Which circumstances can qualify you for deferment or forbearance?

Asked by: Arch Gerlach  |  Last update: November 29, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (1 votes)

If you're in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for a deferment or a forbearance. With either of these options, you can temporarily suspend your payments.

How do you qualify for deferment or forbearance?

When You Can Get A Deferment
  1. undergoing cancer treatment;
  2. experiencing economic hardship;
  3. in a graduate fellowship program;
  4. enrolled in school at least half-time;
  5. performing qualifying military service;
  6. a post-active duty service member;
  7. a Parent PLUS borrower with student enrolled in school;

What are the most common reasons for deferment?

Types of Deferments
  • Cancer Treatment Deferment. ...
  • Economic Hardship Deferment. ...
  • Graduate Fellowship Deferment. ...
  • In-School Deferment. ...
  • Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment. ...
  • Parent PLUS Borrower Deferment. ...
  • Rehabilitation Training Deferment. ...
  • Unemployment Deferment.

What is an eligible forbearance?

You can request a general forbearance if you are temporarily unable to make your scheduled monthly loan payments for the following reasons: Financial difficulties. Medical expenses. Change in employment. Other reasons acceptable to your loan servicer.

What qualifies as hardship for student loans?

It is a circumstance in which the annual amount due on your eligible loans, as calculated under a 10-year Standard Repayment Plan, exceeds 15 percent (for IBR) or 10 percent (for Pay As You Earn) of the difference between your adjusted gross income (AGI) and 150 percent of the poverty line for your family size in the ...

What is the Difference Between a Deferment and a Forbearance

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What is a qualifying hardship?

Immediate and heavy expenses can include the following: Certain expenses to repair casualty losses to a principal residence (such as losses from fires, earthquakes, or floods) Expenses to prevent being foreclosed on or evicted. Home-buying expenses for a principal residence. Up to 12 months' worth of tuition and fees.

What is the difference between a deferment and a forbearance?

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.

Who is eligible for economic hardship deferment?

In order to qualify for an economic hardship deferment, the borrower's monthly gross income must not exceed the greater of: the monthly gross income of a minimum wage earner; OR the monthly gross income of a family of two at 100% of the poverty line.

Which of these is an example of forbearance?

Which of these is an example of forbearance? A movie star signing an endorsement contract with a soda company wherein they agree to not drink the cola beverages of a competitor is an example of a forbearance agreement.

What is the forbearance rule?

Forbearance involves granting concessions to borrowers who are unlikely to be able to repay their loans under the current terms and conditions. Forbearance measures can take the form of refinancing or restructuring the loan, or modifying the terms and conditions (including the interest rate and maturity).

What are good reasons to ask for a deferral?

7 good reasons to defer university admission
  • Take a gap year. Taking a gap year might be one of the most popular reasons to defer university admission. ...
  • Address personal concerns. ...
  • Improve your health. ...
  • Raise additional funds. ...
  • Complete an internship abroad. ...
  • Build your academic skill set. ...
  • Volunteer abroad.

Why were my student loans put in forbearance?

Your federal student loans may be placed in an “administrative forbearance” if an administrative or technical issue is impacting your ability to pay your bill. You'll be off the hook for student loan payments and interest accrual until the problem is resolved.

What are the reasons for getting deferred?

Often, applicants are deferred because the school wants the opportunity to see how students will utilize their last year of high school, if they're maintaining (or improving) their grades, and accomplishing other milestones through their extracurricular involvement.

What is a hardship deferment?

A deferment is a way to postpone paying back your student loans for a certain period of time. The economic hardship deferment is available only if you have a federal student loan. You are eligible only if you are not in default on your loans and if you obtained the loans on or after July 1, 1993.

What are the new forbearance rules?

Under the new law, forbearance shall be granted for up to 180 days at your request, and shall be extended for an additional 180 days at your request. 1 Remember to make the second 180-day request before the end of the first forbearance period.

How long can you apply for forbearance?

Your lender may grant forbearance of principal, interest, or both. If forbearance is granted on interest, the interest that accrues during the forbearance will usually be capitalized and added to the loan. Your lender can grant forbearance for up to 1 year if you agree to this in writing.

Who qualifies for forbearance?

You may qualify for a Student Loan Debt Burden Forbearance if the total monthly payment on all your eligible federal student loans is at least 20% of your total monthly income. Download the Mandatory Forbearance Request Student Loan Debt Burden form (PDF).

What is an example of a forbearance?

Forbearance is the intentional action of abstaining from doing something. In the context of the law, it refers to the act of delaying from enforcing a right, obligation , or debt . For example, a creditor may forbear legal action against the debtor if they settle the debt payment with new payment conditions.

Can I ask my mortgage company to skip a payment?

Forbearance is a process that can help if you're struggling to pay your mortgage. Your servicer or lender arranges for you to temporarily pause mortgage payments or make smaller payments. You still owe the full amount, and you pay back the difference later.

What qualifies for deferment?

The Department of Education allows eligible federal student loan borrowers to defer their payments for a variety of reasons, including economic hardship, cancer treatment, in-school deferment, military duty and more.

What is proof of economic hardship?

Evidence / documentation of your economic hardship. Examples of such evidence include: Copies of past and present currency exchange charts showing the devaluation of your country's currency. Proof (signed letters, affidavits, bank statements) of unexpected changes in the financial situation of your sponsor.

How do you qualify for hardship relief?

Qualification Requirements For IRS Hardship Relief

To be eligible for the IRS Hardship Program, taxpayers must demonstrate that they are facing significant financial hardship and are unable to pay their tax debts. Taxpayers must provide documentation and evidence supporting their financial situation.

In what situations might you want to need deferment or forbearance?

Deferment: Generally better if you have subsidized federal student loans or Perkins loans and you are unemployed or dealing with significant financial hardship. Forbearance: Generally better if you don't qualify for deferment and your financial challenge is temporary.

Is there a downside to forbearance?

Unless your loan servicer specifies otherwise, they will report your mortgage forbearance to the credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score because it shows a period when you weren't making mortgage payments.

How long does deferment approval take?

It typically takes about three business days from the day we receive your application. To potentially reduce this time, apply on the Repayment Options & Resources page . Many deferments and forbearances requested online are processed within 24 hours.