Resolve student loan payment problems

If you are struggling to repay your student loan, contact your loan servicer. Not paying your student loan has serious consequences. Learn how to get your payments back on track.

Student loan deferment and forbearance

If you are having trouble paying back your student loans, you may qualify for:

• Loan deferment - Payments are postponed. In most cases, the interest money you owe will continue to accrue (grow).
• Forbearance - Payments are suspended or reduced, but the interest you owe continues to accrue.

Both give you a temporary pause in your loan payments. Learn more about how student loan deferment and forbearance work.

Student loan delinquency and default

If your student loan payment is one day late, your account is delinquent. If it stays delinquent, it will go into default.

To prevent default, contact your loan servicer right away. Default has serious financial consequences, including:

Hurting your credit rating and your ability to buy a car or house or get a credit card

Having your tax refunds withheld and applied toward your defaulted loan

Having your wages garnished (withheld) to repay your loan

Get more information to avoid student loan delinquency and default.

Consolidating student loans

If you are having trouble keeping track of and paying multiple federal student loans, you may be able to combine them into one loan at a lower interest rate. Learn about Direct Consolidation Loans, including:

• The benefits and drawbacks of loan consolidation
• The types of federal education loans you can consolidate
• Eligibility rules
• The application process

Student loan disputes

If you do not agree with your loan servicer about the balance or status of your loan, take these steps:

Identify your loan problem. See this list of common student loan disputes.

Talk to your loan servicer. Learn how to find out who your loan servicer is if you are not sure.

If you still need help, contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group.

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