:: PLUS Loan Deferments ::
This deferment is for the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Contact your loan servicer to discuss your options and download a Parent PLUS Deferment Request Form PDF. You must continue making your payment until you're notified that a deferment has been granted.
Eligibility Criteria
Maximum Time Limit: None
A PLUS loan borrower whose first PLUS loan was received between July 1, 1987 and July 1, 1993 may defer all of his PLUS loans if the PLUS loan borrower or the dependent student for whom a PLUS loan was obtained meets the conditions required for an In-School Deferment.
Parent PLUS Loan Deferment
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) added new deferments for parent PLUS loan borrowers with loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008. The HEOA made the deferments loan specific and not borrower specific. A parent PLUS loan borrower can defer his or her loan:
- If the borrower is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
- Upon borrower request, if the student for whom the parent acquired the loan is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
- Upon borrower request during the six-month period immediately following the date on which the borrower ceased to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
- Upon borrower request during the six-month period following the date on which the student for whom the parent acquired the loan is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
Grad PLUS Loan Deferment
The HEOA added a new deferment period for Grad PLUS loan borrowers. A Grad PLUS loan borrower can defer his or her loan for the six-month period immediately following the date on which the borrower ceased to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
The HEOA made the deferment loan specific and not borrower specific effective for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008. This applies to:
- Deferment based on Grad PLUS borrower enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
- Deferment during the six-month period immediately following the date on which the borrower ceased to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
If a Grad PLUS loan borrower receives a loan on or after July 1, 2008 and is eligible for the new deferment on the new Grad PLUS loan and has prior Grad PLUS loan(s) that are not eligible, lenders have the option to align repayment start dates through a discretionary forbearance.
