Deferment and Forbearance

Deferment

A deferment is a period during which repayment of the principal and interest of your loan is temporarily delayed.  During a deferment you do not need to make payments. The federal government may pay interest on your Federal Perkins Loan, Direct Subsidized Loan, and/or Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan during a deferment period. The government does not pay the interest on unsubsidized loans or PLUS loans.

To find out if you qualify for a deferment, visit: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/deferment-forbearance#what-is-deferment.

Forbearance

With forbearance, you may be able to stop making payments or reduce your monthly payments on federal student loans for up to 12 months. There are two types of forbearance—discretionary or mandatory.

Additional information can be found at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/deferment-forbearance#what-is-forbearance.

Contact your federal loan servicer to request either a deferment or forbearance.