Deferments
For Perkins Loans disbursed prior to July 1, 1993
| Deferment Type | Time Limit |
|---|---|
| Active Duty A deferment for borrowers returning from active duty who were enrolled at least half time in an eligible institution prior to being called or ordered to active duty (doesn't require activation during a war, military operation, or national emergency). The active duty deferment runs concurrently with the 180-day deferment period following the demobilization date allowed under the military deferment. | 13 months |
| Active Duty Armed Forces A deferment for borrowers who are active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Members of the National Guard or the Reserves also may be eligible if they are serving in a full-time active duty status for a minimum of one year or in cases of a national emergency (two-week active duty for training is not considered full-time active duty status). | 36 months |
| Active Duty National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps A deferment for borrowers serving on active duty for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps (NOAA). | |
| Economic Hardship A deferment for borrowers who earn less than minimum wage or exceed a federally defined debt-to-income ratio. A borrower may also be eligible if he or she is receiving state or federal aid. | 36 months |
| Education Component of Head Start Program Staff A deferment for borrowers whose service as a staff member in an education component of the Head Start Program will qualify him or her for loan cancellation. A borrower who recieves concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Graduate Fellowship A deferment for borrowers engaged in a fulltime course of study in a Graduate Fellowship program. The borrower must already hold at least a bachelor's degree. The Graduate Fellowship program must provide the borrower with sufficient financial support to study full time for at least six months. A program official must certify the borrower's participation in the program. | |
| Hardship A deferment for borrowers, separate and different from an economic hardship deferment, who are faced with a hardship, as determined by the school (for example, if a borrower is facing a prolonged period of illness or unemployment). Interest continues to accrue during the hardship deferment, and hardship deferments do not have a postdeferment grace period. | |
| In-School Full Time A deferment for borrowers who are attending school full time (as defined by the school). In order to be considered eligible, a school must be an institution of higher education and be eligible to participate in Title IV financial assistance programs. A school official must certify the dates of attendance and enrollment status. (Note: The school can verify if it is an eligible institution and be able to certify enrollment.) | |
| In-School Half Time A deferment for borrowers who are attending school half time (as defined by the school). In order to be considered eligible, a school must be an institution of higher education and be eligible to participate in Title IV financial assistance programs. A school official must certify the dates and level of attendance. (Note: The school can verify if it is an eligible institution and be able to certify enrollment.) | |
| Internship/Residency A deferment for borrowers who have at least a bachelor's degree and who are serving in an internship program that is required in order to begin professional practice or service; or a medical internship or residency program that leads to a degree or certificate awarded by a higher education institution, hospital, or a healthcare facility that offers postgraduate training. | 24 months |
| Law Enforcement or Corrections Officer A deferment for borrowers whose service as a law enforcement or corrections officer will qualify him or her for loan cancellation. A borrower who receives concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Military Service A deferment for borrowers who are serving on active duty or qualifying National Guard during a war, military operation, or national emergency and during the 180-day period following the demobilization date. | |
| Nurse or Medical Technician A deferment for borrowers whose service as a nurse or medical technician will qualify him or her for loan cancellation. A borrower who recieves concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Parental Leave A deferment for borrowers who are pregnant or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. To be eligible, a borrower must have been enrolled at least half time in an eligible postsecondary school at some time during the six months immediately preceding the parental leave deferment. The borrower must not be attending school or working full time (at least 30 hours per week that is expected to last at least three months) during the period of deferment. | 6 months |
| Professional Provider of Early Intervention Services for the Disabled A deferment for borrowers performing service as a professional provider of early intervention services for the disabled will qualify him or her for loan cancellation. A borrower who recieves concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Public Health Services A deferment for borrowers serving as full-time officers in the Commissioned Corps of Public Health of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). | 36 months |
| Public or Non-profit Child-or Family Services Agency Employee A deferment for borrowers performing service as an employee of a public or non-profit child or family servies agency will qualify him or her for loan cancellation. A borrower who recieves concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Rehabilitation Training A deferment for borrowers engaged in a fulltime Rehabilitation Training program. The borrower must be taking part in a fulltime program of vocational rehabilitation, drug or alcohol abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or a rehabilitation program through the Department of Veterans Affairs. A program official must certify participation in the program. The program must be licensed, certified, or otherwise recognized as providing rehabilitation training by a responsible state agency. | |
| Teacher Forgiveness A deferment for borrowers whose performing service will qualify him or her for teacher loan cancellation. A borrower who recieves concurrent deferment also is entitled to a post-deferment 6-month grace period. | |
| Temporary Total Disability A deferment for periods when the borrower is temporarily totally disabled or unable to secure or continue employment because the borrower is caring for a dependent or spouse who is temporarily totally disabled. A borrower is considered to be temporarily totally disabled if he or she has been unable to work or earn income or attend school for at least 60 days because of time needed to recover from an injury or illness. A borrower's dependent or spouse is considered to be temporarily totally disabled if, by reason of injury or illness, the dependent or spouse requires continuous nursing or similar services for at least 90 days. | 36 months |
| Unemployment A deferment available to borrowers who are conscientiously seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment in the United States. Full-time employment is defined as at least 30 hours per week that is expected to last at least three months. The borrower must be registered with an employment agency or be receiving unemployment benefits. (Note: A borrower is not eligible for an unemployment deferment if he or she refuses to consider positions, salaries, or responsibility levels for which he or she feels overly qualified due to education or experience.) | 36 months |
| Volunteer ACTION Program A deferment for borrowers serving as full-time, paid volunteers in a program authorized under Title I of the Domestic Volunteer Act of 1973 (ACTION programs). The borrower must have volunteered for at least one year. | 36 months |
| Volunteer Peace Corps A deferment for borrowers voluntarily serving full time in the Peace Corps under the Peace Corps Act. The borrower must have volunteered for at least one year. | 36 months |
| Volunteer Tax Exempt Organization A deferment for borrowers serving as fulltime, paid volunteers with a taxexempt organization that the U.S. Department of Education has determined to be comparable to service as a Peace Corps or ACTION volunteer. The borrower must be providing specified services to lowincome persons and their communities. Also, the borrower's compensation can not exceed the federal minimum wage. (Note: The borrower can not give religious instruction, conduct worship services, engage in religious proselytizing, or engage in fundraising to support religious activities as part of his or her service.) | 36 months |
| Working Mother A deferment for borrowers who are mothers of preschool-age children when the mothers are entering (or re-entering) the work force. A preschool-age child is defined as one who is not yet enrolled in first grade or a higher grade in elementary school. The mother must be employed full time (at least 30 hours per week that is expected to last at least three months). |
Other deferment eligibility charts:
Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized, Federal Stafford (subsidized or unsubsidized), Direct PLUS, Federal PLUS, SLS (Supplemental Loan for Students), Direct Consolidation, and Federal Consolidation Loans::
- Disbursed prior to July 1, 1987
- Disbursed from July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1993
- Disbursed on or after July 1, 1993
Federal Perkins Loans: