Deferment Options for Parent Direct PLUS Loan Borrowers
A Direct Parent PLUS loan borrower can choose to defer repayment of his or her loan:
- While the student for whom the parent acquired the loan is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school, and
- 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.
Deferment of loan repayment is not automatic. The borrower of the PLUS loan must contact their federally assigned loan servicer to submit a Borrower Deferment Request. The U.S. Department of Education contracts with several loan servicers for federal student and parent loans. To review your Parent PLUS loan information and to identify which loan servicer to contact, visit studentaid.gov or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). A complete list of federal loan servicers can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.
Remember:
- Interest will still accrue during the deferment period
- The parent borrower will be sent interest statements and will have the option of paying the interest during the deferment period
- The unpaid accrued interest will be capitalized (added to the principal balance) at the end of the deferment period