! It s important that you know who your loan servicer is and how to contact them because you will eventually be making your loan payments to your servicer. Take this opportunity to save your servicer s phone number in your phone.


Create an online account on your servicer s website. You can find the most detailed and up - to - date information about your loans, make your payments, and manage your loans for example, change repayment plans or apply for a deferment on your loan servicer s website. When you create your account , be sure your contact information is correct.


Complete mandatory exit counseling. All federal student loan borrowers must complete exit counseling. Exit counseling provides important information you need to help you prepare for repayment of your loans. Check with your school to find out how they want you to complete exit counseling. Schools have different requirements.


If you can afford it , make loan payments while you re in school, especially if your loans are accruing interest. Making payments early can reduce the interest you pay and the cost of your loan over time.


After You Graduate or Leave School


Know when you have to start making payments. For most loans , you ll have six months or nine months for Federal Perkins Loans after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half - time enrollment before you must begin making your loan payments. Take this time to make a plan for repayment.


Create a budget. Create a budget to determine how much you can realistically afford to pay monthly toward your student loans. Get help creating a budget.


Consider loan consolidation. A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to combine all of your federal student loans into one loan with one monthly payment. Loan consolidation can be helpful if you have multiple servicers, loans from the Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program, or Federal Perkins Loans. Loan consolidation can increase your chances of qualifying for an affordable repayment plan and loan forgiveness options , but it may not be the best option for you. Learn more about loan consolidation.


Set a goal for repayment. After you know how much you can afford to pay each month , set a goal for repaying your loans. To begin setting your goal , ask and answer this question: Do I want to repay my loans quickly, or do I want to pay as little as possible per month? You can t choose both options. Any time you lower your payment , you ll be in repayment for a longer time and you ll pay more interest on your loans.


If your financial situation changes , you can change your repayment plan at any time. If you have questions about your loan repayment options or the process , contact your loan servicer.


Select an affordable repayment plan. Now that you ve set a goal for repayment , you can find a repayment plan that fits your goal using Loan Simulator. If you want to pay your loans off quickly and you can afford to do it , select the Standard Repayment Plan. Unless you consolidate , your loans will be paid off after 10 years of payments. If you want to have the lowest monthly payment or can t afford to make payments under the Standard Repayment Plan , select an income - driven repayment plan. These plans set your payment at a percentage of your income , will usually have a lower monthly payment than other plans , and can have payments as low as $0 per month.


With these plans , you ll be in repayment for up to 20 or 25 years. If your loans are not repaid in full after 20 or 25 years , the remaining balance will be forgiven. Learn more about income - driven repayment plans.


If you don t select a specific repayment plan , your loan will be put on the Standard Repayment Plan. You can switch to a different plan at any time by contacting your loan servicer.


Know whether you are eligible for loan forgiveness based on your employer or your job. Public Service Loan Forgiveness PSLF Program : You may qualify for this loan forgiveness program if you are employed by a government or a not - for - profit organization. You must make 120 qualifying payments under an income - driven plan to qualify. Learn more about PSLF. Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program : You may qualify for this program if you a teach full - time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low - income families, and b meet other qualifications. Get the details of the Teacher Loan Forgiveness TLF Program.


Find out more about forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge.


Teachers! You may qualify for both forgiveness programs PSLF and TLF but not for the same time period.


When It s Time to Start Making Payments


Make on - time payments to your loan servicer. Your loan servicer will provide you with a loan repayment schedule that tells you when your first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment. Contact your loan servicer if you haven t received this information.


Make repayment simple and save on interest enroll in automatic debit. Once you enroll , your payments will be automatically taken from your bank account each month. This will help you to stay on track with your payments , and as an added bonus, you may get a 0.25% interest rate deduction if you have Direct Loans. Check your servicer s website for details.


Know your options if you can t make your loan payment. If you don t pay the full amount due on time or if you start missing payments even one your loan will be considered delinquent , and late fees may be charged to you. If you can t make your payments , contact your loan servicer immediately for help. Your servicer can offer you temporary or long - term options, such as changing repayment plans, deferment, forbearance, or loan consolidation. Get details about what to do if you are having trouble making your payments.


Reduce your federal income taxes. You may be eligible to deduct a portion of the student loan interest you paid on your federal tax return. Student loan interest payments are reported both to the IRS and to you on IRS Form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement. Check with the IRS or a tax advisor to see if you qualify for this deduction.


If you re totally and permanently disabled, you may qualify for a discharge of your federal student loans and/or Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant service obligation.


A total and permanent disability TPD discharge relieves you from having to repay a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program loan, a Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program loan, and/or a Federal Perkins Loan or to complete a TEACH Grant service obligation.


