Forbearance pauses your student loan payments temporarily, but interest keeps accruing
Forbearance is a period during which you stop making monthly payments on your federal or private student loans without going into default. The loan servicer agrees to let you pause payments for a set time — usually three to six months, though it can extend longer. During forbearance, your loan does not get marked as delinquent, and you are not in violation of your loan agreement.
The critical detail: interest still accumulates on most forbearance periods. When forbearance ends, you owe the original payment amount plus all the interest that built up while you were not paying. For unsubsidized federal loans and most private loans, this means your balance grows even though you made no payments. For subsidized federal loans, the government covers the interest during forbearance, so your balance does not increase.
Forbearance is different from deferment, another pause option. With deferment, the government pays the interest on subsidized loans, and your balance does not grow. Forbearance is easier to get but costs you more in the long run because interest accrues.
Key Takeaways
- Forbearance stops your monthly payments for three to six months (or longer in some cases) without marking your loan as delinquent.
- Interest continues to build during forbearance on unsubsidized federal loans and private loans, increasing what you owe when payments resume.
- Federal loans and private loans have different forbearance rules; federal loans are easier to request and have more protection.
- You must contact your loan servicer to request forbearance — it does not happen automatically, and you can lose the option if you wait too long after missing a payment.
How forbearance works with federal student loans
Federal student loans have two types of forbearance: general forbearance and mandatory forbearance. General forbearance is what your servicer may grant if you request it and show financial hardship. Mandatory forbearance is what your servicer must grant if you meet specific conditions — for example, if your monthly loan payment is 20 percent or more of your gross monthly income, or if you are a medical or dental resident in training.
To request general forbearance on a federal loan, you contact your loan servicer directly by phone, mail, or their online portal. You do not need to submit formal paperwork for most requests, though the servicer may ask you to describe your hardship. Once approved, forbearance typically lasts three to six months. You can request it again when it ends, but servicers limit how many times you can use general forbearance — usually to a total of three years across the life of the loan.
During federal loan forbearance, interest accrues on unsubsidized loans and PLUS loans. On subsidized loans, the government pays the interest, so your balance stays the same. When forbearance ends, your monthly payment amount does not change — you still owe the same amount per month, but your total loan balance is higher because of the accrued interest.
How forbearance works with private student loans
Private loan forbearance is less standardized because each lender sets its own rules. Some private lenders offer forbearance similar to federal loans; others do not offer it at all. You must contact your specific lender to learn what options they provide and what conditions they require.
Private lenders typically require more documentation than federal servicers do. They may ask for proof of income loss, medical bills, or other evidence of hardship. Some private lenders will pause payments but still charge interest; others may charge a higher interest rate during forbearance or add a fee. A few lenders offer forbearance with no interest accrual, but this is rare and usually only for borrowers with strong payment histories.
If your private lender does not offer forbearance, you may be able to negotiate a temporary payment reduction or a different arrangement. It is worth calling to ask, especially if you are facing a short-term hardship. Private lenders have more flexibility than federal servicers and sometimes work out custom solutions.
When forbearance makes sense and when it does not
Forbearance is useful if you face a temporary hardship — job loss, medical emergency, or a brief income drop — and you expect to resume full payments within a few months. It keeps your loan in good standing and gives you breathing room without the complexity of other options.
Forbearance is less useful if your hardship is long-term or permanent. If you will not be able to pay in six months either, forbearance just delays the problem and adds interest. In that case, income-driven repayment (for federal loans) or deferment may be better choices. Income-driven repayment can lower your payment to as little as $0 per month if your income is very low, and you can stay on it indefinitely. Deferment pauses interest accrual on subsidized loans, so your balance does not grow.
Forbearance also makes less sense if you can afford even a partial payment. Making any payment during forbearance reduces the interest that accrues, so you pay less overall when forbearance ends. Some borrowers use forbearance as a last resort only, after trying to make reduced payments.
What happens when forbearance ends
When your forbearance period ends, your regular monthly payment resumes at the same amount as before. Your loan servicer will notify you in advance — usually 15 days before forbearance ends — with information about when payments restart and what you owe.
If you cannot resume full payments when forbearance ends, contact your servicer before the period expires. You can request another forbearance period, switch to a different repayment plan, or explore other options. Do not wait until after forbearance ends to reach out; servicers are more willing to work with you if you initiate contact before you miss a payment.
If you miss a payment after forbearance ends, your loan goes into delinquency. After 90 days of missed payments, the loan is reported to credit bureaus and your credit score drops. After 270 days (nine months), federal loans go into default, which triggers wage garnishment and other serious consequences.
How forbearance affects your credit and finances
Forbearance itself does not damage your credit. Your loan is not reported as delinquent or late, so your credit score is not affected by the forbearance period itself. However, the interest that accrues during forbearance increases your total loan balance, which means you pay more interest over the life of the loan.
For example, if you have $30,000 in unsubsidized loans at 6 percent interest and you use forbearance for six months without making payments, roughly $900 in interest accrues. When forbearance ends, you owe $30,900 instead of $30,000. That extra $900 generates its own interest over the remaining life of the loan, costing you even more.
Forbearance also does not reduce your loan balance or lower your monthly payment. When payments resume, you owe the same amount per month as before. If you need a lower payment, you need to switch to a different repayment plan, not use forbearance.
Requesting forbearance: what you need to do
To request forbearance on a federal loan, find your loan servicer's name on your loan documents or at StudentAid.gov. Call the servicer's customer service line or log into your account on their website. Most servicers have an online forbearance request form you can fill out and submit immediately.
When you request forbearance, be ready to describe your hardship briefly. You do not need extensive documentation for general forbearance, but the servicer may ask whether you lost income, faced a medical emergency, or had another specific event. Answer honestly and specifically — "I lost my job" is more persuasive than "I am having trouble."
For private loans, contact your lender directly using the phone number on your loan statement. Ask whether they offer forbearance and what documentation they require. Be prepared to wait; private lenders often take longer to approve forbearance than federal servicers do.
Do not wait until you miss a payment to request forbearance. If you know hardship is coming, request it in advance. If you have already missed a payment, request forbearance immediately — servicers can sometimes backdate it to cover the missed payment, but only if you ask quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does forbearance hurt my credit score?
Forbearance itself does not damage your credit because the loan is not reported as delinquent. However, if you miss payments before requesting forbearance, those missed payments are reported and will hurt your score. Request forbearance before you miss a payment to protect your credit.
Can I make payments during forbearance?
Yes. Making payments during forbearance reduces the interest that accrues, so you pay less overall. Your servicer will apply the payment to interest first, then to principal. Even a partial payment helps.
How long can forbearance last?
Federal loan forbearance typically lasts three to six months per request, and you can request it multiple times up to a total of three years. Private loan forbearance varies by lender; some offer three months, others six, and some have no limit. Check with your lender for their specific rules.
What is the difference between forbearance and deferment?
Both pause payments, but deferment does not accrue interest on subsidized federal loans, while forbearance does. Deferment is harder to get and usually requires specific circumstances (like being in school or unemployed). Forbearance is easier to request but costs more because interest builds.
What should I do if forbearance is not enough?
If forbearance will not solve your problem, explore income-driven repayment plans (for federal loans), which can lower your payment based on your income. You can also ask about deferment or, for private loans, contact your lender to negotiate a custom arrangement. Do not ignore the problem — contact your servicer before you miss a payment.