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Under certain circumstances, you may find it hard to pay back your educational loans. Such circumstances may include unemployment, economic hardship, disability, military service, attending graduate school or going to college part time. If any of these situations prevent you from making payments, you may be eligible for loan deferment. Deferment gives you a period of time in which you are not required to pay your Federal PLUS Loan’s principal, but interest will still accumulate. You can request a deferment through your lender, providing required documents for approval and if you meet all eligibility requirements, the lender must grant the deferment.
Deferments are not automatic. You must contact your lender as soon as an event occurs that temporarily affects your ability to make your loan payments. Also, you must continue to make your loan payments until the deferment is approved.
Deferment Options for Federal PLUS Loans
For current Federal PLUS loans (including those for graduate students), seven deferment options are available. Each has a specific time limitation associated with it. Mapping Your Future provides charts designed to assist you in determining your deferment eligibility based on the disbursement date of your oldest outstanding loan.
| Deferment Types |
Time Limits |
| Enrollment in school at least half time |
No time limit |
| Graduate fellowship |
No time limit |
| Military Service |
No time limit |
| Rehabilitation training |
No time limit |
| Post-Military Active Duty |
13 months |
| Unemployment |
36 months |
| Economic hardship |
36 months |
Deferments are also available for Federal Direct PLUS Loans.
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