If a student-loan payment no longer fits your budget, first identify whether each loan is federal or private, check its status and due date, and contact the servicer or lender before you miss a payment. Federal borrowers may be able to change repayment plans or request temporary relief; private-loan options depend on the lender and contract. Before agreeing to a change, find out what it will cost over time and what happens when the relief ends.
Start by identifying each loan and its status
Make a separate list for every loan. A single borrower may have both federal and private loans, and they do not share the same repayment rules. Gather recent statements and note the lender or servicer, loan type, balance, monthly payment, due date, current repayment plan, and whether the account is current, delinquent, or in default.
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For federal loans, sign in to StudentAid.gov and check the account information there. For private loans, use the lender or servicer’s account portal and statements. If a loan type or account status is unclear, ask the servicer to confirm it before choosing a solution.
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Contact the servicer or lender before the payment is missed
Call or send a written message using the contact details on your statement or account. Explain that you cannot afford the scheduled payment, when the problem began, whether it is temporary or ongoing, and what amount you believe you can pay. Ask what options are available for your specific loan and what information the servicer needs to review your request. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s guidance also recommends contacting the loan servicer promptly.
Keep copies of messages, forms, and decisions, along with the dates and names or reference numbers from calls. A request for help is not necessarily an approved change: until the servicer confirms new terms and their effective date, do not assume the existing due date or payment has been suspended. If a payment is already late, say so and ask what is needed to bring the account current or prevent further consequences.
If your loan is federal, review repayment plans first
Ask your federal loan servicer to review your eligibility for current repayment plans, especially if your income or family circumstances have changed. Depending on the loan and applicable eligibility rules, an income-driven plan or a longer-term plan may reduce the required monthly amount. A lower required payment can mean paying for longer or paying more overall; compare the monthly amount and the longer-term consequences before you switch.
Use the official Federal Student Aid repayment calculator to compare estimates, then confirm eligibility and actual terms with your servicer. A calculator estimate is not approval. Available plans can depend on the loan type and when the loan was first disbursed, so a plan available to one borrower may not be available to another.
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Federal repayment guidance changes. As of October 2026, Federal Student Aid’s SAVE Plan borrower FAQ says a court order ended SAVE in March 2026 and directs affected borrowers to choose another eligible plan. Do not rely on older advice that presents SAVE as an available option; check your current account and the latest official guidance before selecting a plan.
Federal Student Aid’s July 2026 preparation article says IDR payments can be as low as $10 under the information it presents. That is not a promise or a universal minimum: eligibility and the amount depend on current rules and a borrower’s circumstances. Ask the servicer to calculate the payment available for your loans rather than assuming a particular figure applies.
If a federal plan is still unaffordable, ask about temporary relief
Ask whether deferment or forbearance is available for your situation, how long it could last, and what you must do to request it. These are temporary forms of relief, not the same as permanently reducing or eliminating the debt. Get the start and end dates and instructions for resuming payments in writing.
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If your loan is private, negotiate with the lender
Private loans do not come with one standard federal-style payment reduction or pause. A lender may offer a modified payment, a temporary pause, or another arrangement, but what is available depends on its policies, the contract, and applicable law. Contact the lender or servicer directly and ask what it can offer for your account; the CFPB explains the options for repaying private education loans.
Be ready to explain what payment you can manage and provide documents the lender requests, such as pay stubs, bills, or account statements. If the lender offers a change, ask for the terms in writing before agreeing. In particular, find out:
- Whether interest continues during a reduced-payment period or pause, and whether unpaid interest is capitalized, meaning added to the balance.
- Whether there are fees, how much the payment will be after the arrangement ends, and whether missed or reduced amounts must later be repaid in a lump sum or spread over future payments.
- Whether the repayment term will be extended, how that affects the total amount repaid, and whether the arrangement changes any other contract terms.
- Whether a co-signer remains responsible under the modified arrangement and what the lender will report about the account.
