Why is the save plan paused?

Asked by: Garret Auer  |  Last update: May 3, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (2 votes)

A federal court issued an injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Education from implementing parts of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan and other IDR plans. Note: Eligible borrowers may now enroll in PAYE and ICR Plans. Continue to check this page for more information as developments occurs.

How long is the save plan paused for?

Student Loan Payment Pause Extended for 6 More Months for SAVE Borrowers. If you're enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan, your loans will remain in forbearance through early 2025. Evan Zimmer has been writing about finance for years.

Why is the save plan in forbearance?

To ensure you receive the additional benefits you may be eligible for and that your payment is the right amount under SAVE, Federal Student Aid has directed Advantage to place your account into a brief forbearance until these benefits have been applied to your account.

Why are student loan payments paused?

The Department of Education will pause student loan payments for 8 million borrowers after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a repayment plan that the Biden administration launched last year.

Are student loans paused again in 2024?

Generally, if you miss payments, your loan is considered delinquent and is reported as such to the national credit reporting agencies. You don't get reported when you're in forbearance. During the on-ramp period (through Sept. 30, 2024), we automatically put your loan in a forbearance for the payments you missed.

SAVE Plan Paused: What It Means for Your Student Loans

44 related questions found

Is the save plan going away?

A federal court issued an injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Education from implementing parts of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan and other IDR plans. Note: Eligible borrowers may now enroll in PAYE and ICR Plans. We will continue to update StudentAid.gov/saveaction with more information.

What are the changes in the Save Plan July 2024?

SAVE benefits available by July 2024 (on hold due to lawsuits) Monthly bills halved. Payments on undergraduate loans will be cut in half, from 10% to 5% of income above 225% of the poverty line.

Can I still enroll in the save plan?

Borrowers are still permitted to apply for SAVE (previously known as REPAYE), even though the court has enjoined some of the SAVE and other IDR plan provisions, including forgiveness.

Why did my student loan go into forbearance in August 2024?

The department first implemented the forbearance in August 2024 due to ongoing litigation between the department and seven states challenging the debt cancellation effort's legality. The plan is under an injunction preventing the department and servicers from forgiving loans.

What happens if save is struck down?

If the courts permanently strike down SAVE, millions of borrowers could lose a path to affordable student loan repayment. SAVE is more generous than other IDR plans. For example, SAVE offers lower monthly payments and an interest subsidy that prevents ballooning balances.

Will loans in forbearance be forgiven?

With forbearance, you won't have to make a payment, or you can temporarily make a smaller payment. However, you probably won't be making any progress toward forgiveness or paying back your loan. As an alternative, consider income-driven repayment.

Do I need to recertify my save plan?

Under the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan

If you don't recertify your income by the annual deadline, you'll be removed from the plan and placed on an alternative repayment plan. Under the alternative repayment plan, your required monthly payment is not based on your income.

Does forbearance hurt your credit?

Loan forbearance can impact your credit depending on how lenders report relief payments to credit bureaus. If payments are reported as delinquent, forbearance may harm your credit. However, many types of forbearance shouldn't hurt your credit.

Why is my student loan in forbearance save plan?

If you are in the SAVE forbearance: As described above, ED has placed borrowers currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan (previously known as the Revised Pay As You Earn, or REPAYE, Plan) into a general forbearance because their servicers are not currently able to bill them at the amount required by a recent court order.

What is going on with student loans right now?

The Supreme Court ruled we could not implement pandemic-related student loan debt relief, so we can't use your application from 2022. The new proposed regulations are different, and we're currently working to finalize their terms, including who may receive loan forgiveness.

Is there an income limit for the Save Plan?

There is no income limit to be eligible for the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan.

Do student loans automatically go into forbearance?

In most cases, you need to apply for a student loan forbearance with your servicer; it's not usually automatic, with the exception of some types of administrative forbearance.

Does a save plan stop interest?

The SAVE Plan eliminates 100% of remaining monthly interest for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans after you make a full scheduled payment. This means that if you make your monthly payment, your loan balance won't grow due to unpaid interest that accrued since your last payment.

Will student loans take my taxes in 2024?

No, the government will not take your refund (for now). But before you start celebrating, here are five things you need to know about your student loan in 2024. Your student loan interest will continue to accrue.

What are the downsides of the save plan?

But the SAVE Plan has some limitations: The plan doesn't have a cap on how high payments can be, so some people with incomes that are high compared to their loan balance would pay more on the SAVE Plan than they would on the Standard Repayment Plan.

Are parent plus loans forgiven after 10 years?

Parent PLUS loans can potentially be forgiven after 10 years under specific conditions, such as through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program after consolidation into a direct consolidation loan. Parent borrowers must enroll in the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan to qualify for PSLF.

Why is my student loan payment $0?

Grace Periods. One of the most common reasons you might have a $0 monthly student loan payment right now is because you're in something called your grace period. This is generally the six-month period after you leave college when no loan payments are required. It can take a minute to get used to life after college.

Are student loans forgiven after 20 years?

Any borrower with ED-held loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if the loans are not currently on an IDR plan. Borrowers with FFELP loans held by commercial lenders or Perkins loans not held by ED can benefit if they consolidate into Direct Loans.

Are student loans on pause?

The U.S. Department of Education's COVID-19 relief for student loans has ended. The 0% interest rate ended Sept. 1, 2023, and payments restarted in October.

Do you have to apply for the save plan every year?

Most borrowers won't need to reapply annually. Autorecertification will prevent you from missing your required annual IDR recertification date. You can also manually provide your income information. Review your plan options.