Two major changes to federal student loan repayment are already in effect: the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and Tiered Standard Plan became available on July 1, 2026, and the SAVE Plan ended after a court order in March 2026. Which options you can use depends on your loan types and when they were first disbursed. If you were on SAVE, check the deadline in your own servicer notice and compare your eligible plans before choosing.
What changed for federal student loan borrowers?
RAP and Tiered Standard became available July 1, 2026
MOHELA lists both the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and Tiered Standard Plan as available starting July 1, 2026. RAP is an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan; Tiered Standard is a fixed-payment plan. MOHELA describes RAP as applying to Direct Loans, with a repayment term of up to 30 years, a minimum monthly payment of $10, and possible interest and principal subsidies. These are plan terms, not a guarantee of what any borrower will pay. See MOHELA’s repayment plan options.
SAVE ended in March 2026
Following a court order in March 2026, the SAVE Plan is no longer available. Federal Student Aid says borrowers enrolled in SAVE, as well as borrowers with a pending SAVE application, must choose another repayment plan. Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ explains the current options.
Which repayment plans can you use?
Eligibility depends on both the loans you hold and their first-disbursement dates. Federal Student Aid states: “The IDR plans that are available to you will depend on the types of federal student loans you have and the dates they were first paid out (known as the disbursement dates).”
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- If all your loans were first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, RAP is your only IDR option, according to Federal Student Aid.
- If you have loans first disbursed before July 1, 2026, you may have multiple IDR options, depending on loan type.
- Parent PLUS loans cannot be repaid under RAP.
Do not assume a plan is available based only on its name or on another borrower’s experience. Review your loan details and eligible options in your StudentAid.gov account. Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ has additional information about plan eligibility.
What should you do if you were on SAVE?
Start with the SAVE transition notice in your Federal Student Aid or servicer account. MOHELA says affected borrowers received notices between July and September 2026 and were advised to choose a new plan within 90 days of the notice. The deadline is notice-specific, so use the date in your own notice rather than calculating a general deadline from the notice period. MOHELA’s SAVE Plan FAQ describes the transition.
- Find your notice. Check your Federal Student Aid and servicer accounts for the SAVE transition notice and its stated deadline.
- Review your loans. Confirm loan types and first-disbursement dates in your account; these details affect which plans are available.
- Compare eligible plans. Use the Federal Student Aid Repayment Calculator to estimate payments, repayment periods, total paid, and projected PSLF or IDR discharge where applicable.
- Choose and apply through official channels. Submit the plan selection or application through the official Federal Student Aid or servicer process, following the instructions and deadline in your notice.
MOHELA says borrowers who do not select a new plan may be placed automatically into Standard or Tiered Standard, depending on their disbursement dates. That default is not necessarily the right fit for you, so make a deliberate choice rather than relying on automatic placement. Read MOHELA’s transition details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you compare the available options?
Federal Student Aid’s Repayment Calculator compares plans for which you may qualify. It estimates monthly payment, repayment period, total amount paid, and projected discharge under PSLF or IDR when applicable. Treat the results as estimates: verify your loan information and eligibility in your StudentAid.gov account before deciding.
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- Eligibility: Does the plan cover your loan types and disbursement dates?
- Monthly payment: Can you manage the estimated amount in your current budget?
- Repayment period and total cost: Look beyond the monthly bill. IDR payments can be more affordable because they depend on income and family size or number of dependents, but paying less over a longer period can mean more interest over time.
- Potential discharge: If you are pursuing PSLF or IDR discharge, compare the calculator’s projected outcome and check the applicable program requirements.
Use the calculator as a comparison tool, not as confirmation that you qualify or as a substitute for reviewing your account and plan terms. Federal Student Aid’s FAQ describes IDR plans and links to official repayment information.
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