Your student loan payment may have changed. Find the plan that fits your income.
Federal repayment rules changed on July 1, 2026. Get a free review of your options: RAP, IBR, PSLF and more, explained in plain English.
- Repayment plans based on your income and family size
- Check your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) path if you work for a nonprofit or government employer
- Sort out IDR, IBR, ICR, PAYE, SAVE and RAP without the jargon
Forgiveness is never guaranteed. Programs have eligibility rules and can take 10 to 30 years. We help you understand what you may qualify for.
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What changed, and what's coming
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshaped federal student loan repayment. Here are the dates that matter.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is signed. It creates the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and a new Tiered Standard Plan.
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A federal court order formally ends the SAVE plan.
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RAP opens. SAVE borrowers begin getting notices from their servicers.
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SAVE borrowers have 90 days from their servicer's notice to pick a new plan. Check the date on yours.
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PAYE and ICR end. Borrowers still in them must move to another plan.
What this means for you
Your options depend on when you borrowed and which plan you're in today. Pick the one that sounds like you.
SAVE is over. You need to choose a new plan.
Your servicer will send a notice giving you 90 days to switch. If you don't choose, you can be placed in a Standard or Tiered Standard plan, which often has a higher monthly payment than an income-driven plan.
- Your options generally include RAP or IBR, depending on when you borrowed.
- Compare payments before you pick. The cheapest monthly payment isn't always the cheapest overall.
You have more choices, for now.
If you have no loans from July 1, 2026 or later, you can generally stay in Standard, Graduated, Extended or IBR, or opt into RAP.
- PAYE and ICR stop working for you on July 1, 2028, so plan your move early.
- Which plan wins depends on your income, family size and how long you'll be paying.
You'll choose between two plans.
For loans made on or after July 1, 2026, including new consolidation loans, the choices are RAP or the Tiered Standard Plan. If you don't opt into RAP, you're placed in Tiered Standard.
- Consolidating can change which plans you can use later. Talk it through before you file.
- RAP also starts your count toward PSLF if you qualify.
PSLF could still be your fastest route.
PSLF forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments while you work full time for a qualifying employer. Forgiven amounts under PSLF are not treated as federal taxable income.
- Only Direct Loans qualify. Other federal loans may need to be consolidated.
- On-time RAP payments count toward the 120.
- Congress created PSLF and could change it, so nobody can promise it will look the same in ten years.
Estimate your monthly payment under RAP
RAP takes 1% to 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), divides it by 12, and subtracts $50 for each dependent. The minimum is $10 a month.
- Share of your AGI used
- 5%
- Unpaid interest
- Waived if you pay on time
- Balance forgiven after
- 30 years (10 with PSLF)
Estimate only. Married filing jointly uses combined AGI, and your payment may be split if your spouse also has federal loans. Your servicer sets your actual payment.
The plans, in plain English
IDR just means income-driven repayment: your payment is tied to what you earn, not just what you owe.
| Plan | How your payment is set | Remaining balance forgiven | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | 1% to 10% of AGI, minus $50 per dependent, $10 minimum | After 30 years of payments | Open to all |
| IBR | A share of your discretionary income (income above a set poverty-line threshold) | After 20 to 25 years, depending on when you borrowed | Available if no loans from July 1, 2026 or later |
| Tiered Standard | Fixed payment over 10 to 25 years, based on your balance. Not tied to income. | Loan is paid off | New default for new loans |
| PAYE and ICR | Share of discretionary income | After 20 to 25 years | Closed to new enrollment End July 1, 2028 |
| SAVE (was REPAYE) | Reduced share of discretionary income | Not applicable | Ended |
| PSLF | Not a plan. It works with qualifying plans (RAP, IBR and others). | After 120 qualifying payments with a qualifying employer | Available for Direct Loans |
Details vary by loan type and borrowing date. Table reflects rules as of September 2026. Always confirm with your servicer or StudentAid.gov before you make a change.
How the free review works
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Tell us about your loans
Share your balance and current plan in the form. If you have a StudentAid.gov login, the review goes faster.
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A consultant compares your options
We look at RAP, IBR, Tiered Standard and PSLF against your income, family size and goals, and show you the numbers.
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You choose what to do
You decide. Federal plan applications are filed with your servicer and the Department of Education.
Dealing with a defaulted student loan?
Collection notices, rising interest and wage garnishment are signs your loan is in default. You may have options to fix it.
- Understand why your loan is in default
- Explore options to get your loan back into good standing
- Review programs that may help reduce your monthly payment
- See whether you may qualify for loan forgiveness or discharge programs
Don't ignore a defaulted loan. Taking action early may give you more options to address the situation and get your finances back on track. Eligibility and program availability vary based on individual circumstances and applicable federal rules; no specific result or amount of forgiveness is guaranteed.
Get my situation reviewedWill my student loans be forgiven?
Not automatically, and not for everyone. Forgiveness usually comes from PSLF (120 qualifying payments), or from an income-driven plan after 20 to 30 years. Some borrowers also qualify for teacher, disability or other discharges. We'll tell you honestly what you may qualify for.
Can my payment really be very low?
Income-driven plans tie your payment to your income, so lower earners pay less. RAP's minimum is $10 a month. Other plans such as IBR can go as low as $0 for borrowers with very low incomes. A lower payment can mean paying for longer, so it's worth comparing total cost too.
What if I'm in default?
Defaulted federal loans can often be brought back into good standing through rehabilitation or consolidation, which can also restore access to repayment plans. Tell us about it in the form and we'll cover it in your review.
Do I have to consolidate?
Not always. Consolidation can help, for example to make older loan types eligible for PSLF, but it can also affect your options and your payment count. Check before you file.
Is this the Department of Education?
No. US Federal Debt Help is a private company. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, and federal loan servicing and applications are handled at StudentAid.gov and by your loan servicer.
Find out what your options are before your deadline.
A short, free review can show you which plan may fit your income and what each choice would cost you over time.
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