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Economic Hardship Deferment is a student loan borrower protection. It allows borrowers to temporarily defer payments toward their loans. If the borrower has a subsidized loan, it will not accrue interest throughout the deferment period. Deferment periods are taken in one-year increments, up to three years total. This deferment plan is only eligible to people who have taken out federal loans, and only certain loans at that.
Qualifying Loans Include:
- National Direct Loans
- Family Education Loans
- Stafford Loans
- Perkins Loans
- Supplemental Loans
- PLUS Loans
- Consolidation Loans
- and National Defense Loans.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible, borrowers must be employed full-time. From there, borrowers must fall into one of four categories: been granted economic hardship deferment on another federal student loan plan for the same period of time; having received payments from federal or state public assistance programs; are serving in the Peace Corps; are making less than 150% of the poverty guideline in income for your family size (specific to state of residence).
Economic hardship deferment is a way for borrowers to get their feet back under them. Borrowers who are still having difficulty after the first one-year increment may reapply for deferment, bearing in mind that they will be subject to the same rules as for the first application.
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
4.99% - 16.85% Variable
3.47% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