To qualify for a TPD discharge , you must complete and submit a TPD discharge application, along with documentation showing that you meet our requirements for being considered totally and permanently disabled, to Nelnet, the servicer that assists the U.S. Department of Education with the TPD discharge process.


Note: Throughout this page , the words " we, " " our, " and " us " refer to the U.S. Department of Education.


How do I show that I qualify for a TPD discharge?


You can show that you qualify for a TPD discharge by providing documentation from one of three sources : the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA the Social Security Administration SSA a physician


There are specific requirements for each type of supporting documentation that you can submit to show your eligibility.


VA Documentation


If you re a veteran , you can qualify for a TPD discharge by providing documentation from the VA that shows you have received a VA disability determination because you 1 have a service - connected disability that is 100 percent disabling; or 2 are totally disabled based on an individual unemployability rating.


SSA Documentation


If you re eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income , you can qualify for a TPD discharge if you provide a copy of your SSA notice of award or Benefits Planning Query showing that your next scheduled disability review will be five to seven years or more from the date of your last SSA disability determination.


We work with the VA and the SSA to identify those who qualify for a discharge based on their status with the VA or the SSA. If we receive information from the appropriate agency indicating that you qualify for a TPD discharge , we ll send you a letter notifying you of your eligibility for discharge, along with a TPD discharge application. If you want to apply for a TPD discharge , all you need to do is complete and submit the discharge application, without having to provide any additional documentation of your eligibility for discharge.


Physician s Certification


You also can qualify for a TPD discharge by having a physician certify on the TPD discharge application that you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death ; has lasted for a continuous period of at least 60 months ; or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 60 months.


Substantial gainful activity is a level of work performed for pay or profit that involves doing significant physical or mental activities, or a combination of both.


The physician who certifies your TPD discharge application must be a doctor of medicine M.D. or doctor of osteopathy / osteopathic medicine D.O. who is licensed to practice in the United States.


How do I apply for a TPD discharge?


You need to complete a TPD discharge application and send it, along with any required documentation of your eligibility for discharge, to Nelnet, the TPD discharge servicer. The TPD discharge application applies to all of your federal student loans and TEACH Grant service obligations. Nelnet assists us in administering the TPD discharge process and communicates with borrowers and TEACH Grant recipients on our behalf concerning TPD discharge requests.


To learn more about applying for a TPD discharge and to obtain a TPD discharge application , visit our TPD Discharge website at disabilitydischarge.com and select " Application Process. "


You can let Nelnet know that you want to apply and request a TPD discharge application by phone or email. If you do , any required payments on your federal student loans will stop for 120 days to give you time to submit your application and any required supporting documentation.


You can contact Nelnet by email at disabilityinformation@nelnet.net and by phone at 1 - 888 - 303 - 7818 Monday Friday from 7 a.m. 2 a.m. Eastern time ET, and Saturday from 8 a.m. 7 p.m. ET. For additional ways to contact Nelnet, and to get more information about applying for a TPD discharge , visit our TPD discharge website.


Can a representative apply on my behalf and help me throughout the TPD discharge process?


Yes , you can designate an individual or organization to complete and submit your TPD discharge application on your behalf, and assist you throughout the discharge process. To designate a representative , you and your representative must complete an Applicant Representative Designation form. Nelnet must receive and process this form before working with your representative. You must submit this form even if your representative already has a power of attorney to act on your behalf in other matters.


To download the Applicant Representative Designation form , visit the TPD Discharge website at disabilitydischarge.com and select Forms.


What happens after I submit a TPD discharge application?


After your application is received , Nelnet will explain the process for the review of your application. You won't be required to make any payments on your loans while your discharge application is being reviewed.


What happens if my TPD discharge request is approved?


This depends on the type of documentation you submitted to show us that you qualified for a TPD discharge.


If we determine that you are totally and permanently disabled based on documentation from the VA , Nelnet will that your loans and/or TEACH Grant service obligation have been discharged notify you and instruct your loan holders to return any loan payments received on or after the effective date of the VA s disability determination to the person who made the payments.


SSA Documentation or Physician's Certification


If we determine that you are totally and permanently disabled based on SSA documentation or a physician's certification , Nelnet will notify you that your loans and/or TEACH Grant service obligation have been discharged ; instruct your loan holders to return any loan payments received after the date Nelnet received the SSA documentation or the date the physician certified your discharge application to the person who made the payments ; and notify you that you will be subject to a three - year postdischarge monitoring period that begins on the date the discharge is approved, and that your obligation to repay your loans or complete your TEACH Grant service obligation will be reinstated if you don t meet certain requirements at any time during this monitoring period.


