What is the maximum forbearance?

For federal student loans, the maximum forbearance period for general forbearance is 12 months at a time, with a total cap of 3 years over the life of the loan. Some forbearance plans, like those under the SAVE Plan, have no set limit but don't count toward forgiveness progress.

What happens at the end of the forbearance period?

At the end of the forbearance period, you resume loan payment, and interest adds up to your balance (known as capitalization). If you're still facing financial challenges, you may want to explore other repayment options like an income-driven repayment plan or deferment, which pauses payments for qualifying reasons like unemployment.

Can you request forbearance while in financial hardship?

Yes, you can request forbearance if you're experiencing financial hardship, but it’s often a temporary solution. General forbearance is limited to 3 years for federal loans, while private loan types may have stricter caps. Consider contacting your loan servicer to discuss repayment options like income-driven repayment plans, which can lower your monthly bill based on your income.

Does forbearance affect your interest rate or credit score?

Forbearance doesn't change your interest rate, but interest may continue to accrue and be added to your balance once the forbearance period ends. While being in forbearance doesn't directly affect your credit score, missed payments before approval can appear on your credit report. Always confirm your forbearance agreement with your loan servicer to avoid misunderstandings.

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

By Stanley Tate · Reviewed by Stanley Tate

Updated May 6, 2026 · 5 min read

OverviewMortgage vs. Student LoanForbearance TypesForbearance Application LimitsPrivate Student Loan ForbearanceDoes it Count to Forgiveness?Bottom LineFAQs

Quick Facts

General forbearance is capped at 3 years total. You can use it in 12-month chunks, but once you hit 36 months, you’re out.
SAVE Plan forbearance has no set limit, but it won’t count toward forgiveness. If you’re going for PSLF or IDR forgiveness, staying in too long could delay debt cancellation.
Private loan forbearance isn’t guaranteed. Lenders set their own rules, and interest always accrues, making your loan more expensive.

Overview

The term forbearance can apply to both student loans and mortgage payments, but the rules and long-term impact vary significantly. This article focuses on federal student loan forbearance, which pauses payments due to financial hardship or administrative decisions, like the ongoing SAVE Plan litigation.

Under the SAVE Plan’s administrative forbearance, payments are paused, and interest is temporarily set at 0%, but this time does not count toward forgiveness progress for programs like PSLF or IDR forgiveness.

Since “forbearance” is commonly associated with both student loans and mortgage relief, it’s helpful to break down how they differ.

Mortgage vs. Student Loan Forbearance

Aspect

Student Loan Forbearance

Mortgage Forbearance

1. Eligibility

Based on financial hardship or administrative pauses like the SAVE Plan.

Often triggered by financial hardship or relief programs (e.g., FHA, VA, USDA disaster relief).

2. Duration

General forbearance: Up to 12 months per request, with a 3-year cap.

3. Interest Accrual

Paused under SAVE forbearance but usually accrues over time.

May be paused temporarily but often leads to lump-sum payments or loan modifications.

4. Loan Servicer Role

Managed by federal loan servicers (e.g., MOHELA, Aidvantage).

Managed by mortgage servicers (e.g., FHA, VA, private lenders).

5. Impact on Forgiveness

SAVE forbearance does not count toward forgiveness.

No forgiveness—you need to repay missed payments.

6. COVID-19 Relief Example

Federal loans received automatic forbearance under the CARES Act during the pandemic.

The CARES Act also provided mortgage relief for FHA, VA, and USDA home loans.

Key Difference

Student loan forbearance, especially under the SAVE Plan, offers temporary payment relief but does not advance forgiveness progress. Mortgage forbearance, on the other hand, usually requires repayment of paused amounts and offers no forgiveness benefit.

Since this article focuses on student loan forbearance, the following sections will break down how it works and its limitations.

Types of Student Loan Forbearance

There are three main types of forbearance for federal student loans, each with different rules:

General Forbearance: Limited to 12 months at a time, with a total cap of 3 years. Approval is based on financial hardship.
Mandatory Forbearance: No cumulative limit but requires meeting specific eligibility (e.g., medical residency, National Guard service).
Administrative Forbearance: Temporary payment pause due to federal decisions, like the SAVE Plan litigation. Interest paused, but no forgiveness credit.

