Lenders Offer Student Loan Deferment Based On Situations

By Charles Gloson

Several choices are offered to individuals who cannot make their loan payments. Deferments, payment relief or forbearances might be available. If you, as so many others are, experiencing financial hardships, contact your lender to find out what student loan deferment you qualify for.

If you lose your job, start attending school or suffer another type of hardship, you might be able to have the loan payments postponed for a certain amount of time. This is known as a deferment. Interest payments may need to be made during this period depending on whether the loan is subsidized or unsubsidized. Check with your lender to find out what is available to you.

One form of deferment is for military personnel. If you are active duty or are called into active duty this deferment is available to you. Your loans may also qualify for deferment during demobilization.

A deferment is offered to any reservist who was enrolled in school and called back to duty during that time. It doesn't matter if you are a current reservist or retired. The deferment can last up to- months from the end of your active duty or if you go back to school.

Having your loan deferred for up to 3 years because of an economic hardship is a possibility. Federal regulations allow for this type of deferment for a Direct, Perkins or FFEL Loan. To obtain more information contact your lender.

As with any time you need to apply for assistance, you are going to need to contact your lender. Forbearance can last as long as 3 years. To have your payments temporarily suspended or possibly reduced, apply for forbearance. As with a deferment, the forbearance will only be approved for a certain amount of time. One difference between a deferment and forbearance is that you will still have to pay the interest on your loan. If you can't get approved for a deferment, apply for the forbearance.

If your loan is a Plus Loan, you will be held to the same standards as other loans. Interest will continue to grow and compound during the forbearance or deferment time. You don't have to pay it at this time but it would be in your best interest to pay it.

While the lender will ask you choose a repayment plan when you first enter repayment status, you may want to change later if different plans might work better for your financial situation. The FFEL Program, you can change plans once a year. The Direct Loan Program allows you to change plans at any time as long as the maximum repayment period under your new plan is longer than the time you have already been in repayment. - 29866

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