forbearance

He spent 15 years in and out of forbearance, deferment and repayment on his federal loans.

It’s the reason so many student-loan borrowers find themselves trapped in cycles of deferment, forbearance or minimum payments that allow balances to balloon rather than shrink.

It also gives borrowers the flexibility to repay the relief by banning lump sum repayment after the forbearance period ends, as long as a borrower was current on payments when it started.

If you are placed on a forbearance plan, you will eventually have to pay what is owed once the plan expires.

If necessary, you can also look into deferment and forbearance options.