Reduce your federal student loan payments. Achieve affordable monthly payments with potential loan forgiveness after 20-25 years.
Payments as low as $0/month based on your income
Payments adjusted for household size and dependents
Remaining balance forgiven after 20-25 years
IDR qualification involves dozens of variables, multiple loan types, and complex calculations. One wrong decision costs thousands.
Direct, FFEL, Perkins, Consolidation, PLUS... each with different IDR eligibility rules
When to consolidate, when not to, and how it affects your payment timeline
Default status, Parent PLUS restrictions, and servicer-specific issues
AGI, discretionary income, modified AGI - using wrong one = wrong payment
Dependents, spouse income, separate vs. joint filing affects everything
Missing deadlines = payment shock and thousands in extra interest
Most borrowers make costly mistakes that delay approval and increase their payments. Here's what goes wrong:
73% report income incorrectly
Using wrong tax year, missing deductions, or incorrect family size calculations
64% submit incomplete forms
Missing required documents or incorrect form versions cause delays
45% miss recertification deadlines
Late renewals trigger payment increases and interest capitalization
56% choose suboptimal plans
Picking the wrong IDR plan costs thousands in unnecessary payments
Skip the confusion and mistakes. Our IDR specialists handle everything from plan selection to ongoing management, ensuring you get the lowest possible payments and stay compliant.
98% of our clients get approved on first submission
Tax Implications
Forgiven amounts may be considered taxable income (except PSLF)
Annual Recertification
Missing deadlines can result in capitalized interest and higher payments
Interest Accrual
Lower payments may result in growing loan balances over time
Plan Changes
You can switch between IDR plans or return to standard repayment
One wrong move could cost you hundreds per month and thousands over time. Let our IDR experts ensure you get the lowest possible payments from day one.
Average Monthly Savings
Payment Reduction Possible
First-Time Approval Rate
Expert guidance • Guaranteed lowest payments • No application mistakes
Choose the income-driven repayment plan that best fits your financial situation. Each plan has different payment calculations and forgiveness timelines.
Most Popular Plan
10% of discretionary income (new borrowers) or 15% (pre-2014 borrowers)
240 months (undergraduate loans) or 300 months (graduate loans)
Best for: Borrowers wanting payment caps and separate tax filing flexibility
Lower Payments
10% of discretionary income (always)
240 months for all loans
Best for: New borrowers after 2007 wanting lowest possible payments
Newest & Best Benefits
5% of discretionary income (undergraduate) or 10% (graduate loans)
120-300 months based on original loan balance
Best for: All borrowers - offers the lowest payments and best interest benefits
PLUS Loan Option
20% of discretionary income or 12-year fixed payment
300 months for all loans
Best for: Parent PLUS borrowers or those who don't qualify for other plans
FFEL Loan Option
4-25% of gross monthly income based on annual income
Up to 10 years (no forgiveness)
Best for: FFEL borrowers seeking temporary payment relief (consider consolidation for better options)
Compare key features of all income-driven repayment plans side by side
| Feature | IBR | PAYE | SAVE | ICR | ISR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment % | 10% or 15% | 10% | 5-10% | 20% | 4-25% |
| Payment Cap | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Interest Benefits | Limited | 3 years | 100% | ✗ | ✗ |
| Forgiveness | 20-25 years | 20 years | 10-25 years | 25 years | None |
| Loan Types | Direct + FFEL | Direct only | Direct only | Direct + PLUS | FFEL only |
Answer a few quick questions and we'll recommend the best IDR plan for your specific situation.
Based on your answers, here are the best income-driven repayment plans for your situation:
Let our experts help you complete your application and ensure you get the lowest possible payments.