How to Defer Your Student Loans Due to Unemployment
Paying student loan bills while you have a job is difficult enough for many borrowers, and keeping up with payments during a time of unemployment is even harder. Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Education and most private lenders are willing to defer student loan payments for up to three years while the borrower is unemployed. During deferment, you do not have to make any payments, although you can if you would like. Interest continues to accrue on your loans during deferment unless they are subsidized Stafford or Perkins loans from the federal government.
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Instructions
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Register with an employment agency if you have one within 50 miles of where you live or make copies of your unemployment insurance benefit documentation that shows you are eligible for and are receiving benefits. The federal government requires that you do one of these to be eligible for unemployment deferment, and most private lenders have similar requirements.
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Download and print the unemployment deferment form from your lender's website. If you cannot find it on the website, call the lender and ask for help.
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Fill out the application for deferment, including your personal information and all required signatures and certifications.
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Attach the required additional paperwork, if any, and mail the application to your lender at the address provided on the form.
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Reapply for unemployment deferment every six months by submitting the form again. If you are no longer eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, you must certify that you have diligently attempted to get at least six jobs during the previous six months.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not pay the interest that accrues during the deferment period, it will be added to the balance of your loan when you begin repayment again. This will increase your interest payments in the future.
