Tate Esq
Newsletter Book a call
Student Loan Repayment 101 articles

Student Loan Repayment

IDR plans, SAVE, IBR, PAYE, ICR, forbearance, and what to do when your servicer gives you the wrong answer.

Latest in Student Loan Repayment

101 articles · reading order
Read first

Income-Driven Repayment Plans in 2026: Which Plans Exist, Which Are Ending, and How to Choose

IDR plans changed under the OBBBA. See which income-driven repayment plans exist in 2026, which are ending, and how to choose between IBR and RAP.

Stanley Tate 8 min read Updated March 2026 Read the guide Browse all 101 articles Search, filter by topic, sort by date
No. 01

The plans

21 guides

If you're picking a plan for the first time, or recertifying — start here.

Income-Driven Repayment Plans in 2026: Which Plans Exist, Which Are Ending, and How to Choose

IDR plans changed under the OBBBA. See which income-driven repayment plans exist in 2026, which are ending, and how to choose between IBR and RAP.

Stanley Tate 8 min Read

Income-Based Repayment (IBR): How It Works, Who Qualifies, and What Changed

IBR sets your payment at 10–15% of discretionary income. No income cap, no hardship test. Here's how it works, who qualifies, and what changed.

Stanley Tate 9 min Read

Pay As You Earn (PAYE): How It Works, Eligibility & What's Changing

PAYE caps federal student loan payments at 10% of discretionary income with forgiveness after 20 years. Learn eligibility, how it works, and what's changing.

Stanley Tate 6 min Read

What is the Repayment Assistance Plan

Learn how the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) changes federal student loan repayment starting July 1, 2026. Understand payment calculations, pros and cons,

Stanley Tate 6 min Read
See all 21 guides in The plans →
No. 02

Changing your plan

8 guides · in order

The mechanics of switching plans, consolidating, or starting over — without losing forgiveness progress.

01 Should You Switch IDR Plans in 2026? SAVE is gone. PAYE and ICR sunset in 2028. Learn when to switch IDR plans, how switching affects forgiveness and PSLF, and how to apply. 5 min 02 What Happens to IBR and SAVE Borrowers When RAP Starts RAP launches in 2026 but IBR stays open. Learn what happens to IBR, SAVE, PAYE, and ICR borrowers and how your forgiveness progress carries over. 5 min 03 PAYE vs IBR: Differences, Which Is Better, and What to Do Before 2028 PAYE and IBR look the same for most borrowers. Here's what's actually different — and why it matters before PAYE sunsets in 2028. 10 min 04 IBR vs RAP: Which Student Loan Repayment Plan Is Better for You? Compare IBR and RAP to see which repayment plan fits you best. Learn how payments, forgiveness timelines, and interest rules differ. 4 min
See all 8 guides in Changing your plan →
No. 03

When the bill is a problem

11 guides

Lower the payment, pause the bill, or stop the interest from compounding.

Why Did My Federal Student Loan Payment Increase?

Federal student loan payment went up? Common causes include SAVE plan changes, recertification, and servicer errors — plus what to do next.

Stanley Tate 8 min Read

How Many Forbearances Are Allowed for Student Loans?

How many forbearances are you allowed? Federal student loan forbearance is capped at 3 years, but other types have different rules. Here’s what you need to kno

Stanley Tate 7 min Read

Student Loans and Maternity Leave: Options Before and After Baby

No automatic pause on student loans during maternity leave, but deferment, forbearance, and IDR recertification can lower or stop payments. Here are your option

Stanley Tate 4 min Read

Income-Based Repayment Too High? Here’s What to Do

If your IBR payment feels too high, learn why it might be higher than expected and how to lower it. Explore options to avoid delinquency.

Stanley Tate 9 min Read
See all 11 guides in When the bill is a problem →
No. 04

Servicers

11 guides · in order

Who handles your loans, what changed, and how to navigate a transfer.

