Deferment Eligibility Chart

Deferment Type

Time Limit

Stafford and SLS Loans

PLUS Loans

Consolidation Loans

Borrower-Based Deferments

Pre 7/1/87 Borrower

New1 Borrower 7/1/87 to 6/30/93

New2 Borrower 7/1/93

Loans Before 8/15/83

Pre 7/1/87 Borrower

New1 Borrower 7/1/87 to 6/30/93

New2 Borrower 7/1/93

Pre 7/1/93 Borrower8

New Borrower 7/1/939

In-School: Full Time

None

In-School: Half Time7

None

 

 

 

Graduate Fellowship

None

Rehabilitation Training

None

Teacher Shortage

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internship/Residency Training

2 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temporary Total Disability3

3 Years

 

 

 

Armed Forces or Public Health Services4

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps4

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace Corps, ACTION Program and Tax-Exempt Organization Volunteer

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unemployment

2 Years

 

 

 

Unemployment

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parental Leave5

6 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother Entering/Reentering Work Force

1 Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic Hardship

3 Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLUS In-School: 
Full Time

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLUS In-School: 
Half Time

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLUS Rehabilitation Training

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loan-Based Deferments

Stafford Loans

PLUS Loans

Consolidation Loans

Military

3 Years

Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2001

Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2001

All underlying Title IV loans must have been first disbursed on or after 7/1/2001

1 "New Borrower" 7/1/87 to 6/30/93: A borrower whose first FFELP loan was made on or after July 1, 1987, and before July 1, 1993, or who had an outstanding balance on a loan obtained on or after July 1, 1987, and before July 1, 1993, when he or she obtained a loan on or after July 1, 1993, or who had no outstanding balance on a Federal Consolidation loan made before July 1, 1993, that repaid a loan first disbursed before July 1, 1987.

2 "New Borrower" 7/1/93: A borrower whose outstanding FFELP loans were all made on or after July 1, 1993, and when his or her first FFELP loan was made on or after July 1, 1993, had no outstanding FFELP loans that were made before July 1, 1993.

3 A deferment may be granted during periods when the borrower is temporarily totally disabled or during which the borrower is unable to secure employment because the borrower is caring for a dependent (including the borrower's spouse) who is temporarily totally disabled.

4 Borrower are eligible for a combined maximum of 3 years of deferment for service in NOAA, PHS, and Armed Forces.

5 A parental leave deferment may be granted to a borrower in periods of no more than 6 months each time the borrower qualifies.

6 Deferment for a parent borrower during which the dependent student for whom the parent obtained a PLUS loan meets the deferment eligibility requirements.

7 A borrower who received a Federal Consolidation loan before July 1, 1993, that repaid a loan made before July 1, 1987, or who had an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan obtained prior to July 1, 1987, when the Federal Consolidation loan was obtained, is eligible for in-school deferment only if the borrower attends school full time.

8 A borrower with a Federal Consolidation loan made before July 1, 1993, or a borrower who receives a Consolidation loan on or after July 1, 1993, who has any outstanding FFELP loan(s) at the time of consolidation that was first disbursed before July 1, 1993.

9 A borrower who receives a Federal Consolidation loan made on or after July 1, 1993, who has no outstanding FFELP loans at the time of consolidation that were made on or before July 1, 1993.