Deferments

What is a deferment?
A deferment allows you to postpone your payments for a specified period of time based on authorized reasons. During periods of deferment, depending on the loan type, the federal government may pay the interest on your behalf.

When am I eligible for a deferment?
Deferments are granted during your repayment period only (i.e., after the grace period on your loan expires). You cannot be in default on your loan.

How can I obtain a deferment?
You must contact your lender/servicer to request a deferment and provide required documentation. Unless your lender/servicer instructs you not to do so, you must continue to make the required payments on your loan(s) until you have received notification that the deferment request has been approved.

Do I qualify for a deferment?
Begin by identifying the correct deferment type and form to use. Because the eligibility requirements for many of the deferments can be complex, it is important that you carefully read the eligibility information on the deferment form you select. A step by step guide has been developed to help you in the selection process.

If you know which form to use, advance to Step 3 to access that form.

Step 1 From Table A below, locate the type of loan you have and identify your Borrower Type based on when your loan(s) was disbursed.
Step 2 From Table B, select the reason why you are seeking a deferment and match it with the Borrower Type from Step 1.
Step 3 Once you have identified the correct form, go to Table C to access the form.

If you have any questions, contact your lender/servicer. If you do not know who your lender/servicer is, contact an ECMC representative at 888.295.1121.


Step 1: From Table A, locate the type of loan you have and identify your Borrower Type.

TABLE A
Borrower Type
(for Stafford and SLS loans)		 Description
Type A 'OLD' Borrower You received a Federally Guaranteed loan(s) prior to July 1, 1987.
Type B 'NEW' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan after July 1, 1987 but before July 1, 1993
Type C 'NEW-NEW' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan on or after July 1, 1993.
Borrower Type (for PLUS loans) Description
Type D 'OLD - OLD' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan prior to August 15, 1983.
Type E 'OLD' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan on or after August 15, 1983 but before July 1, 1987.
Type F 'NEW' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan on or after July 1, 1987 but before July 1, 1993.
Type G 'NEW-NEW' Borrower You received your first FFELP loan on or after July 1, 1993.
Please Note: If you are a PLUS borrower (types D,E, and F only) seeking a deferment on the basis of your dependent student's status (enrolled full- or half-time, or full-time in a rehabilitation training program), you should use the PLUS deferment form.
Borrower Type
(for Consolidation loans)		 Description
Type H 'CONS' Borrower You consolidated your loans before July 1, 1993.
Type I 'NEW CONS' Borrower You received your Federal Consolidation loan on or after July 1, 1993, and had no other outstanding FFELP loan when the Federal Consolidation loan was made.

 

Step 2: Once you have determined your Borrower Type, go to Table B and select the reason you are seeking a deferment and match it with your borrower type. This will identify the deferment form you should use.
Example: If you have determined you are a Type B Borrower from Step 1 and are currently in a Graduate Fellowship you would need an Education Related Deferment (EDU).

TABLE B
Reason for Deferment Deferment Form by Borrower Type
Eligible Borrower Type Type A Type B Type C Type D Type E Type F Type G Type H Type I
In School Full Time ALL SCH SCH SCH SCH SCH SCH SCH SCH SCH
In School at Least Half Time B,C,F,G,H,I N/A SCH SCH N/A N/A SCH SCH SCH SCH
Graduate Fellowship ALL EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU
Rehabilitation Training ALL EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU EDU
Unemployment ALL UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM UNEM
Temporary Total Disability A,B,D,E,F,H TDIS TDIS N/A TDIS TDIS TDIS N/A TDIS N/A
Internship/Residency* A,B,D EDU EDU N/A EDU N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)* BRT N/A PUB N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Armed Forces or Public Health Service * A,B,D PUB PUB N/A PUB N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Peace Corps, ACTION or Full-time Volunteer for a Tax-Exempt Organization * A,B,D PUB PUB N/A PUB N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Teaching Full Time in a Teacher Shortage Area * B N/A EDU N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Parental Leave * (during pregnancy or to care for newborn or adopted child) A,B PLWM PLWM N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Mother of Preschool Child * B N/A PLWM N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Economic Hardship * C,G,I N/A N/A HRD N/A N/A N/A HRD N/A HRD

*PLUS borrowers do not qualify for these deferments


Step 3: Once you have identified the deferment form, go to Table C to access the form.
  Please note, you must refer to the form you select for the specific eligibility requirements and time limits applicable to that deferment.
TABLE C
Deferment Forms
SCH (In-School) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here EDU (Education Related) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here
PLUS (PLUS Borrower with Dependent Student) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here PUB (Public Service) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here
TDIS (Temporary or Permanent Disability) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here PLWM (Parental Leave/Working Mother) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here
UNEM (Unemployment) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here HRD (Economic Hardship) Download Download Adobe Acrobat Here