What requirements do I have to meet during the three-year postdischarge monitoring period?


Your obligation to repay your loans or complete your TEACH Grant service obligation will be reinstated if, at any time during the three - year postdischarge monitoring period, you receive annual earnings from employment that exceed the poverty guideline amount for a family of two in your state, regardless of your actual family size ; a new federal student loan under the Direct Loan Program or a new TEACH Grant ; another disbursement payment of a Direct Loan or a TEACH Grant that was first disbursed paid out before your discharge was approved , and the new disbursement has not been returned to the loan holder or for a TEACH Grant to us within 120 days of the disbursement date ; or a notice from the SSA stating that you are no longer disabled , or that your next scheduled disability review will no longer be five to seven years from the date of your last SSA disability determination.


Note: During the postdischarge monitoring period , Nelnet will require you to submit documentation of your annual earnings from employment on a form that Nelnet will provide. If you don't submit this form with the required documentation of your income , your obligation to repay your loans or complete your TEACH Grant service obligation will be reinstated.


The poverty guideline amounts are updated annually by the Department of Health and Human Services. Nelnet will notify you of the current poverty guideline amounts during each year of the postdischarge monitoring period.


For detailed information regarding the three - year postdischarge monitoring period requirements , visit the TPD Discharge website at disabilitydischarge.com and select Monitoring Period.


If you're a veteran whose TPD discharge application is approved based on documentation from the VA , you aren't subject to a postdischarge monitoring period.


What happens if my obligation to repay my loans or satisfy my TEACH Grant service obligation is reinstated?


You will again be responsible for repaying your loans in accordance with the terms of the promissory note that you signed, or satisfying your TEACH Grant service obligation in accordance with the terms of the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve that you completed.


If you applied for a discharge of loans , your loans will be returned to the status they were in before you applied for discharge. This means that if a loan was in default before you applied for a TPD discharge, it will be returned to default status.


If your obligation to repay your loans or complete your TEACH Grant service obligation is reinstated , Nelnet will explain the reason for the reinstatement and provide information about what you can do if you have questions about the reinstatement or if you believe the reinstatement was based on incorrect information.


What happens if my TPD discharge request is denied?


If we determine that you don t qualify for a TPD discharge , Nelnet will notify you of the reason for the denial of your discharge application ; explain that you may ask us to reevaluate your discharge application if you provide new information that supports your eligibility for discharge within 12 months of the date you are notified that your discharge application has been denied ; explain that if you don t request reevaluation of your discharge application within 12 months of the date you re notified that your discharge application has been denied, and you still want us to reevaluate your eligibility, you must submit a new TPD discharge application with new information about your disabling condition that was not provided with your prior discharge application ; explain that you re again responsible for repaying your loans, and that your loan holder will notify you when your first payment is due ; and explain that if you applied for a discharge of a TEACH Grant service obligation, you re again responsible for meeting the terms and conditions of the service obligation.


I received a TPD discharge but want to go back to school. Can I take out more student loans or TEACH Grants?


Yes , but with some conditions.


If you received a TPD discharge based on VA documentation, SSA documentation, or a physician s certification , you must give your school a letter from a physician stating that you are once again able to engage in substantial gainful activity , and sign a statement acknowledging that you can't get a TPD discharge of the new loan or TEACH Grant based on a disabling condition that already exists when you receive the new loan or TEACH Grant, unless that condition substantially deteriorates in the future.


If you received a TPD discharge based on SSA documentation or a physician s certification and your three - year postdischarge period hasn t ended , you must also resume repayment on your previously discharged loans or acknowledge that you are once again responsible for meeting the terms and conditions of your TEACH Grant service obligation.


If my loan is discharged due to TPD, do I have to pay taxes on the discharged loan amount?


Because of a change in federal law related to the taxability of loan amounts discharged due to TPD , the answer depends on when you received the discharge. If you received a TPD discharge of a loan before Jan. 1 , 2018 , the loan amount discharged may be considered income for federal tax purposes under Internal Revenue Service IRS rules. If you received a TPD discharge of a loan during the period from Jan. 1 , 2018 to Dec. 31 , 2025 , the discharged loan amount won t be considered income for federal tax purposes.


For purposes of determining whether a loan amount discharged due to TPD may be treated as taxable income for federal tax purposes , the date you are considered to have received the discharge is different depending on how you qualified for the discharge.


If you re a veteran who showed that you re totally and permanently disabled based on a disability determination by the VA , you re considered to have received the discharge for federal tax purposes on the date we approve the discharge.


