Forbearance is an automatic pause, not a choice you made
Your loans are in forbearance because Mohela — the loan servicer managing your account — placed them there automatically. Forbearance means your monthly payment is paused, but interest still accrues on most loan types. You did not have to request this; it happened because a specific condition triggered it in Mohela's system.
The most common reason is that you have not made a payment in a set period, usually 120 days or more of delinquency. Mohela can also place loans into forbearance if you are experiencing financial hardship, if you are in a grace period after leaving school, or if you are enrolled in certain income-driven repayment plans that are being recalculated. The reason depends on your loan type, your repayment plan, and your payment history.
Key Takeaways
- Forbearance pauses your payment but does not erase what you owe; interest continues to grow on most federal loans.
- Mohela placed your loans there automatically based on your account status, not because you requested it.
- You can contact Mohela directly to learn the exact reason and to request removal if you are now able to pay.
- Forbearance does not stop collection activity, wage garnishment, or tax offset if you are in default.
- If you want out of forbearance, you must resume payments or move into a different repayment arrangement.
Common reasons Mohela placed your loans into forbearance
Delinquency-triggered forbearance is the most frequent cause. If you missed 120 consecutive days of payments, Mohela automatically moved your loans into forbearance to prevent them from entering default. This is a temporary holding period, not forgiveness. Once you are in forbearance, you have time to catch up without the loan being reported as in default — but only if you resume payments within the forbearance window.
Financial hardship forbearance occurs when you contact Mohela or when their system detects signs of hardship: unemployment, underemployment, medical expenses, or a sudden loss of income. If you previously requested forbearance or if Mohela's records show you have not been paying, they may have placed you into this category automatically.
Income-driven repayment recalculation can also trigger forbearance. If you are on an income-driven plan and your income information is being recertified or recalculated, Mohela may pause your payment temporarily while they process the new amount. This usually lasts 30 to 90 days.
Grace period or in-school status can result in forbearance if Mohela's records show you recently left school or are still enrolled part-time. Some loan types automatically enter forbearance during these periods.
How to find out the exact reason from Mohela
Contact Mohela directly by phone at 1-888-346-3646 (the main customer service line) or log into your account at mohela.com. When you call, have your Social Security number and loan account number ready. Ask the representative to tell you the specific reason your loans are in forbearance and when the forbearance period ends.
Mohela should provide a date when forbearance expires. Write this date down. After that date, your payment obligation resumes unless you take action to change your repayment plan or request an extension. If you do not resume payments and do not request another forbearance or deferment, your loans will move into default.
If you believe Mohela placed your loans into forbearance in error — for example, if you have been making payments and your account should be current — ask the representative to review your payment history. Request that they remove the forbearance status if your account does not meet the criteria for it.
What forbearance means for your balance and your credit
Forbearance pauses your payment obligation, but it does not stop interest from accruing. On federal subsidized loans, the government covers the interest during forbearance. On unsubsidized loans and most private loans, interest continues to pile onto your balance every month. This means your total debt grows even though you are not making payments.
Forbearance does not damage your credit score the way default does. However, it also does not help your credit. Your account will show as "in forbearance" to credit bureaus, which signals to lenders that you are not currently meeting your payment obligation. Once you resume payments and your account returns to current status, the forbearance notation will eventually age off your credit report.
If you are already in default when Mohela places you into forbearance, the default notation remains on your credit report. Forbearance does not erase a default; it only pauses collection activity temporarily.
What happens when forbearance ends
When your forbearance period expires, Mohela will resume collecting your regular monthly payment. If you do not pay by the due date, your loans will move into delinquency again. After 90 days of missed payments, the delinquency will be reported to credit bureaus. After 270 days (nine months) of missed payments, your loans enter default.
If you know forbearance is ending and you cannot afford to resume payments, contact Mohela before the forbearance period ends. You can request another forbearance period, move into a different repayment plan, or explore other options like income-driven repayment. Waiting until after forbearance ends and you have missed a payment makes it harder to avoid default.
If your loans are already in default when forbearance ends, collection activity will resume. This can include wage garnishment, tax offset, and calls from debt collectors.
How to get out of forbearance if you can pay
If you now have the means to pay and want to exit forbearance, contact Mohela and ask them to remove the forbearance status. You can resume making regular monthly payments immediately; you do not have to wait for the forbearance period to end. Once you make a payment, Mohela will begin processing your account as current again.
If you owe back payments from before forbearance began, you will need to pay those separately or arrange a payment plan with Mohela to catch up. Some servicers allow you to add the arrears to your regular payment over time; others require a lump sum. Ask Mohela what options they offer.
If you want to stay out of forbearance long-term but your income is still tight, consider switching to an income-driven repayment plan. These plans calculate your payment based on your current income, which may be lower than your standard payment. Contact Mohela to request a plan change.
Forbearance does not stop all collection activity
If your loans are in default, forbearance pauses some collection actions but not all. Wage garnishment, tax offset, and collection calls may continue even while your loans are in forbearance. Forbearance is a temporary measure; it does not resolve the underlying default.
If you are in default and want to stop wage garnishment or tax offset, you will need to move out of default entirely. This usually requires either paying the full amount owed in one lump sum, or entering into a rehabilitation agreement where you make nine on-time payments over ten months to bring the loans out of default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make payments while my loans are in forbearance?
Yes. You can pay at any time, even during forbearance. Paying does not automatically remove forbearance status, but it does reduce your balance and stops interest from accruing on that portion. Contact Mohela to confirm whether paying will trigger removal from forbearance or if you need to request that separately.
Will forbearance hurt my credit score?
Forbearance itself does not damage your credit the way default does, but it does show on your credit report as a non-payment status. If you were already in default before forbearance, the default remains on your report. Once you resume payments and your account is current, the forbearance notation will age off over time.
How long can my loans stay in forbearance?
Forbearance periods vary. Delinquency-triggered forbearance typically lasts 120 days. Hardship forbearance can last up to three years, though Mohela usually grants it in shorter increments and requires you to request renewal. Ask Mohela for your specific end date.
What if I do not resume payments when forbearance ends?
Your loans will move back into delinquency, and after 270 days of missed payments, they will enter default. Default triggers wage garnishment, tax offset, and collection calls. Contact Mohela before forbearance ends if you cannot pay.
Can I request forbearance myself, or did Mohela do this without asking?
Mohela can place loans into forbearance automatically based on your account status. You can also request forbearance yourself if you are experiencing hardship. Call Mohela to find out whether they placed you automatically or whether you requested it previously.