Postponing Loan Repayment During Residency

Please note: new regulations will go into effect on July 1, 2023, and at that time, some of the information below will change. This fact sheet will be updated again in July 2023.

Grace: What Is It?

Some loans automatically grant a “grace” period after graduation or when you are no longer enrolled at least half-time. During a grace period, no monthly payments are due. 

Although not all loans have grace periods, Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans have a six-month grace period and Perkins Loans have a nine-month grace period. Direct PLUS Loans for graduate/professional students don’t have a grace period, but they do have a post-enrollment deferment which mimics a grace period.

If you no longer have a grace period on your undergraduate loans (perhaps you took a gap year) then you will need to contact your loan servicer to manage those loans because payment will be due immediately upon graduation. If you are not sure if your loans have a grace period remaining, contact your loan servicer, or talk with your financial aid office staff for assistance. 

Deferment: What Is It and Who Qualifies?

Deferment is a temporary suspension of loan payments. During a deferment, interest does not accrue on subsidized loans. 

Eligibility requirements for a deferment can be restrictive – with many residents not qualifying, or at least not qualifying during residency.

Forbearance: Another Option

If you cannot afford to make payments on your student loans, and if you are ineligible for a deferment (or have exhausted the deferment time limitations), your servicer may provide a forbearance, in increments of up to 12-months. This is a time when you can either make payments lower than those previously scheduled – or delay making payments completely.

During a forbearance, interest accrues on both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. After the forbearance is over, any accrued, outstanding interest is added to the principal balance. This is called capitalization. Capitalization results in a new, larger principal balance. 

Mandatory Medical Residency Forbearance

As a medical resident, you are entitled to a mandatory residency forbearance. This type of forbearance is given in annual increments and can be used to postpone payments throughout residency. You must clearly identify yourself as a medical resident to your servicer to be approved for this forbearance. It is equally important to complete the mandatory medical residency forbearance paperwork annually and on time if you want the forbearance to continue throughout residency.

The Alternative to Postponing Payments

The alternative to postponing payments during residency is to make payments. Required monthly payments can range from zero to a full monthly payment amount, which depends on the type of repayment plan you choose. If you’re concerned that your salary is too low to afford the Standard 10-year repayment plan amount, then an income-driven repayment plan could be an option to consider. 

Payments under the income-driven plans are based on your discretionary income and family size. Some of these plans may even offer interest subsidies and loan forgiveness. To learn more about the income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, visit the Federal Student Aid website. To examine estimated loan repayment options based upon your financial situation and career plans, use the MedLoans® Organizer and Calculator (MLOC).