Know your options when you can't pay your student loan
Thirty-five percent of college students take out federal student loans, according to a 2009 study by the National Center for Education Statistics. If you borrowed a loan to fund your higher education, you must repay it, but at times you may struggle to make your monthly payments. In that case, the federal government provides options. You may qualify for a deferment, which temporarily suspends your payments.
Instructions
1. Determine what kind of loan you borrowed. Federal Stafford, Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS loans feature deferment benefits, but your eligibility depends in part on the type of your loan and when you borrowed it. You may find this information on paper or electronic statements from your lender or loan servicer, by calling your lender or servicer or by accessing your Financial Aid Review on the National Student Loan Data System.
2. Decide which type of deferment best addresses your situation by reviewing the deferment forms and descriptions. For example, if you have returned to school, an in-school deferment is probably the most appropriate choice. If you have lost your job, you may apply for an unemployment deferment. You may request deferments for other situations, such as military duty, temporary total disability, participating in a graduate fellowship and rehabilitation training.
3. Complete the deferment form and mail or fax it to your loan servicer. You can obtain the form by calling your lender or loan servicer, or, in most cases, visiting its Web site. You will receive a written response either confirming or denying your eligibility. Call the lender or servicer if you have not received this notification within 2 weeks.
Tags: loan servicer, your lender, calling your, calling your lender, lender loan, lender loan servicer