Why is deferment a better choice?

Asked by: Chesley Zieme  |  Last update: February 6, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (57 votes)

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.

Why is deferment a better choice than 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.

What are the pros and cons of a deferment?

A deferment period is a feasible option for someone facing economic hardship. It gives the borrower breathing room and allows them to get back on their feet by deferring loan and interest payments. However, the overall loan balance is increased due to the deferral.

Why is deferment important?

A deferment is a temporary pause to your student loan payments for specific situations such as active duty military service and reenrollment in school. You can apply for a deferment with your loan servicer, and you must continue to make payments until you've been notified that your deferment was approved.

What are the benefits of student loan deferment?

Key Takeaways
  • Student loan deferment allows you to stop making payments on your loan for up to three years but does not cancel the loan.
  • You must apply and qualify for deferment unless you are enrolled in school at least half-time.
  • Interest on federally subsidized loans does not accrue during the deferment.

Deferred Compensation: How They Work, Benefits, Risks

25 related questions found

What is deferment an important aspect of student loans?

If you're having trouble repaying your loans, you may consider requesting a loan deferment or forbearance: With a loan deferment, you can temporarily stop making payments. With a loan forbearance, you can stop making payments or reduce your monthly payments for up to 12 months.

What are the disadvantages of deferring student loans?

When it comes to deferment and forbearance, there are two important things to consider: 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.

What are good reasons for deferral?

If you have a well-thought-out gap year plan that demonstrates personal growth, colleges might grant your deferral request. Health Issues: If you're dealing with significant health issues that prevent you from attending college immediately, most colleges will be understanding and grant you a deferral.

What are the advantages of deferred payments?

A deferred payment option is a right to operationally defer payment on an investment until a later date. Deferring payment often has certain advantages to paying upfront, such as accruing interest or avoiding opportunity costs, which the owner of that option will usually pay for.

Is deferral good or bad?

You might feel like you've been rejected if you receive a deferral, but all it means is that your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision round. There is nothing wrong with your application, but you may need to submit more information to the admissions committee.

Does deferment hurt your credit?

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.

What are the disadvantages of a deferred payment?

Disadvantages of a Deferred Payment Agreement

Interest is usually applied on a compound basis. This means you'll pay interest on interest already incurred, as well as the care fees. This route is likely to reduce the amount of inheritance you can leave.

What is the risk of deferral?

Project deferral risk is the potential for a project to be delayed or postponed due to external factors. This type of risk can arise from a variety of sources, including changes in customer requirements, delays in obtaining necessary resources, or unexpected events that require additional time and effort to address.

Should I leave my loans in deferment or forbearance?

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 long does deferment last?

Unemployment or part-time employment deferment

If you're looking for a job, but can't get full-time employment, you may defer your payments for up to three years. Full-time employment is defined as at least 30 hours of work a week, with the expectation that the job will last at least three months.

What are the benefits of a deferred?

Deferred compensation plans provide a stable income to people after they retire. The money received through retirement plans provides financial stability. Beneficiaries can also invest their money in mutual funds or other investment options later so that they can earn interest income.

Why would someone have a payment deferral?

There are times in business when the funds to make a payment might not be immediately available. When this happens, rather than missing a payment and incurring penalties or interest, a deferred payment agreement can be entered into.

What are the two major advantages of using deferred compensation?

The Benefits

The contributions to the plan are tax-deductible each year. The money in the deferred compensation account will also grow tax-free until it's withdrawn.

What is the reason for deferment?

Acceptable reasons for deferment

Care of children. Military service or civilian service. Student union posts. Postponed leave from your job under the Employee's Right to Educational Leave Act (SFS 1974:981).

What is the purpose of a deferral?

In accounting, a deferral is any account where the income or expense is not recognised until a future date. In accounting, deferral refers to the recognition of revenue or expenses at a later time than when the cash transaction occurs.

What happens when you defer?

Deferring simply means delaying. A deferred entry means applying for a course and then taking a year out before starting it. This might be pre-planned, for example if you want to go on a gap year, or you might change your mind during the application.

Does student loan deferment hurt your credit?

A student loan deferral doesn't directly hurt your credit score. However, it doesn't help it, either. Depending on your situation, a loan deferral might not be the optimal strategy for dealing with your student debt.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of deferring student loans?

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.

What are 3 drawbacks to getting a student loan?

What are the Cons?
  • Taking out a student loan means you are starting your adult life with debt.
  • Student loan debt can get in the way of other financial and lifestyle goals.
  • The penalties for defaulting on some loan payments include added fees, added interest and wage garnishment.