Deferment
A deferment means that payments on your student loan are not required for a specified period of time. There is no pre-payment penalty so payments may be made during this time but are not required. Interest does not accrue during the deferment period for subsidized Stafford Loans.
Federal Stafford Loans after July 1, 1993, have the following deferments available:
In School Deferment - Student must be enrolled as least half-time (as defined by the school, usually six units for undergraduates and four units for graduates). Interest does not accrue and no payments are required until after a six-month grace period after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
Download an In-School Deferment Request*
Unemployment Deferment - For borrowers who are receiving unemployment benefits or are seeking but unable to find full time employment.
Download Unemployment Deferment Request*
Economic Hardship Deferment - For borrowers who receive federal or state public assistance or earn less than a federal minimum wage or exceed federally defined debt-to-income ratio.
Download Economic Hardship Deferment Request*
Active Duty Military Deferment - For borrowers on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during war or performing qualified National Guard duty or other military operation or national emergency. Only for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2001. Please contact us at 1.800.370.3472 for information on this deferment.
Graduate Fellowship Program Deferment - For borrowers engaged in a full-time course of study in a graduate fellowship program.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
Rehabilitation Training Deferment - For borrowers engaged in a full-time rehabilitation training program and who meet other specific criteria.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
Federal Stafford Loans between July 1, 1987 and July 1, 1993, have the following deferments available:
In School Deferment - Student must be enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the school, usually six units for undergraduates and 4 (four) units for graduates). Interest does not accrue and no payments are required until after a six-month grace period after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
Download an In-School Deferment Request*
Unemployment Deferment - For borrowers who are receiving unemployment benefits or are seeking but unable to find full time employment.
Download Unemployment Deferment Request*
Public Service Deferment - For borrowers serving full-time as an officer in the commissioned corps of the public health service and who meet other conditions.
Download Public Service Deferment Request*
Parental Leave/Working Mother Deferment - For borrowers who are pregnant or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child; must not be working full-time or attending school; must have been enrolled in school at least half-time during the six months preceding the requested deferment period and must meet other conditions.
Download Parental Leave/Working Mother Deferment Request*
Temporary Total Disability Deferment - For borrowers unable to work and earn money or go to school for at least 60 days in order to recover from an illness or injury or care for a spouse or dependent with an illness or injury. The condition cannot have existed before applying for the loan(s).
Download Temporary Total Disability Deferment Request*
Armed Forces Deferment - For borrowers on active duty in the Armed Forces in the United States and have agreed to serve for at least one year.
Download Public Service Deferment Request*
Graduate Fellowship Program Deferment - For borrowers engaged in a full-time course of study in a graduate fellowship program.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
Internship/Residency Program Deferment - For borrowers engaged in an internship/residency program in an institute of higher education, hospital or health care facility and who meet other specific criteria.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Deferment - For borrowers on active duty in the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and meet other specific criteria.
Download Public Service Deferment Request*
Rehabilitation Training Deferment - For borrowers engaged in a full-time rehabilitation training program and who meet other specific criteria.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
Tax Exempt Organization Deferment - For borrowers servicing full-time in an organization that is tax exempt, have agreed to serve at least one year, earn less than minimum wage, and meet other specific criteria.
Download Public Service Deferment Request*
Teacher Shortage Area Deferment - For borrowers teaching full-time in a public or nonprofit private elementary or secondary school in a region, grade level, or discipline/subject matter defined as shortage area by the United States Department of Education and who meet other specific criteria.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
Federal PLUS Loans between July 1, 1987 and July 1, 1993, have the following deferments available:
PLUS Borrower with Dependent Student Deferment - For PLUS borrowers whose dependent student in enrolled at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis during the period of the loan and who meet other criteria.
Download PLUS Borrower With Dependent Student Deferment Request*
PLUS Loan Student in Rehabilitation Deferment - For PLUS borrowers, where the student is engaged in a licensed, certified of otherwise approved rehabilitation training program requiring a commitment which does not allow the student to work 30 or more hours a week for at least three consecutive months. Other criteria must be met.
Download Education Related Deferment Request*
You may request one of the deferment forms listed above by contacting a customer service representative at 1.800.370.3472 or you may write to us to request a form. Please include the following information in your request: name, Social Security Number, address and the name of the form you would like sent to you. Please mail your request to: Loan Servicing, PO Box 781, Lewiston, ME 04243-0781.
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