:: Parental Leave and Working Mother Deferment ::
This deferment is for the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Contact your loan servicer to discuss your options and download a Parental Leave & Working Mother Deferment Request Form PDF. You must continue making your payment until you're notified that a deferment has been granted.
Parental Leave Deferment Eligibility Criteria
Maximum Time Limit: 6 months
To qualify for this deferment, you must have an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan made before July 1, 1993. This deferment must be requested and you must provide your lender a statement certifying:
- You're pregnant or caring for your newborn child, or caring for a child immediately following an adoption.
- You won't be attending school during this period.
- You won't be working full-time (at least 30 hours per week for at least three months) during this period.
- You were enrolled at least half-time during the six months before the date on which the deferment should begin.
Working Mother Deferment Eligibility Criteria
Maximum Time Limit: 1 year
To qualify for this deferment, you must have an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan made before July 1, 1993. This deferment must be requested and you must provide your lender:
- A statement certifying you're:
- The mother of a preschool-aged child.
- Reentering the workforce no more than one year before the beginning date of the period for which the deferment is being sought.
- Employed full-time (at least 30 hours per week for at least three months) in a position paying no more than $1 per hour more than the minimum wage.
- Documentation of the child's age (such as birth or baptismal certificate).
- Documentation of wages (such as a pay stub).
