Military Borrowers

If you are serving in the military, there may be student loan benefits available to you.

Deferment

Borrowers on qualified active duty, and even those who have demobilized, may be eligible for special postponement options.

  • Military personnel can postpone their loan payments by requesting a military service deferment.
  • They can also defer payments for 180 days—or possibly up to 13 months—after demobilization.
  • For the total amount of time they are on qualified active duty, borrowers in the military can postpone repayment of their Title IV loans with deferments.
  • Get more information about these deferments from the government’s Federal Student Aid website or download the Military Deferment Request (pdf, 0.09 MB) form.

Repayment Benefits

Borrowers on qualified active duty have access to certain repayment benefits—like interest rate caps and disability discharges.

  • By making a written request to their lender or servicer, and enclosing their military orders, service members can cap their Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loan interest rates at 6% during their service. This benefit is available even if the loan is past due or in default.
  • Certain service members with one or more FFELP loans may consolidate them into a Direct Loan to receive an interest rate of 0% during periods of qualified active duty.
  • Service members declared totally and permanently disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs may apply to discharge their federal loans. They can do this by submitting a discharge form and documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs to their loan holder.

Educational Assistance Programs

Veterans thinking about furthering their education can take advantage of education assistance programs like the GI Bill.

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the GI Bill, which benefits veterans, service members, and some dependents of disabled or deceased veterans pursuing an education.
  • You can also call 888.GI.Bill.1 (888.442.4551) to speak with a veterans benefit counselor.

Serving in Haiti

Most active duty is considered qualified active duty. Service members on active duty in support of Operation Unified Response Haiti may be eligible for the military service deferment. If you have questions about whether your service qualifies, contact American Student Assistance® (ASA).