01 Student Loan Servicers: Who They Are and What They Do A student loan servicer is a company that processes your payments over the life of the loan, helps you enroll in a repayment plan, reviews your eligibility for loan forgiveness and discharge programs, and answers any questions that come up. The US Department of Education typicall 8 min 02 Aidvantage Student Loans: Repayment Options, Forgiveness & Support Manage your student loans effectively with Aidvantage. Explore repayment options, understand forgiveness programs, and steps to access your federal loans. 12 min 03 Ascendium: Student Loan Forgiveness & Repayment Options In this post, I’ll explain wh Ascendium Education Solutions is and what they have to do with your student loans. 2 min 04 FedLoan Servicing: What Happened and What You Need to Know FedLoan Servicing stopped handling federal loans in 2022, impacting millions of borrowers. Here’s what happened, who took over, and what to expect next. 6 min
See all 11 guides in Servicers →
No. 05

Forbearance & deferment

6 guides · in order

When you need to pause — what qualifies, what it costs, and how long it lasts.

01 Can’t Pay Your Loans? Consider Forbearance or Deferment What is forbearance?What is deferment?Who qualifies for deferment?Forbearance vs. DefermentPrivate loan forbearanceCOVID-19 and student loansOther options when you can’t pay student loansWant someone in your corner? 10 min 02 What is Student Loan Forbearance? Will it Hurt Credit? [2023 Update] You must meet certain criteria to be approved for forbearance, including applying _before_ your student loan goes into default (270 days without paying). 10 min 03 Why Is My Student Loan In Administrative Forbearance? Administrative forbearance is a temporary pause on your student loan payments, typically initiated by your loan servicer or the government. If you’ve recently noticed that your student loan is in administrative forbearance, it’s likely because you are enrolled in the SAVE Plan. 8 min 04 Awaiting Form Administrative Forbearance: What It Means Get clarity on administrative forbearance, how it pauses payments, what happens with interest, and how it affects your path to loan forgiveness. 9 min
See all 6 guides in Forbearance & deferment →
No. 06

Consolidation

8 guides · in order

Combining federal loans into one — when it helps, when it hurts, and how to apply.

01 What is Student Loan Consolidation, and How Do I Apply? 3 Benefits to Consolidation2 Downsides to Student Loan ConsolidationEligible Loans to ConsolidateDoes it cost to consolidate student loans?How to consolidate student loansHow long does a student loan consolidation take?Consolidating student loans more than onceAverage interest ra 12 min 02 Consolidate an FFELP Loan to a Direct Loan: How to Do It Usually, consolidation involves risks, like losing previously earned PSLF and repayment plan forgiveness credit. But the federal government has waived this penalty for those who consolidate before the end of 2023. 6 min 03 How Many Times Can You Consolidate Student Loans? There are a handful of times where student loans can be consolidated twice. 5 min 04 Does Student Loan Consolidation Affect Your Credit Score? Are you thinking about consolidating your student loans but worried about how it might affect your credit score? 5 min
See all 8 guides in Consolidation →
No. 07

Marriage & family

10 guides · in order

How marriage, divorce, dependents, and filing status change your payment.

01 Am I Responsible for My Spouse’s Student Loan Debt? Marriage doesn't automatically make you responsible for your spouse's student loan debt — even if you live in a community property state. 4 min 02 Does Spouse Income Count for Student Loan Repayment? | IDR Explained Your spouse's income counts for IDR if you file jointly. IBR, PAYE, and ICR let you exclude it by filing separately. Here's how each plan works. 4 min 03 Marriage and Student Loans: Forgiveness and Repayment Options You’re getting married, and student loans are coming along for the ride. As you start your life together, you may wonder: 14 min 04 Married Filing Separately for Student Loans: When It Lowers Your Payment (and When It Doesn't) Filing separately can cut your IDR payment in half — but costs you tax credits and deductions. Plan-by-plan breakdown, tax tradeoff, and when the math works. 8 min
See all 10 guides in Marriage & family →
No. 08

Credit & housing

12 guides · in order

Student loans and your credit score, mortgage approval, and home buying.

