Income-Driven Repayment
If you have federal student loans, your monthly payment can and should be based on your real income. Most borrowers are on the wrong plan and overpaying every single month without knowing it.
Programs available to you
Income-driven repayment plans are federal programs that set your monthly payment as a percentage of your actual income — not what you borrowed. The federal government designed these plans because it recognizes that student debt loads often don't match real-world incomes. For many borrowers, this means payments that are hundreds of dollars lower every month, and every qualifying payment still counts toward eventual forgiveness.
The newest and most affordable income-driven plan available. Payments on undergraduate loans are capped at just 5% of your discretionary income. If your income is low enough, your payment could be $0 per month — and those months still count toward forgiveness. Interest doesn't capitalize if your payment covers it. — Lowest payments available
Caps your payment at 10% or 15% of discretionary income, depending on when you first borrowed. If your income drops, your payment drops at your next annual recertification. After 20 or 25 years, anything remaining is forgiven. A reliable option for borrowers who don't qualify for newer plans. — Income-tied payments
Caps payments at 10% of discretionary income with forgiveness after 20 years. PAYE is available to borrowers who took out their first eligible loan after October 2007. If you qualify, it offers strong payment protection and a faster forgiveness timeline than IBR for some borrowers. — 10% cap
Available to Parent PLUS loan borrowers after consolidation and others who don't qualify for newer plans. Payments are the lesser of 20% of discretionary income or a fixed amount based on a 12-year repayment term. The broadest eligibility of any IDR plan. — Broad eligibility
Combining multiple federal loans into a single Direct Consolidation Loan can open the door to repayment plans and forgiveness programs you don't currently qualify for. We help you time consolidation correctly so you don't lose payment progress toward forgiveness. — Simplify and access more
If you're facing a short-term hardship, job loss, or medical issue, you may be able to temporarily pause your payments without going into default. We help you access the right type of deferment or forbearance and make sure interest is handled in the least costly way possible. — Short-term pause
Not sure where to start?
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The process
You don't need to navigate the federal loan website, compare complex plan formulas, or figure out what consolidation does to your forgiveness timeline. We do all of that for you.
We review your income, household size, and loan types to calculate exactly what your monthly payment would be under each available plan — often finding savings that genuinely surprise borrowers.
Not all income-driven plans are equally good for every borrower. We analyze your loan history, forgiveness timeline, and financial goals to recommend the plan that gives you the most benefit long-term.
Our attorneys handle the enrollment process — including any consolidation needed to qualify — and make sure everything is set up correctly with your loan servicer before your next payment is due.
Each year your income must be recertified to keep your payment accurate. We set up reminders and handle the paperwork so you stay on your plan without disruption and your forgiveness timeline stays intact.
Real results
$612/mo
"Was paying $612 every month on a $34,000 salary. Moved to SAVE and my payment dropped to zero. Every month still counts toward forgiveness." — Angela D. · Nurse · Enrolled 2024
$710/mo
"In default, garnishment threatening. Attorneys got me rehabilitated and enrolled in IBR. My payment went from $890 to $180 and I'm back on track." — Marcus T. · Social worker · Resolved 2023
$860/mo
"My servicer put me on a standard plan and never mentioned PAYE. The attorneys ran the numbers and my payment dropped from $1,200 to $340 practically overnight." — Carla F. · Physical therapist · Enrolled 2024
Common questions
No. Changing repayment plans is a standard federal loan management action and has no impact on your credit score. In fact, getting into an affordable plan and making consistent payments often helps your credit over time.
We can often get you enrolled in an income-driven plan and resolve your delinquency at the same time through loan rehabilitation or consolidation. You don't have to be current on your loans to start this process.
Yes. Under the SAVE plan, if your income falls below approximately 225% of the federal poverty line, your calculated payment is literally $0 per month. Those months still count toward forgiveness, so you make progress even while paying nothing.
Income-driven plans require annual income recertification. Our attorneys help you set up reminders, understand what documentation you'll need, and handle the recertification process so your payment stays accurate.
In some cases, consolidation resets your payment count toward forgiveness. The timing matters a lot. Our attorneys review your existing loan history before recommending consolidation to make sure you don't lose ground.
Parent PLUS loans aren't eligible for most income-driven plans directly, but after consolidation into a Direct Consolidation Loan they can access ICR. Our attorneys review the best path for PLUS loan holders specifically.
From the blog
Repayment
SAVE ended effective March 10, 2026. Affected borrowers receive a servicer deadline to choose RAP, IBR, or another available legal repayment plan.
Repayment
Compare IBR, PAYE, ICR, and the Repayment Assistance Plan under the federal rules effective July 1, 2026.
Repayment
Parent PLUS loans are excluded from most IDR plans. Learn how the double consolidation strategy may unlock IBR and PAYE access — and the risks involved.
Most borrowers don't know their options. Our attorneys review your loans for free and calculate exactly what your payment could be on a better plan — before you commit to anything.
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