"'If none of the IDR plans are available, then that safety net is removed, which could potentially lead the borrower to head down the path of delinquency and default,' says Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators."

"Now, struggling borrowers can only turn to deferments or forbearances to get relief from unmanageable payments. In most cases, interest will build during these pauses, increasing the amount borrowers owe in the future."

"'These are temporary stopgaps,' McCarthy says. 'They're not long-term plans. It’s not a repayment plan like the income-driven repayment plans are.'"

... "Reach out to your college’s financial aid department. A financial aid officer from your college can help you walk through your repayment options, even if you left campus years ago, McCarthy says. However, they can’t help you ultimately apply for something like a forbearance or deferment. You have to work with your servicer for that."