Please see important information regarding COVID-19 and loan repayment.
The Basics
A Deferment allows you to postpone repayment and stops interest from accruing on most loans while you're in a specific qualifying situation. (The Direct Unsubsidized Loan does continue to accrue interest.) Not all loan programs offer the same types of deferment. Our Deferment/Forbearance chart details the options available for each loan program. It's important to review all of the loans you've borrowed and determine how to handle each one individually.
A Forbearance allows you to temporarily reduce your monthly payments to interest-only payments. Interest continues to accrue on all loan types and must be paid each month.
Application Process & FAQ
- Decide whether you need/want to postpone or reduce payments on all of your loans. Can you afford to repay some of your loans & postpone others? You can choose to defer certain loans and continue paying others. Deferment is a better option than forbearance because interest does not continue to accrue on most loans during deferment. Consider forbearance only in situations where you aren't eligible for deferment.
- See the chart below for application forms & details. Complete the application process with EACH of your servicers. Some forms have sections that must be completed by your employer, school official, or residency program director. Other forms may be returned directly to your servicer(s).
- The deferment/forbearance can only be granted in 3-12 month increments. You MUST REAPPLY to extend the length of any approved deferment/forbearance.
- You'll be notified once the servicer has determined your eligibility. You may need to provide additional documentation if requested and you'll need to keep making payments until your application is approved.
- Keep track of your deferment/forbearance end-date and be prepared to reapply or for repayment to resume.
Types of Deferment
Remember, Brown University Student Financial Services is your servicer for Perkins or Instituitional loans. Please contact your federal loan servicer with any questions about deferring repayment of Direct Loans.
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Type of Deferment |
Brown University Institutional Loan Programs |
Federal Perkins Loans |
Federal Direct Loans |
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In-School Deferment |
All Brown University Institutional Loan programs: A borrower enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution may defer repayment. Your school will need to complete a portion of this form. (Note: LDS or PCL require full-time enrollment for student deferment.) |
Federal Perkins Loan: A borrower enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution may defer repayment. Your school will need to complete a portion of this form. Federal In-School Deferment Form OMB 1845-0011
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Federal Direct Loans: A borrower enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution may defer repayment. Your school will need to complete a portion of this form. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
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Internship / Residency Deferment |
Your residency program MUST complete a portion of this form. |
Federal Perkins Loans do not offer this deferment - you may apply for forbearance instead
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Federal Direct Loans do not offer this deferment - you may apply for forbearance instead Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
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Graduate Fellowship Deferment |
LDS or PCL Loans ONLY: A borrower is eligible for deferment for up to two years if participating in a fellowship training program or a full-time educational activity which is directly related to the health profession for which the borrower prepared at the Institution. |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment if enrolled and attending as a regular student in a graduate fellowship program approved by the Secretary or if engaged in graduate or postgraduate fellowship-supported study outside the United States. |
Federal Direct Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment if enrolled and attending as a regular student in a graduate fellowship program approved by the Secretary or if engaged in graduate or postgraduate fellowship-supported study outside the United States. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
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Economic Hardship Deferment |
Brown University Loan (POL16), Brown University 20th Century Loans ONLY: Deferment Application - Brown Institutional Loans ONLY Other Institutional Loan programs do not offer this deferment - you may apply for forbearance instead |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible to defer repayment if they meet any of the following criteria: Working 30 hours or more per week and meeting federal guidelines for financial difficulty. Receiving federal or state general public assistance. Facing a temporary disability |
Federal Direct Loans: A borrower may be eligible to defer repayment if they meet any of the following criteria: Working 30 hours or more per week and meeting federal guidelines for financial difficulty. Receiving federal or state general public assistance. Facing a temporary disability Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer.
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Unemployment Deferment |
Brown University Loan (POL16), Brown University 20th Century Loan, Urban Education Loans ONLY: |
Federal Perkins Loan: A borrower may be eligible to defer repayment while out of work or working less than 30 hours per week AND actively seeking full time employment. |
Federal Direct Loan: A borrower may be eligible to defer repayment while out of work or working less than 30 hours per week AND actively seeking full time employment. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
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Volunteer under the Peace Corp Act Deferment |
Casperson, Ellwood, Kaplan, LDS, Medical, PCL, Brown University Loans ONLY: A borrower may be eligible for deferment for up to three years while serving as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act. Deferment Application - Brown Institutional Loans ONLY |
Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment and subsequent cancellation while serving as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act. Perkins Cancellation and Pre-Cancellation Form |
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Volunteer in Americorp/Vista Deferment |
Casperson, Ellwood, Kaplan, Medical, Brown University Loans ONLY: A borrower may be eligible for deferment for up to three years while serving as a volunteer under AmeriCorp Vista; under the Section 603 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Deferment Application - Brown Institutional Loans ONLY |
Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment and subsequent cancellation while serving as a volunteer in AmeriCorp Vista. |
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Active Duty Military Service Deferment/Full Time Member of the Armed Forces Deferment |
Casperson, Ellwood, Kaplan, LDS, Medical, PCL, Brown University Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment for up to three years while serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. (LDS or PCL define Armed Forces as the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, NOAA, or U.S. Public Health Service.) |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment only under certain specific guidelines related to Active Duty service. |
Federal Direct Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment only under certain specific guidelines related to Active Duty service. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
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Urban Education Loan Deferment |
Urban Education Loan ONLY: A borrower may defer repayment while completing qualifying service. LOAN OFFICE FORM: Urban Education Loan Deferment |
N/A |
N/A |
| Cancer Treatment Deferment | Institutional Loan programs do not offer this deferment - you may apply for forbearance instead |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment while they are receiving cancer treatment, and for the six months following the conclusion of their treatment. Loan must have entered repayment on or before 9/28/18. |
Federal Direct Loans: A borrower may be eligible for deferment while they are receiving cancer treatment, and for the six months following the conclusion of their treatment. Loan must have entered repayment on or before 9/28/18. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer. |
Forbearance
Apply for forbearance when you need to reduce your monthly loan payments but aren't eligible for deferment.
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Type of Forbearance |
Brown University Institutional Loans |
Federal Perkins Loans |
Federal Direct Loans |
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Americorp Forbearance |
N/A |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower completing Americorp service may place their loans in forbearance and Americorp will pay the accruing interest. AMERICORP: Americorp Forbearance Process |
Federal Direct Loans: Contact your federal loan servicer for information. |
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Forbearance |
Brown University Institutional Loans: A borrower may apply to reduce monthly payment to interest-only. |
Federal Perkins Loans: A borrower may apply to reduce monthly payment to interest-only. |
Federal Direct Loans: A borrower may apply to reduce monthly payments to interest-only. Obtain the Federal form from your federal loan servicer.
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