Use this roadmap to quickly find the help you need with your student loans. Click the links that apply to your situation and be sure to review Understanding Your Loan Situation and Choosing Your Student Loan Goals to make sure you’re not missing out on any relief.
Do you understand your loan situation?
Are you not sure who your loan servicer is? Are your loans federal, private, or both? Are your loans in repayment, delinquent, or in default? Have you checked studentaid.gov in the last year?
Understanding Your Student Loan Situation
What Are You Trying to Do?
- Lower my monthly payment
- Pause payments temporarily
- See if my loans can be forgiven
- Get out of default
- Stop garnishment, tax refund offset, or other collection action
- Fix a problem with my loans or servicer
➔ If you’re unsure, go to: Choosing Your Student Loan Goals
Can I Lower My Payment?
Does your payment feel too high? Did you lose your job, or has your pay gone down? Worried about covering your next payment? Are you already behind on payments? Have you heard about income-driven repayment (IDR), but don’t know if you qualify?
Managing Repayment
Are You Eligible to Have Your Loans Forgiven or Canceled?
- Do you work in public service (government or nonprofit)?
- Have you been paying your loans for 20–30 years?
- Did your school close or mislead you?
- Can you not work because of your health, or disability?
- Are you a victim of fraud or identity theft?
- Are you not sure whether any forgiveness programs apply to you?
➔ If you answered yes to any of these questions, go to: Loan Cancellation, Forgiveness, & Discharge Programs
Are You in Default or Facing Collections?
Have you missed payments for months? Are you getting collection calls and letters? Are your loans in default? Are your wages being garnished? Have your tax refund or some of your Social Security check been taken?
Stopping Collections & Getting Out of Default
Are You Having Any of the Following Problems with Your Servicer?
- Payment was misapplied
- Application for IDR, consolidation, or cancellation wasn’t processed
- Payment count toward forgiveness seems wrong
- Given confusing or inconsistent information
- Filed a complaint, and nothing changed
➔ Go to: Dealing with Servicers & Filing Complaints
Do You Need More Help?
Want to talk to a student loan counselor or lawyer about your problem? Think your rights were violated? Feeling overwhelmed and need a step-by-step? Are you being sued over your loans?
Getting More Help
For more help and information about student loan debt, visit studentloanborrowerassistance.org
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