Your loan is in forbearance because you requested it, your servicer placed it there automatically, or you stopped making payments and your servicer acted on their own
Forbearance is a pause on your loan payments — you don't have to pay for a set period, usually three to six months. Your loan doesn't disappear during forbearance; interest still accrues (builds up) on most loan types, and you'll owe that interest when forbearance ends. The reason your loan is in forbearance depends on which of three paths put it there: you asked for it, your servicer enrolled you automatically in a program, or your servicer moved your loan there after you missed payments.
Understanding which path your loan took matters because each one has different rules for what happens when forbearance ends. A forbearance you requested works differently than one your servicer imposed. Knowing the difference helps you plan your next payment and avoid surprises.
Key Takeaways
- You may have requested forbearance yourself through your servicer's website or by phone, which is the most common reason a loan enters forbearance.
- Your servicer may have automatically placed your loan in forbearance if you were enrolled in certain income-driven repayment plans or if you met other criteria they monitor.
- If you stopped paying and didn't contact your servicer, they can place your loan in forbearance without your request after you fall behind.
- Interest continues to accrue during forbearance on most federal loans, meaning you'll owe more when payments resume than you owe right now.
- Forbearance is temporary — your servicer will contact you before it ends to tell you what your payment will be when it resumes.
You requested forbearance yourself
If you contacted your loan servicer — through their website, by phone, or by mail — and asked for forbearance, that's the most straightforward reason your loan is in forbearance now. You may have done this because you lost income, faced an unexpected expense, or knew a financial hardship was coming. Your servicer approved your request and set an end date, usually three to six months out.
When you requested forbearance, your servicer should have sent you a letter or email confirming the dates it covers and what your payment will be when it ends. If you didn't receive that confirmation, log into your servicer's website or call the number on your loan statement to verify the end date. Knowing exactly when forbearance ends helps you prepare for payments to resume.
Your servicer enrolled you automatically
Some borrowers discover their loan is in forbearance without having asked for it. This happens most often if you're on an income-driven repayment plan and your income dropped below a certain threshold, or if you're in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and your servicer placed you in forbearance while processing paperwork. Federal servicers can also place loans in forbearance automatically if you're experiencing a documented hardship they recognize — military service, for example, or participation in certain volunteer programs.
If this happened to you, your servicer should have notified you in writing. Check your email and the mail for a letter explaining why forbearance was placed on your account and when it will end. If you can't find that letter or don't remember receiving one, contact your servicer directly and ask them to explain the reason and the dates.
You missed payments and your servicer acted
If you stopped making payments and didn't contact your servicer to explain or request help, your servicer can place your loan in forbearance on their own after you fall behind. This is different from the other two paths because it's not something you chose and not something your servicer did proactively to help you — it's a holding pattern your servicer uses when a loan is delinquent (overdue).
Forbearance in this situation is temporary. Your servicer will eventually move your loan out of forbearance and toward default if you don't resume payments or contact them to work out a plan. The longer your loan sits in forbearance without action, the closer you move toward default, which damages your credit and can trigger wage garnishment or tax offset. If this is your situation, contact your servicer now — before forbearance ends — to discuss income-driven repayment, a formal deferment, or a plan to catch up on missed payments.
How interest works during forbearance
On most federal student loans, interest continues to accrue during forbearance even though you're not making payments. That means the amount you owe grows every month. When forbearance ends and you resume payments, your loan balance will be higher than it was when forbearance started.
The exception is subsidized loans — on these, the federal government pays the interest that accrues during forbearance, so your balance doesn't grow. If you have both subsidized and unsubsidized loans, only the unsubsidized portion will have accrued interest added to your balance. Check your loan statement or servicer account to see which type you have.
What happens when forbearance ends
Your servicer will send you a notice 15 days before forbearance ends, telling you what your payment will be and when it's due. If you're on an income-driven repayment plan, your payment will recalculate based on your current income. If you're on a standard 10-year plan, your payment will return to what it was before forbearance began.
If you can't afford the payment when forbearance ends, contact your servicer before the end date — not after. You can request another forbearance period, switch to an income-driven plan, or explore other options. Waiting until after forbearance ends and you've missed a payment makes your situation harder to fix.
How to find out why your loan is in forbearance
Log into your servicer's website and look for a section labeled "Loan Status," "Account Details," or "Forbearance." Most servicers display the reason forbearance was placed on your account and the dates it covers. If you can't find this information online, call the number on your loan statement and ask a representative to explain why your loan is in forbearance and when it ends.
Write down the end date and set a reminder for two weeks before it arrives. That gives you time to contact your servicer if you need help before payments resume, rather than scrambling after forbearance has already ended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does forbearance hurt my credit score?
Forbearance you request or that your servicer places on your account doesn't hurt your credit — it's not reported as a missed payment. However, if your loan went into forbearance because you stopped paying and didn't contact your servicer, those missed payments before forbearance was placed will show on your credit report and will lower your score.
Can I make payments during forbearance?
Yes. You can pay your loan during forbearance even though you're not required to. If you do, those payments reduce your principal balance and mean less interest accrues. Ask your servicer how to make a payment and confirm it will be applied to principal, not held as a credit toward future payments.
What if I can't pay when forbearance ends?
Contact your servicer before forbearance ends and ask about income-driven repayment, which can lower your payment based on what you earn. You can also request another forbearance period, though servicers limit how many times you can use this option. Don't wait until after forbearance ends to reach out.
Will forbearance count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
Time spent in forbearance does not count toward the 120 may have access to payments required for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Only months when you made a payment on an income-driven plan while working for a may have access to employer count. If you're pursuing PSLF, avoid forbearance and use income-driven repayment instead.