Student loan payment pauses have ended, and repayment is now underway

Federal student loans are no longer on hold. The payment pause that began in March 2020 ended on September 1, 2023. Borrowers with federal loans are now required to make monthly payments again, and interest is accruing on most loan types.

However, the status of your loans depends on which federal program holds your debt and what actions you have taken since the pause ended. Some borrowers may have income-driven repayment plans that set their payment to $0 per month, which is different from a pause. Others may have received loan forgiveness through specific programs. Understanding where your loans stand requires knowing what type of federal loan you hold and what repayment plan you are on.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal student loan payment pause ended September 1, 2023, and monthly payments resumed for most borrowers with federal loans.
  • Income-driven repayment plans can set your payment to $0 per month without being a pause, and you remain responsible for your loan even if your payment is zero.
  • Federal loan forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the one-time debt relief initiative have specific rules about who receives forgiveness and when.
  • Private student loans were never part of the federal pause and have required payments throughout.
  • You can check your loan status and repayment plan through your loan servicer's website or by logging into StudentAid.gov.

How to learn about your loans are in repayment

Log into your account at StudentAid.gov using your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This portal shows all federal loans in your name, which servicer handles each one, and what repayment plan you are on. You will see whether your current payment amount is $0, a fixed dollar amount, or income-based.

You can also contact your loan servicer directly. Your servicer's name and phone number appear on your loan statements and on StudentAid.gov. The servicer handles billing, payment processing, and changes to your repayment plan. They can tell you your current payment amount, when your next payment is due, and whether you have missed any payments since September 2023.

If you have not received a bill or statement since September 2023, contact your servicer immediately. Some borrowers did not receive proper notice that the pause had ended, and servicers were required to send notices before resuming collections. Documenting that you did not receive notice may protect you from late fees if you missed early payments.

Income-driven repayment plans versus payment pauses

A payment pause is temporary. During a pause, you do not have to pay, and interest does not accrue (with rare exceptions). The federal pause ended in September 2023.

An income-driven repayment plan is permanent until you change it or pay off your loan. Income-driven plans calculate your payment based on your current income and family size. If your income is low enough, your payment can be $0 per month. Even when your payment is $0, you still owe the loan, interest accrues, and you must recertify your income every year to stay on the plan.

If you are on an income-driven plan and your payment is $0, you are not in a pause — you are in repayment with a $0 payment. This matters because you must continue to recertify your income each year, and if you do not, your servicer will move you to a standard 10-year plan with a much higher payment.

What happened to the one-time loan forgiveness program

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Education announced a one-time debt relief program that would have forgiven up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for other federal loan borrowers. This program was blocked by court orders before it took effect.

In 2024, the Department of Education created the SAVE repayment plan and announced a separate forgiveness pathway for borrowers who meet specific criteria: those who borrowed $12,000 or less and have been repaying for 10 years or more, those with total and permanent disability, and those defrauded by their school. Borrowers in these categories may receive forgiveness without applying, though the timeline for processing remains unclear.

The one-time broad forgiveness program did not happen. If you received a notice saying you were approved for forgiveness, that notice was sent before the program was blocked. You should not expect that forgiveness to occur unless you fall into one of the specific categories listed above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other forgiveness programs

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives remaining loan balance after 120 may have access to payments while working full-time for a government agency or nonprofit organization. This program is still active. To track your progress, log into StudentAid.gov and check your PSLF tracker, which shows how many may have access to payments you have made.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness forgives up to $17,500 for teachers who work in low-income schools for five consecutive years. Income-Contingent Repayment forgives remaining balance after 25 years of payments. These programs continue to operate, though forgiveness timelines are long and requirements are strict.

If you believe you are close to forgiveness under any of these programs, contact your servicer and ask for a payment count verification. Servicers sometimes miscount payments or fail to credit payments made under the wrong plan. Getting a written count now protects you if there is a dispute later.

Private student loans and what changed for them

Private student loans were never part of the federal payment pause. Borrowers with private loans have been required to make payments throughout 2020 to 2023. If you have private loans, your lender sets the repayment terms, and you should contact your lender directly to understand your payment obligations.

Some private lenders offered their own payment pauses or forbearance options during the pandemic, but these were voluntary programs that ended on the lender's schedule, not the federal government's. If you have both federal and private loans, make sure you know which is which so you understand what is required of you.

What to do if you cannot afford your payment

If your monthly payment is unaffordable, you have options before you fall behind. Contact your servicer and ask about changing your repayment plan. Income-driven plans can lower your payment significantly, and some borrowers may have access to for $0 payments.

You can also request forbearance or deferment, which temporarily pause payments. Forbearance stops payments for up to three years but interest continues to accrue. Deferment stops payments and may stop interest accrual if you meet specific criteria (such as being in school or experiencing economic hardship). Both options are temporary and do not forgive your loan.

Do not ignore a bill you cannot pay. Contact your servicer before you miss a payment. Missing payments damages your credit, triggers collection calls, and can lead to wage garnishment or tax refund offset. Servicers are required to discuss your options before taking collection action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be another payment pause?

The Department of Education has not announced plans for another pause. The pause that ran from March 2020 to September 2023 was presented as temporary relief during the pandemic. Future pauses would require action by Congress or the Department of Education, and there is no indication that either is planning one.

What if I missed payments after September 2023?

Contact your servicer immediately. Missed payments damage your credit and trigger collection activity. Some servicers may reverse late fees if you can show you did not receive proper notice that the pause had ended. The sooner you contact them, the more options you have to resolve the missed payments.

Do I have to recertify my income if I am on an income-driven plan?

Yes. You must recertify your income every year to stay on an income-driven plan. If you do not recertify, your servicer will move you to a standard 10-year repayment plan, which usually has a much higher payment. Set a reminder to recertify before your deadline.

Can I consolidate my federal loans to get a lower payment?

Consolidation combines multiple federal loans into one, but it does not lower your payment by itself. However, consolidation allows you to choose a new repayment plan, including income-driven plans that may have lower payments. Consolidation also resets your PSLF payment count to zero, so only consolidate if you are not pursuing PSLF.

Where do I make my monthly payment?

Your servicer's website is the primary place to make payments. You can also pay by phone or mail, though online payment is fastest. Your loan statement shows your servicer's website and payment address. Make sure you are paying the correct servicer — if you have multiple loans, you may have multiple servicers.