01 Do Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score? Student loans impact credit through payment history, delinquencies, and refinancing — timely guidance for 2025 borrowers. 3 min 02 Can You Buy a House with $100k (or more) in Student Loans? Yes! Learn how to manage $100k (or more) student loans while buying a house. Explore loan options, budgeting strategies, and success stories. 12 min 03 Can You Buy a House with Student Loans? Explore how student loans impact home buying, from affecting your credit score to shaping your debt-to-income ratio. Navigate your path to homeownership. 10 min 04 Guide to Buying a House with Student Loans in Deferment Don't let deferred student loans hold you back. Discover how to buy a house with student loans in deferment with ease. 12 min
See all 12 guides in Credit & housing →
No. 09

Policy changes

3 guides · in order

New laws and deadlines that affect your repayment strategy.

01 Big Beautiful Bill Student Loan Changes: What the Law Does The Big Beautiful Bill restructures student loan repayment, borrowing limits, and forgiveness starting July 2026. Here's what the law changes. 3 min 02 Student Loan Changes on July 1, 2026: What Borrowers Need to Do Multiple student loan programs change on July 1, 2026. RAP launches, Grad PLUS ends, Parent PLUS consolidation closes, and PSLF employer rules tighten. Here's w 8 min 03 Extended Graduated Repayment: Eligibility & 2026 Rules Lower your monthly payment by stretching your term. See the new 2026 \"New Borrower\" rules, the $30k debt requirement, and if the cost is worth it. 5 min
No. 10

Loan basics

11 guides · in order

Interest, balances, account numbers, and how repayment works at a fundamental level.

01 How Long Do Student Loans Last? 10-30 Years Student loans last 10-30 years, but how long you'll be in repayment depends on which repayment plan you choose. Here's how to find the best one for you. 4 min 02 Does Student Loan Interest Compound? Understanding the Impact on Your Loan Balance Federal student loan interest and many private student loan interest accrue daily and compound monthly. But specific loan terms may vary, so you’ll need to review the loan agreement for exact compounding frequency. 10 min 03 Interest Capitalization: The Hidden Factor Increasing Your Student Loan Balance Discover the impact of interest capitalization on your student loan balance and learn effective strategies to reduce its effects and manage your debt. 12 min 04 Student Loan Balance Says Zero? Here’s Why You check your credit report, and your student loan balance says zero. Or maybe your loan was closed. Or, even better, the loans disappeared completely. Whatever it says, you get excited because you hope it means you’re free from the debt that followed you for years. I hate to br 7 min
See all 11 guides in Loan basics →
Also relevant · From other topics

You might also want guides from neighboring topics

These articles live in other hubs but bear on the decisions you're making here. They link to where they live.

5 articles · 3 hubs
From Parent PLUSAll Parent PLUS

Parent PLUS Loan Repayment Options: What Parents Need to Know Before July 2026

Compare Parent PLUS repayment plans and learn how consolidation unlocks IBR through ICR before the June 2026 deadline.

6 min

Parent PLUS Loan Tax Deduction: How It Works

Explore the Parent PLUS Loan Tax Deduction and save up to $2,500 on taxes. Unlock these benefits with our step-by-step guide.

9 min
From Private LoansAll Private Loans

NJ Class Income-Based Repayment Program: How it Works

Struggling with NJCLASS loans? Learn how NJ's income-based repayment plans can reduce your monthly payments and prevent default. Get step-by-step guidance.

8 min

How to Lower Private Student Loan Payments: A Guide

Are you drowning in private student loan debt?

8 min
From Default & CollectionsAll Default & Collections

USDOE/GLELSI on Your Credit Report (2023)

Decode 'USDOE/GLELSI' on your credit report — understand student loan shifts, how to manage credit scores, and navigate loan repayments.

7 min

Questions about your situation?

Every loan is different. A 20-minute call can save months of guessing.

Book a 20-min call

$200 · written recap the next day

Browse forms yourself