If you showed that you re totally and permanently disabled based on documentation from the SSA or a physician s certification meaning that you re subject to a three - year postdischarge monitoring period , you re considered to have received the discharge for federal tax purposes at the end of the postdischarge monitoring period. For example , if your discharge was approved in July 2017 , you would not be considered to have received the discharge for federal tax purposes until July 2020, at the end of the three - year postdischarge monitoring period. Therefore , the IRS would not consider the discharged loan amount to be taxable income for federal tax purposes.


If you receive a Form 1099-C, you should keep the form for your records , but you do not need to include it when filing your federal tax return. For additional information , visit irs.gov.


Loan amounts discharged due to TPD may still be considered income for state tax purposes. If you receive a TPD discharge of a federal student loan , you may want to consult with your state tax office or a tax professional before you file your state tax return.


Where can I find more information about TPD discharge?


For more detailed information about TPD discharge , visit the TPD discharge website at disabilitydischarge.com.


There are steps you can take to repay your federal student loan successfully and avoid going into default.


Understanding your loan agreement , staying on top of your loan information , and making sure to contact your loan servicer if you are having trouble making payments can help you avoid default.


If you don t make a payment on time or if you miss making a payment , your loan is delinquent and late fees may be assessed. Even if you are delinquent on your loan, you may still be able to avoid default , so it s important that you contact your loan servicer immediately.


Take Steps to Avoid Default


Avoid default. Take the time to fully understand your loan agreement and the types of loans you are receiving. It s also important that you not borrow more than you need or more than you expect to be able to repay. Develop a sound and realistic financial plan.


If your federal student loan is delinquent , check out the Student Loan Debt Collection Assistant, which the U.S. Department of Education developed in partnership with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The tool provides information about how to access the full range of special repayment options available to you.


Understand Your Loan and Loan Agreement


Understand the type of aid you are receiving. Loans, unlike most grants, scholarships, or work - study funds, must be repaid. Know the type of loan you are receiving. Understand the costs of getting the loan, the interest rate, and the repayment terms for the loan. Read Know Before You Owe from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read your promissory note. It is a legal document. Signing a promissory note means you agree to repay the loan according to the terms of the note. You must repay all the loans you receive, even if you don t complete your education.


Manage Your Borrowing


Borrow only what you need to pay for your college expenses. Create a budget to determine how much you really need to borrow. Contact your school s financial aid office to request a lower loan amount instead of borrowing the maximum amount you might be eligible to receive. Complete Financial Awareness Counseling.


Track Your Loans Online


Find information about all of your federal student loans from the U.S. Department of Education by logging in to " My Federal Student Aid . "


Keep Good Records


Keep the following important documents in an organized file : Financial aid offers Loan counseling materials entrance counseling and exit counseling Your promissory note(s) Amount of all student loans you borrow Account number for each student loan you receive Loan servicer contact information Loan disclosure(s) Payment schedules Record of your monthly payments Notes about any questions you ask about your student loan, the answers, and the name of the person to whom you spoke Deferment or forbearance paperwork and notes of any phone calls to the loan servicer that you paid your loan in full Documentation


Notify Your Loan Servicer


Tell your loan servicer when you need help making your monthly payments ; graduate; withdraw from school; drop below half - time enrollment status at school ; change your name, address, or Social Security number ; transfer to another school ; or experience a change in your life that might impact your loan payments.


What if I can t make my monthly payment?


If you are having trouble making your monthly payments , contact your loan servicer immediately. Your loan servicer can help you understand your options. You may be able to switch repayment plans to get a lower monthly payment , consider an income - driven repayment plan , change your payment due date , or get a deferment or forbearance.


NEVER ignore delinquency or default notices from your loan servicer.


Consider Simplifying Repayment with Consolidation


You might wish to combine your multiple federal student loans into a single Direct Consolidation Loan to simplify repayment. There may be tradeoffs, so understand the advantages and possible disadvantages of consolidation before you apply.


Student Loan Repayment


Before repayment begins , develop a plan that puts you on track to pay back your loan on time and in full.


Understanding the details of repayment on your federal student loan can save you time and money. Find out what repayment plan options are available , when you must begin making payments , how to make your payment , how to pay your loan off faster , and what to do if you have trouble making payments.


I need more information about my loan servicer.


Find out who services your federal student loan.


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.


I need more information about the types of repayment plans available.


Learn more about Repayment Plans. When You Must Begin Payments The Grace Period Making Payments Having Your Student Loan Forgiven


REMEMBER : Your federal student loans can t be canceled or forgiven because you didn t get the education or job you expected or you didn t complete your education unless you couldn t complete your education because your school closed.


