The Online Survival Guide for Student Loan Borrowers (DIY 2025)
- LHS Legacy
- May 20
- 4 min read
For Borrowers Navigating Alone Due to Office Closures & Delays.
For Those Affected by the Shutdown of Onsite Loan Offices
❗ You Deserve Support — Even If the Offices Are Gone
Across the country, student loan help centers, campus aid offices, and support agencies are being shut down or downsized. This has left millions of borrowers confused, abandoned, or unaware of what help still exists.
But the truth is: many critical services are still available online — if you know where to look and how to access them.
That’s why we created this Click-and-Go Survival Page: to ensure EVERY borrower can take action, solve problems, and complete important loan functions without needing in-person help.
What This Page Provides
A growing number of student loan services are now only available through online self-service. Below are essential loan actions you can take yourself, each with:
A direct link to the official service
Step-by-step instructions
Plain language, so clear a child can follow
Apply for Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)
Lower your monthly payments based on income and family size.
Active Plans (as of May 2025):
Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)
❌ SAVE Plan is blocked by federal injunction and not currently available.
📌 Required: FSA ID, income documentation, tax returns or pay stubs.
Apply for Deferment
Temporarily pause payments if you meet a qualifying condition such as:
Being enrolled at least half-time in school
Receiving unemployment benefits
Military service or eligible training program
Interest does not accrue on subsidized loans during deferment.
Request Forbearance
Pause payments for up to 12 months due to:
Financial hardship
Illness or medical expenses
Change in employment
💡 Interest does accrue on all loans during forbearance.
🔄 Consolidate Federal Loans
Combine multiple federal student loans into one to:
Simplify repayment
Gain access to income-driven plans
Exit default (if used strategically)
📌 You must choose a repayment plan (IDR preferred for most).
🏛️ Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Forgive remaining debt after 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for:
Government agencies
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
📌 Must be on a qualifying IDR plan.
Forbearance and deferment periods typically do not count.
🔁 Recertify Your IDR Plan
Annual recertification is required to:
Keep your monthly payment based on income
Avoid automatic increases
📌 Deadline is based on your original approval date.
🚨 Loan Rehabilitation (Get Out of Default)
Restore your loan to good standing by making 9 on-time monthly payments.
📌 Use this if you’re in default and at risk of:
Wage garnishment
Tax refund seizure
Social Security offset
🌟 DIY GUIDE: How to Apply for an
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan in 2025
🔗 Step 1: Go to the Official IDR Application Page
Click here: StudentAid.gov/idrThis is the ONLY official U.S. Department of Education website for federal student loan repayment options.
🔐 Step 2: Log In With Your FSA ID
Click the "Log In" button (top right corner)
Use your FSA ID (username & password)
🔗 Need an account? Create your FSA ID
🔗 Forgot login? Recover it here
📄 Step 3: Start the Application
Once logged in:
Click “Apply for Income-Driven Repayment Plan”
You’ll be taken through a guided application process
💵 Step 4: Provide Income Information
Choose how you want to verify your income:
Option A: Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool
Click “Use IRS Data” to import your latest tax return info
Option B: Upload Alternative Documents
Required if your income changed or no taxes were filed:
Recent pay stubs
Employer letter with your gross income
Signed statement if self-employed
Proof of unemployment (if applicable)
📂 Step 5: Choose Your Plan
Select one of the available plans:
IBR: Income-Based Repayment
PAYE: Pay As You Earn
ICR: Income-Contingent Repayment
🚫 Note: The SAVE Plan is currently unavailable due to court action (as of May 2025).
⏩ Step 6: Submit Your Application
Review all information carefully
Click “Submit”
Save a screenshot of the confirmation
⏳ What to Expect Next
Processing Delays:
Up to 2 million applications pending (as of April 30, 2025)
Expect processing delays of several weeks or more
Temporary Forbearance:
Loans may enter processing forbearance
No payments required, but interest may accrue depending on plan
🗓 Annual Recertification Required
Update your income and family size every year
Missed recertification can raise your payment amount
🔗 Set reminders using: Google Calendar
🚨 If You're Pursuing PSLF
Ensure your IDR plan qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Only actual payments count toward the 120 payments
Forbearance periods do not count toward PSLF
⚡ Final Self-Help Tips
Always screenshot your submission
Bookmark: StudentAid.gov/idr
Use the site's chatbot for help on any page
Check your email regularly for updates
⛔ In Default or Facing Garnishment?
Take immediate action:
Loan Rehabilitation
Loan Consolidation
When to Choose Forbearance vs. Deferment
Feature | Deferment | Forbearance |
Best for... | Specific qualifying situations (e.g., school, unemployment, military) | Short-term financial hardship without qualifying for deferment |
Interest Accrual | No interest on subsidized loans during deferment | Interest accrues on all loans, even subsidized |
Harder to Qualify? | Yes – requires specific eligibility criteria | No – more widely granted for temporary hardship |
Max Time Limit | Varies by type (often up to 36 months) | Usually up to 12 months at a time |
Recertification? | Sometimes, depending on the deferment type | Not required but must reapply if extended past initial period |
Types of Deferment
In-School Deferment
Unemployment Deferment
Economic Hardship Deferment
Military Service Deferment
Graduate Fellowship Deferment
Rehabilitation Training Program Deferment
Types of Forbearance
General (Discretionary) Forbearance
Financial hardship
Medical expenses
Change in employment
Mandatory Forbearance
AmeriCorps service
National Guard duty
Department of Defense repayment programs
Monthly payment exceeds 20% of monthly income
How to Decide
Choose Deferment If... |
You meet a qualifying condition (e.g., full-time school, unemployed, military duty). |
You have subsidized loans and want to avoid accruing interest. |
Choose Forbearance If... |
You don’t qualify for deferment but are experiencing a temporary hardship. |
You need a quicker approval process and are okay with interest accruing. |
Pro Tip:
Whenever possible, apply for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan instead. It lowers your payment based on your income and counts toward loan forgiveness, unlike forbearance or deferment.
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