Do not assume that a lender’s informal promise changes the loan contract. Ask when the new arrangement takes effect and what you must do to keep it in good standing. If the proposed payment is still impossible, tell the lender rather than accepting a plan you know you cannot maintain.
Understand the consequences of missed payments and default
Falling behind can lead to additional collection activity and harm credit histories. Federal Student Aid describes federal loans as reaching default after at least 270 days without scheduled payments. That is not a grace period to wait out: a loan can be delinquent before default, and consequences can accumulate along the way. Contact the servicer as soon as you realize a scheduled payment is at risk.
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Private-loan default timing is governed by the contract and applicable law. Many private loans may go into default after missed monthly payments, but the terms vary. A lender may report the delinquency, pursue collection, or sue where permitted. The CFPB’s explanation of private student-loan default notes that state law and contract terms matter, including for collection rights and limitation periods. If you receive legal papers, do not ignore them; deadlines and procedures depend on the jurisdiction and case.
A private-loan co-signer may also be legally responsible for the debt and can face credit or collection consequences if payments are missed. If possible, tell the co-signer before a payment falls behind and ask the lender whether they remain responsible under any proposed change. Do not assume that a hardship arrangement releases a co-signer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If a federal loan is already in default
Contact the Department of Education’s Default Resolution Group or the assigned loan holder to confirm the status and discuss available paths. Federal Student Aid describes rehabilitation for Direct and FFEL loans as requiring nine voluntary, on-time payments within ten consecutive months. After successful completion, the default status is removed and collection stops. Ask the assigned office to explain the payment calculation and the effect on your particular account before choosing.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRehabilitation is not the only possible path. Compare it with consolidation and other options: their credit-history and cost effects differ. Federal Student Aid provides details on rehabilitation requirements and default and collections. Get the terms for your loan in writing, including what happens to collections and payment obligations while you pursue a resolution.
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Avoid paying a company for federal repayment help
You can use StudentAid.gov and contact your federal servicer directly to review repayment and account options. The CFPB warns that companies do not have special access to federal relief. Be wary of promises of guaranteed forgiveness, pressure to act immediately, demands for upfront fees, or requests to take over your account. Never give a third party your StudentAid.gov login or authorize a company to make payments to it in place of the Department of Education.
If you need broader help organizing bills or a budget, distinguish nonprofit credit counseling from credit repair and ask about fees before enrolling in any service. The CFPB’s student-loan scam guidance and borrower tips explain warning signs and ways to protect yourself.
Before you agree to refinance or change your federal loans
Do not treat refinancing federal loans into private loans as the default answer to a payment problem. A private refinance might offer a lower interest rate, but it can also remove federal repayment flexibility, deferment or forbearance options, and discharge protections. Compare the full terms and the protections you would give up, not only the new monthly payment or rate. Federal Student Aid’s repayment information explains federal repayment options.
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Federal and private loans: the key differences
| Question | Federal loans | Private loans |
|---|---|---|
| Can the payment be lowered? | Eligible borrowers can compare current income-driven or longer-term plans; eligibility depends on loan details and current rules. | No standard federal-style reduction applies. Ask the lender what its contract and policies allow. |
| Is a temporary pause available? | Ask the servicer about deferment or forbearance, including interest and discharge effects. | Ask the lender whether it offers a pause or other relief; confirm interest, capitalization, fees, and the schedule afterward. |
| When does default occur? | Federal Student Aid describes default after at least 270 days without scheduled payments. | Timing depends on the contract and applicable law; missed monthly payments may trigger default. |
| Who can explain the options? | StudentAid.gov and the servicer provide federal account and plan information; defaulted borrowers can contact the Default Resolution Group or assigned holder. | The lender or servicer explains its options; contract terms and state law can affect collection rights. |
| Could a co-signer be affected? | Federal student loans generally do not involve a private co-signer in the same way; verify the actual loan obligation. | A co-signer may be responsible for payment and face credit or collection consequences. |
These differences are a starting point, not a substitute for checking the documents and account status for each loan. A borrower with both types may need to make separate requests to different servicers.
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