Student loan deferment makes the most sense if you have subsidized federal loans or Perkins Loans because interest does not accrue on them. 1 Forbearance should only be considered if you don't qualify for deferment. Remember that deferment and forbearance are for short-term financial difficulty.
"If interest continues to grow on your loans during deferment, it will increase your total borrowing costs," says Kayikchyan. How much interest a lender charges you during the deferral period depends on several factors, like your annual percentage rate, your outstanding balance and how long your deferment lasts.
Neither deferment nor forbearance on your student loan has a direct impact on your credit score. But putting off your payments increases the chances that you'll eventually miss one and ding your score by mistake.
One of the biggest downsides of loan deferment is the accumulation of interest. While federal subsidized loans and Perkins loans may not accrue interest during deferment, most other federal loans do. This interest is added to your loan balance once deferment ends, increasing the total debt.
Both deferment and forbearance allow you to temporarily postpone or reduce your federal student loan payments. The difference has to do with interest accrual (accumulation). During a deferment, interest doesn't accrue on some types of Direct Loans. During a forbearance, interest accrues on all types of Direct Loans.
For loans made under all three programs, a general forbearance may be granted for no more than 12 months at a time. If you're still experiencing a hardship when your current forbearance expires, you may request another general forbearance. However, there is a cumulative limit on general forbearances of three years.
Key takeaways
Deferred interest offers can be beneficial for making large purchases if the balance is paid off in full before the promotional period ends, but they can also be risky and result in high interest charges if the balance is not paid off in time.
With deferment, your student loan principal and interest payments are put on hold. Your lender will likely not include your student loan payments in your DTI ratio if you can show that they'll be deferred for at least 12 months after your closing date.
Your credit scores may be significantly impacted depending on how you pay back what you've borrowed in student loans. Becoming delinquent or defaulting on your student loans can remain on your credit reports for up to seven years.
Disadvantages of a Deferment Period
During the deferment period, interest is being accrued. The overall loan balance is increased due to accrued interest. In some cases, borrowers are subject to additional fees. The borrower must prove they are experiencing financial hardship.
In most cases, interest will accrue during your period of deferment or forbearance. This means your balance will increase and you'll pay more over the life of your loan. If you're pursuing loan forgiveness, any period of deferment or forbearance may not count toward your forgiveness requirements.
Deferred payment plans can be highly beneficial for borrowers. However, they also bring on a level of risk. Borrowers may overestimate their ability to pay back a loan over time or unforeseen circumstances may bring about a tough time repaying a loan.
In early 2020, 75.3% of private student loans were in repayment while 20% were in deferment. While many private lenders offered suspension in payments of up to 3 months, few (if any) deferred interest.
Student loan deferment and forbearance
If you are having trouble paying back your student loans, you may qualify for: Loan deferment - Payments are postponed. In most cases, the interest money you owe will continue to accrue (grow).
Which is better: Subsidized or unsubsidized loans? Subsidized loans are the best first choice for borrowers; since the federal government covers the interest that accrues on your loans, it's less money for you to pay out of pocket.
USDA mortgage guidelines for student loans
If your student loans are deferred, in forbearance or you're on an income-based repayment plan, however, your lender is required to factor in 0.5 percent of your remaining student loan balance, or whatever the current payment is within your repayment plan.
No, deferred payments generally won't directly hurt your credit. When a creditor defers your payments, it can report your account's new status to the credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
If you qualified for the student loan payment pause and interest waiver on your federal student loans, you cannot qualify for the student loan interest deduction on those loans because you didn't pay any interest on those loans during the payment pause.
Disadvantages of a Deferred Payment Agreement
The cost of your care will have to be repaid by you or your estate. As this is a loan, your agreed interest and charges are added to the cost of your care fees.
With the exception of subsidized federal student loans, interest and fees typically continue to accrue during deferment. This may cause your monthly payment to increase once the deferral period ends. Essentially, you're extending the loan term or repayment timeline when you defer payments.
Because interest does not accrue on subsidized loan balances, putting student loans in deferment is often a better choice if you meet the eligibility criteria. However, unless you're going back to college or a vocational school—or meet one of the other specific qualifications—deferment may not be an option.
Deferment or an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is preferable to forbearance. Forbearance for federal student loans takes two forms: general and mandatory. To avoid default, you must continue making required payments on your student loans until your forbearance application has been approved.
How student loans affect your credit score. Student loans are a type of installment loan, similar to a car loan, personal loan, or mortgage. They are part of your credit report, and can impact your payment history, length of your credit history and credit mix. Paying on time could help your score.
Unlike federal student loans, Pell Grants don't have to be paid back except under certain circumstances. Millions of Pell Grants are awarded each year to eligible undergraduate students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.