For most borrowers, the SAVE Plan’s administrative forbearance is the focus right now—payments are paused, but the time spent in forbearance won’t count toward forgiveness.

How Many Times Can You Apply for Forbearance?

You can apply for forbearance multiple times, but here’s the limit: General forbearance is capped at 3 years total, period. Other types—like mandatory and administrative forbearance—don’t have a set cap but follow different rules. Let’s look at how each type differs:

General Forbearance: The initial forbearance is limited to 12 months per request. You can reapply with a total cap of 3 years.
Mandatory Forbearance: No cumulative limit as long as you meet eligibility criteria.
Administrative Forbearance (SAVE Plan): Currently indefinite due to ongoing litigation, with no set limit on duration but no progress toward forgiveness during the pause.

While you can technically apply multiple times, general forbearance is capped at three years total. The current SAVE Plan administrative forbearance doesn’t require an application—the Department of Education (ED) automatically placed borrowers into forbearance due to the program’s legal challenges.

Related: When Is Forbearance Over?

Private Student Loan Forbearance

Private student loan forbearance isn’t guaranteed. Most lenders let you pause payments for 3–12 months at a time, but they set their own rules, and some have lifetime caps. Also, interest keeps growing while you pause payments. Let’s look at the following details:

Limited Duration: Typically granted for 3 to 12 months per request, often with a lifetime cap.
Interest Accrual: Interest always accrues and is added to the loan balance.
Eligibility Requirements: Approval is based on the lender’s discretion, often requiring proof of financial hardship.

Unlike federal loans, private lenders aren’t required to offer forbearance, and periods in forbearance never count toward loan forgiveness since private loans don’t have forgiveness options. If you’re struggling with private loan payments, it may be worth exploring settlement or refinancing options instead.

How SAVE Plan Forbearance Affects Loan Forgiveness

The current SAVE Plan administrative forbearance is unique—it pauses payments and freezes interest, but it doesn’t help borrowers move closer to loan forgiveness.

No Progress Toward Forgiveness: Months in SAVE forbearance don’t count toward required payments for programs like PSLF or IDR forgiveness.
Paused Interest Accrual: Interest is temporarily set at 0%, preventing loan balances from growing during this period.
Automatic Enrollment: Borrowers were placed into this forbearance due to ongoing litigation without needing to apply.

While forbearance offers short-term relief, it could delay forgiveness timelines for borrowers pursuing PSLF or seeking loan discharge through an income-driven repayment plan. Some borrowers may want to explore switching to a PSLF-eligible repayment plan if they’re actively working toward forgiveness.

Should You Stay in SAVE Forbearance?

If you’re in SAVE forbearance, here’s the big question: Should you stay?

The problem is that time in SAVE forbearance doesn’t count toward forgiveness. If you’re going for PSLF or IDR forgiveness, every skipped payment delays your progress. If you need short-term relief, staying in might make sense, but switching to an IDR plan ensures your payments count.

You should stay in the SAVE forbearance if:

You need temporary payment relief due to financial hardship.
You’re unsure about long-term forgiveness and want to avoid payments while litigation is unresolved.

You should switch to a repayment plan if:

You’re actively pursuing PSLF or IDR forgiveness, where each payment matters.
You want to ensure your monthly payments count toward forgiveness progress.

For more on whether switching plans makes sense for you, check out our detailed guide on switching from SAVE to IBR.

Bottom Line

Forbearance can give you short-term relief, but it’s not a long-term fix. If you’re struggling with your financial situation, you need to know the trade-offs.

General forbearance is capped at 3 years total, while other forbearance options—like mandatory or administrative forbearance—have different rules. If you’re in SAVE Plan forbearance, remember that this time won’t count toward PSLF or IDR forgiveness, which could delay forgiveness.

If you’re unsure about your forbearance options or how they impact your financial situation, talk to our student loan lawyer. Our experts can help you avoid costly mistakes, protect your progress toward forgiveness, and find the best way forward.

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