At times, there may be events in your life that may prevent you from making payments to your student loan obligations. Deferments and forbearances are options for borrowers to postpone payments for a specific period of time.

• A deferment is a period of time in which the borrower, upon meeting certain conditions, is not required to make payments of loan principal. In order to qualify, you must request the deferment from your lender or servicer and provide all required documentation necessary to establish eligibility. Click here to see what deferment options you may be eligible for. If you go into default, you are not eligible to receive deferments on those loans in default.
• A forbearance is a period of time when the borrower is permitted to temporarily cease making payments or to reduce the amount of the payments. The borrower is liable for the interest that accrues on the loan during the forbearance period. Some forbearances are entitlements; others are granted at the discretion of the lender. Click here to find out the types of forbearances that are available to borrowers.