Income-Driven Repayment Plans for Federal Student Loans

You can switch IDR plans at any time, though some plans require a waiting period. If your income drops significantly due to job loss, illness, or the birth of a child, switching to SAVE or requesting a temporary reduced payment may provide immediate relief. Conversely, if your income rises substantially, you might recertify into a standard plan to avoid capitalization or extended interest accrual. You can use the Student Loan IDR Engine on the /student-loan-idr page to compare how each plan affects your payment and total cost before making a switch.

Long-Term Cost and Forgiveness

While lower monthly payments provide breathing room, they can extend the life of your loan. Because interest may accrue faster than your payment under some plans, your balance can grow even as you make consistent payments. The key metric is the total amount paid over the life of the loan compared to the amount forgiven. Borrowers with high balances relative to income often benefit from IDR forgiveness despite paying more in interest over time. Borrowers with moderate balances and rising incomes may find they pay off their loans before reaching the forgiveness term and prefer a standard or graduated plan.

The Three Main IDR Plans at a Glance

SAVE sets your payment at 10 percent of discretionary income, with discretionary income defined as adjusted gross income minus 225 percent of the federal poverty guideline for your family size. IBR caps payments at 10 to 15 percent of discretionary income depending on when you borrowed and never exceeds the 10-year standard payment. PAYE also uses 10 percent of discretionary income but requires partial financial hardship and is capped at the standard payment amount. Each plan carries a distinct forgiveness timeline: 20 years for undergraduate loans under SAVE and PAYE, and 20 or 25 years under IBR depending on loan type.