When You Must Begin Payments


Once you graduate , drop below half - time enrollment , or leave school , your federal student loan goes into repayment. However , if you have a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Federal Family Education Loan , you have a six - month grace period before you are required to start making regular payments. You ll have a nine - month grace period if you ve got a Perkins Loan. (Got a PLUS loan? You ll go into repayment as soon as the loan is fully disbursed which means once it s paid out. But if you re a graduate and professional student PLUS borrower, you will be placed on an automatic deferment while in school and for six months after graduating, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment.)


Note: When your loan enters repayment , your servicer will automatically place you on the Standard Repayment Plan. You can request a different repayment plan at any time.


You can make prepayments on your loan while you are in school or during your grace period. Be aware, however, that any prepayment you make will not count as a qualifying payment in any loan forgiveness programs.


Your loan servicer will provide you with a loan repayment schedule that states when your first payment is due, the number and frequency of payments, and the amount of each payment.


Your billing statement will tell you how much to pay. Your monthly payment amount depends on your repayment plan. If you signed up for electronic communication , pay attention to your email. Most loan servicers send an email when your billing statement is ready for you to access online.


The Grace Period


For most federal student loan types , after you graduate , leave school , or drop below half - time enrollment , you have a six - month grace period sometimes nine months for Perkins Loans before you must begin making payments. This grace period gives you time to get financially settled and to select your repayment plan. Not all federal student loans have a grace period. Note that for most loans, interest accrues during your grace period. You can choose to pay the interest that accrues during your grace period. This prevents that interest from being added to the principal balance also known as interest capitalization.


Loans and Their Grace Periods


Review this list to find out whether your loan has a grace period. Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans have a six - month grace period before payments are due. PLUS loans do not have a grace period ; but if you received a PLUS loan as a graduate or professional student, you ll automatically get a six - month deferment after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half - time enrollment. No payments are required during this six - month deferment period. If you re a parent borrower who took out a PLUS loan to pay for your child s education , you can request a six - month deferment after your child graduates, leaves school, or drops below half - time enrollment. Contact your loan servicer for more information. If you received a Federal Perkins Loan , check with the school where you received your loan.


Circumstances That May Affect Your Grace Period


Certain situations that may affect your grace period include the following : Active duty military If you are called to active military duty for more than 30 days before the end of your grace period , you will receive the full six - month grace period when you return from active duty. Returning to school before the end of your loan s grace period If you reenroll in school at least half - time before the end of your grace period , you will receive the full six - month grace period when you stop attending school or drop below half - time enrollment. Loan consolidation If you consolidate your loans during your grace period , you give up the remainder of your grace period and begin repayment after your Direct Consolidation Loan is processed unless you request to have the processing of your consolidation loan delayed until closer to the end of your grace period.


Making Payments


The U.S. Department of Education ED uses several loan servicers to handle the billing and other services on loans for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Direct Loan Program and for loans that were made under the Federal Family Education Loan FFEL Program and that ED later purchased. Your loan servicer will set you up under the Standard Repayment Plan unless you tell your loan servicer you want a different repayment plan.


If you schedule an automatic monthly electronic debit of your loan payment from your checking or savings account , you receive a 0.25% interest rate deduction on Direct Loans. Contact your loan servicer for more information. To make a payment by postal mail , contact your loan servicer for the mailing address.


To discuss repayment plan options or change your repayment plan , contact your loan servicer. First , though , you can use our Loan Simulator to get an early look at which plans you may be eligible for and see estimates for how much you would pay monthly and overall.


I want to get ahead by paying extra each month.


You can make payments before they are due or pay more than the amount due each month. Paying a little extra each month can reduce the interest you pay and reduce the total cost of your loan over time. Contact your loan servicer to discuss these options.


I m having trouble making my loan payment.


Contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. You may be able to change your repayment plan to one that lowers your monthly payment and, in some cases, may be based on your income. You can also ask your loan servicer about your options for a deferment or forbearance or loan consolidation.


Trouble Making Your Federal Student Loan Payments? provides information on what to do if you are having difficulty making your student loan payments.


I ve missed one or more loan payments.


Stay in touch with your loan servicer especially if you are struggling to make payments on your loans. Your loan servicer will explain your repayment options, such as applying for an income - driven repayment plan or a forbearance or deferment, to help you stay on track or get back on track when you fall behind.


One thing you definitely want to avoid is going into default! This occurs when you are at least nine months past due on your student loan. The consequences of default include damage to your credit rating and future borrowing ability. They may also include garnishment of your wages and withholding of your tax refunds. If you can t make payments , contact your loan servicer to find out your options.


Having Your Student Loan Forgiven


You are generally required to repay your student loan , but in certain situations, your loan may be forgiven, canceled, or discharged.