If you’re a federal student loan borrower currently in the SAVE Plan, review your repayment options now rather than waiting for a notice. MOHELA says the SAVE Plan ended under a court order on March 10, 2026, and affected borrowers do not have to wait for their notice before choosing another plan. Your notice and account—not a general timeline—determine your deadline and payment details.
What to do now
- Sign in to StudentAid.gov’s Repayment Calculator and review your loan details and repayment options.
- Compare the plans you’re eligible for, including estimated monthly payments, total amount paid, repayment term, and whether a plan can be used with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), if that matters to you.
- Read your servicer’s notice, record the deadline stated there, and follow the official process to select or apply for a plan.
- If you are in SAVE forbearance, check your account for payment timing. MOHELA says that once a move to a new plan is processed, SAVE forbearance ends; do not assume payments will remain paused for a particular period.
MOHELA’s instructions apply to MOHELA borrowers. If another company services your loans, check that servicer’s notice and guidance for its dates and process.
When is the deadline?
MOHELA says affected borrowers have 90 days from the date of their notice to select a new repayment plan. It reports sending its notices in waves from July through October 2026. That window is for MOHELA’s notice distribution; it does not establish when any individual borrower will receive a notice. Use the date on your own notice to determine your deadline. MOHELA’s SAVE FAQ says you do not have to wait for the notice to act.
The public guidance does not establish your individual deadline, eligibility, or next payment date. Those depend on your notice and loan account. Confirm them with your servicer rather than relying on a broad estimate.
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How to compare the available plans
There is no single best replacement plan for every borrower. Use the calculator to check which plans you can choose and compare the costs and terms against your circumstances. MOHELA lists the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and Tiered Standard Plan as available effective July 1, 2026, alongside options with income-based or fixed-term payment structures. Verify current availability and eligibility in the calculator and your account.
| What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Available plans depend on your loans and records; compare only options the official calculator identifies for you. |
| Estimated monthly payment | Shows the projected bill under each eligible plan. Confirm actual payment timing and amount with your servicer. |
| Total amount paid | Helps compare projected cost over the full repayment period, not just the next monthly bill. |
| Repayment term | A longer term can mean payments extend over more years; compare the term shown for each option. |
| PSLF compatibility | If you are pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, verify whether the plan qualifies before selecting it. |
RAP details listed by MOHELA
MOHELA describes RAP as based on income and household size, with a minimum monthly payment of $10 and a term of up to 30 years. MOHELA also says RAP may be used with PSLF. These are terms on its repayment-options page, not a guarantee of your payment, eligibility, or forgiveness outcome; confirm your details in the official calculator and account. MOHELA’s repayment-options comparison
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens if you wait or do not choose?
MOHELA says that a borrower who does not select a plan by the notice deadline will be placed in the Standard or Tiered Standard plan, depending on loan disbursement dates. Borrowers with pending SAVE applications may be returned to the plan they were in before applying. If you choose a new plan and the request is processed before the deadline, MOHELA says you leave SAVE and SAVE forbearance ends at that point.
Because a processed selection can end the forbearance before the 90-day window expires, check your account for the effective plan and payment schedule after applying.
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