Deferment Type |
Form |
Time Limit |
Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford / Federal Stafford |
SLS |
Direct PLUS / Federal PLUS for Parents |
Direct Consolidation / Federal Consolidation |
Post-Active Duty
Post-Active Duty
A deferment for borrowers returning from active duty who were enrolled at least half time in an eligible institution prior to being called or ordered to active duty (doesn’t require activation during a war, military operation, or national emergency). The active duty deferment runs concurrently with the 180-day deferment period following the demobilization date allowed under the military deferment.
|
MIL: English |
13 months |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Active Duty Armed Forces
Active Duty Armed Forces Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Members of the National Guard or the Reserves also may be eligible if they are
serving in a full-time active duty status for a minimum of one year or in cases
of a national emergency (two-week active duty for training is not considered
full-time active duty status).
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Active Duty National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps
Active Duty National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps Deferment
A deferment for borrowers serving on active duty for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Corps (NOAA).
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Graduate Fellowship
Graduate Fellowship Deferment
A deferment for borrowers engaged in a fulltime course of study in a Graduate Fellowship
program. The borrower must already hold at least a bachelor´s degree. The Graduate
Fellowship program must provide the borrower with sufficient financial support to study full
time for at least six months. A program official must certify the borrower´s participation
in the program.
|
GFL |
None |
X |
X |
X |
X |
In-School Full Time
In-School Full Time Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are attending school full time (as defined by the school).
In order to be considered eligible, a school must be an institution of higher education and
be eligible to participate in Title IV financial assistance programs. A school official must
certify the dates of attendance and enrollment status. (Note: The school can verify if it is
an eligible institution and be able to certify enrollment.)
|
SCH |
None |
X |
X |
X |
X |
In-School Half Time
In-School Half Time Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are attending school half time (as defined by the school).
In order to be considered eligible, a school must be an institution of higher education
and be eligible to participate in Title IV financial assistance programs. A school official
must certify the dates and level of attendance. (Note: The school can verify if it is an
eligible institution and be able to certify enrollment.)
|
SCH |
None |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Internship/Residency
Internship/Residency Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who have at least a bachelor´s degree and who are serving in
an internship program that is required in order to begin professional practice or service; or
a medical internship or residency program that leads to a degree or certificate awarded by a
higher education institution, hospital, or a healthcare facility that offers
postgraduate training.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
24 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Military Service
Military Service Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are serving on active duty or qualifying National
Guard during a war, military operation, or national emergency and during the
180-day period following the demobilization date.
|
MIL |
None |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Parental Leave
Parental Leave Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are pregnant or caring for a newborn or newly adopted
child. To be eligible, a borrower must have been enrolled at least half time in an
eligible postsecondary school at some time during the six months immediately preceding
the parental leave deferment. The borrower must not be attending school or working full
time (at least 30 hours per week that is expected to last at least three months) during
the period of deferment.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
6 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Public Health Services
Public Health Services Deferment
A deferment for borrowers serving as full-time officers in the Commissioned
Corps of Public Health of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS).
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Rehabilitation Training
Rehabilitation Training Deferment
A deferment for borrowers engaged in a fulltime Rehabilitation Training program.
The borrower must be taking part in a fulltime program of vocational
rehabilitation, drug or alcohol abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or a
rehabilitation program through the Department of Veterans Affairs. A program official
must certify participation in the program. The program must be licensed, certified, or
otherwise recognized as providing rehabilitation training
by a responsible state agency.
|
RHT |
None |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Teacher Shortage
Teacher Shortage Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are teaching full time in a public or nonprofit private
elementary or secondary school in a teacher shortage area defined by the U.S. Department of
Education as recommended by each state. A teacher shortage area is defined as a geographic
region of the state in which there is a shortage of elementary or secondary teachers; or a
specific grade level or an academic, instructional, subject matter, or discipline classification
in which there is a shortage of elementary or secondary teachers. To determine the teacher
shortage area(s) for your state, contact the state department of elementary and secondary
education or the state department of higher education.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Temporary Total Disability
Temporary Total Disability Deferment
A deferment for periods when the borrower is temporarily totally disabled or
unable to secure or continue employment because the borrower is caring for a
dependent or spouse who is temporarily totally disabled. A borrower is
considered to be temporarily totally disabled if he or she has been unable
to work or earn income or attend school for at least 60 days because of time
needed to recover from an injury or illness. A borrower´s dependent or spouse
is considered to be temporarily totally disabled if, by reason of injury or illness,
the dependent or spouse requires continuous nursing or similar services
for at least 90 days.
|
TDIS |
36 months |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unemployment
Unemployment Deferment
A deferment available to borrowers who are conscientiously seeking, but
unable to find, full-time employment in the United States. Full-time
employment is defined as at least 30 hours per week that is expected to
last at least three months. The borrower must be registered with an employment
agency or be receiving unemployment benefits. (Note: A borrower is not eligible
for an unemployment deferment if he or she refuses to consider positions,
salaries, or responsibility levels for which he or she feels overly qualified due
to education or experience.)
|
UNEM |
24 months |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Volunteer ACTION Program
Volunteer ACTION Program Deferment
A deferment for borrowers serving as full-time, paid volunteers in a program
authorized under Title I of the Domestic Volunteer Act of 1973 (ACTION programs).
The borrower must have volunteered for at least one year.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Volunteer Peace Corps
Volunteer Peace Corps Deferment
A deferment for borrowers voluntarily serving full time in the Peace Corps
under the Peace Corps Act. The borrower must have volunteered for at least one year.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Volunteer Tax Exempt Organization
Volunteer Tax Exempt Organization Deferment
A deferment for borrowers serving as full-time, paid volunteers with a
tax-exempt organization that the U.S. Department of Education has determined
to be comparable to service as a Peace Corps or ACTION volunteer. The borrower
must be providing specified services to low-income persons and their
communities. Also, the borrower´s compensation can not exceed the federal
minimum wage. (Note: The borrower can not give religious instruction, conduct
worship services, engage in religious proselytizing, or engage in fund-raising
to support religious activities as part of his or her service.)
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
36 months |
X |
X |
|
|
Working Mother
Working Mother Deferment
A deferment for borrowers who are mothers of preschool-age children when the mothers are
entering (or re-entering) the work force. A preschool-age child is defined as one who is
not yet enrolled in first grade or a higher grade in elementary school. The mother must be
employed full time (at least 30 hours per week that is expected to last at
least three months).
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
12 months |
X |
X |
|
|
PLUS In-School: Full Time
PLUS In-School: Full Time
A deferment for parent borrower during which the student for whom the parent obtained the PLUS loan(s)
meets the conditions required for an in-school deferment. |
PLUS |
None |
|
|
X |
|
PLUS In-School: Half Time
PLUS In-School: Half Time
A deferment for parent borrower during which the student for whom the parent obtained the PLUS
loan(s) meets the conditions required for an in-school deferment. |
PLUS |
None |
|
|
X |
|
PLUS Rehabilitation Training
PLUS Rehabilitation Training
A deferment for parent borrower during which the student for whom the parent obtained the PLUS
loan(s) meets the conditions required for participation in a rehabilitation program.
|
Request in writing from loan holder/ servicer |
None |
|
|
X |
|