This deferment allows borrowers to defer payment on their federal loans for up to one year at a time for up to three years if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Generally, income and student loan debt are factors used in granting this type of deferment.

This deferment may be available to borrowers who first borrowed a FFELP loan on or after July 1, 1993.

To qualify for an Education Related Deferment, you must be one of the following:

• Engaged in a full-time course of study in a graduate fellowship program.
• Engaged in an internship or residency program. (Must have an outstanding FFELP loan first disbursed before July 1, 1993, or a PLUS Loan first disbursed before August 15, 1983. Maximum of two years.)
• Engaged in a full-time rehabilitation training program.
• Teaching in a designated teacher shortage area. (Your first loan must have been made on or after July 1, 1987, and before July 1, 1993. You must reapply each year, with a maximum of three years.)
• A parent with a PLUS Loan who is engaged in a full-time graduate fellowship or rehabilitation training program.

To qualify for an In-School Deferment, you must be one of the following:

• A full-time student (any FFELP loan)
• A half-time student (with no outstanding balance on a FFELP loan made before July 1, 1987)

To qualify for a Military Service Deferment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be on active duty during war, other military operation, or national emergency, including qualifying National Guard duty. This does not include active duty for training or attendance at a service school.
• Provide a copy of military orders or a statement from the commanding officer.

To qualify for a Parental Leave/Working Mother Deferment, you:

• Must be on parental leave (for Stafford or SLS loan borrowers, for a maximum of six months per occurrence).
• Must have been in school at least half-time during six months prior to deferment start date, or
• Must be a working mother (for Stafford or SLS loan borrowers whose first loan was made on or after July 1, 1987 and before July 1, 1993), who is not making more than $1.00 per hour over the federal minimum wage, has a pre-school age child and entered or re-entered the work force not more than 12 months before the beginning date of the deferment. (Maximum of 12 months.)

Only complete this deferment if you have an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan that was made before July 1, 1993.

To qualify for a PLUS Borrower with Dependent Student Deferment, your dependent student must be one of the following:

• Have outstanding PLUS loans (first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) and the dependent student is enrolled at least half time at an eligible school. Repayment may also be deferred (only on PLUS loans first disbursed after July 1, 2008,) during the 6-month period after the student ceases to be enrolled at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis.
• Enrolled full-time (for loans made on or after July 1, 1987, and before July 1, 1993).
• Enrolled at least half-time (for loans with an outstanding balance on or after July 1, 1987).
• Engaged full-time in a rehabilitation training program (for loans with an outstanding balance on June 30, 1993).

To qualify for deferment on a PLUS Loan made on or after July 1, 1993, the deferment conditions must apply to the parent borrower, not the dependent student.

To qualify for a Public Service Deferment, you must be one of the following:

• On active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loan borrowers and Federal PLUS Loans made before August 15, 1983. The time limit is three years; this limit is combined with any time spent in a deferment due to Public Health Service or NOAA.)
• Serving full-time as an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loan borrowers and Federal PLUS Loans made before August 15, 1983. The time limit is three years; this limit is combined with any time spent in a deferment due to Armed Forces or NOAA.)
• On active duty in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loans made after July 1, 1987, and before July 1, 1993. The time limit is three years; this limit is combined with any time spent in a deferment due to Public Health Service or Armed Forces.)
• Serving in the Peace Corps. (For borrowers with loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is three years.)
• A full-time paid volunteer in the Action Programs. (For borrowers with loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is three years.)
• A full-time paid volunteer for a tax-exempt organization. (For Federal Stafford and SLS loans made before July 1, 1993. The time limit is three years.)

Only complete this deferment if all of your outstanding FFELP loans were made before July 1, 1993.

If you have completed your spring semester but are sitting out for the summer, you may qualify for a Summer Bridge Deferment.

To qualify for a Temporary Total Disability Deferment, you must be one of the following:

• Temporarily totally disabled (Must be disabled at least 60 days. Maximum of three years.)
• Caring for a spouse/family member who is disabled. (Spouse or dependent must be disabled at least 90 days. Maximum of three years.)

Only complete this deferment if you have an outstanding balance on a FFELP loan that was made before July 1, 1993. You must be re-certified for this deferment every six months, as necessary.

To qualify for an Unemployment Deferment, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Document eligibility for unemployment benefits.
• Document that you are diligently seeking but are unable to find full-time employment (defined as working at least 30 hours per week in a position expected to last at least three months) in any field or at any salary or responsibility level and you have registered with a public or private employment agency if there is one within a 50-mile radius of your current address (NOTE: School placement offices and temporary agencies do not qualify as public or private employment agencies).

If you are requesting an extension of a current unemployment deferment and you do not provide documentation of eligibility for unemployment benefits, you must document that you are unable to find full-time employment, you have registered with a public or private employment agency if there is one within a 50-mile radius of your current address AND you must certify that you have made at least six diligent attempts to find full-time employment during the most recent six months.

For borrowers whose first loans were made before July 1, 1993, the maximum cumulative eligibility is 24 months. For borrowers whose first loans were made on or after July 1, 1993, the maximum cumulative eligibility is 36 months.

The Unemployment Deferment will last no more than six months, and all borrowers must reapply every six months.