A federal court issued an injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Education from implementing the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan and parts of other income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.
In observance of Labor Day our offices will be closed on Monday, September 2. Please note, payments may take up to five business days to post to your account. This delay will not change the effective date of your payment.
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MOHELA appreciates those who serve our country and is here to help you manage your student loan(s), access benefits available to you because of your military service, and review repayment options specific to your situation.
Register for an account with MOHELA, which will allow you to view information about your federal student loan and make payments online. To confirm your loan servicer, log in to your StudentAid.gov account this link will open in a new window.
Giving others access. Consider granting a power of attorney to an individual you trust to allow them to manage your financial matters, including your federal student loans. The person to whom you give power of attorney can sign documents and act on your behalf. The Legal Assistance Office this link will open in a new window on your military base can assist with establishing a power of attorney.
There are third parties automatically authorized by your promissory note that can provide and obtain information about your account but cannot make changes. If a party not listed on your promissory note needs access to your information, please submit a Certification of Identity & Consent form this link will open in a new window to us so they can access your information.
Stay in touch. Keep your contact information with us current.
Sign up for Auto Pay to help keep your loan(s) in good standing and receive a 0.25% interest rate discount.
Place Active Duty Alert on your credit report. You may issue an Active Duty Alert to consumer credit reporting agencies. An Active Duty Alert can provide important protections against identity theft and credit fraud while deployed. See the Resources section below for more information.
The following military benefits section provides information about federal student loan benefits and repayment options available from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to assist members of the armed forces who have federal student loans.
The SCRA gives military members important protections as they enter active duty and while they are on active duty. The SCRA protects members of the Armed Forces, members of the National Guard, and other Reserve components called to active duty and, in limited situations, their dependents.
The interest rate on any federal student loans disbursed after August 14, 2008, that you received before your military service cannot exceed 6% during periods of active duty.
On active duty
Federal student loan(s) disbursed prior to active duty start date.
For federal student loans, the earliest benefit effective date is August 14, 2008. Active duty periods that fall on or after that date may qualify.
If you consolidate your federal student loans after you begin active duty, your consolidation loan may not be eligible for the SCRA benefit this link will open in a new window
We regularly check an authorized military database and will automatically apply the benefit to your eligible loan(s) based on your qualifying active duty status. You can also securely upload a copy of your military orders, or fax to 866-222-7060.
You can postpone federal student loan repayment during certain periods of active duty and immediately following active duty.
Learn more about interest accrual during deferment, and if you are responsible for paying the accrued interest.
Active duty military service during a war, other military operation, or national emergency.
National Guard servicemembers must be called to active duty by the President or the Secretary of Defense and paid for with federal funds.
Assigned to a duty station other than your normal station.
Periods of training or attending service school are not eligible for deferment.
A completed Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request this link will open in a new window form with
a certification from an authorized official in Section 4; or
a written statement from your commanding/personnel officer; or
a copy of your military orders.
If you cannot submit a deferment request form and other documentation, a verbal request from you or your representative is acceptable. Deferment based on a verbal request is limited to an initial twelve-month period.
You can postpone repayment of your federal student loans while you prepare to return to school following your active duty. Pause your payments after active duty military service and any applicable grace period until the earlier of:
the date you resume enrollment at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis, or
thirteen months following the completion of your active duty military service and any applicable grace period.
Following service during a war, other military operation, or national emergency.
Your military service may make you eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). PSLF is a program for people who work in public service in federal, state, tribal, or local government, or for a non-profit organization. You may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance of your federal Direct Loans. Learn more at StudentAid.gov/pslf this link will open in a new window .
Federal Direct Loans only.
Employed full time at a eligible employer, including military service.
Have 120 qualifying months after October 1, 2007.
Visit StudentAid.gov/publicservice this link will open in a new window to learn more about how to apply for PSLF or to use the PSLF Help Tool at StudentAid.gov/pslf this link will open in a new window to complete your PSLF form online.
While you are serving on active duty in a location considered a hostile fire or imminent danger pay area that qualifies you for special pay, you may be eligible to not have to pay interest on Direct Loans for up to 60 months.
Direct Loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2008.
Serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; or
Performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; and
Servicing in an area of hostilities in which service qualifies for special pay under section 310 of title 37, U.S.C.
For a Direct Consolidation Loan, only any portion of the loan which repaid a loan(s) first disbursed on or after October 1, 2008.
A completed Military Service and Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request form this link will open in a new window with a certification from an authorized official certifying your service in an area of hostilities that qualifies you for special pay; or
Military orders showing you are serving in a hostile area; or
A Leave and Earnings Statement showing you are receiving hostile or imminent danger pay.
There are income-driven repayment (IDR) plans that base your monthly payment on your income and family size. Under these plans, you may qualify for a low or zero payment amount with the possibility of forgiveness of the remaining balance in 20 to 25 years.
Eligibility requirements vary depending on the loan type(s) and repayment plan. Use Loan Simulator to see which programs you may be eligible for, review the estimated payment and cost of each option, and apply.
A completed Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request and documentation of income. You can apply online, using Loan Simulator this link will open in a new window or download the income-driven repayment plan form this link will open in a new window , complete, and return the form.
While you are on active duty, ED waives certain documentation requirements. For example, if you are enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan and military service prevents you from providing your updated income and family size information, this documentation requirement will be waived, and your current monthly payment amount will be maintained.
Serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency;
Performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war, operation, or emergency;
Resides or is employed in an area that is declared a disaster area by any Federal, State, or local official in connection with a national emergency; or,
Suffered a direct economic hardship as a direct result of war or other military operation or national emergency.
Military orders
We will apply a waiver if we have information that you are actively serving in the military and qualify for the waiver.
In certain circumstances, as determined by the DOD, all or a portion of your federal student loans may be repaid by the DOD.
Servicemember of any branch of the U.S. military.
Performing service that qualifies you for a partial repayment of your loan(s) under any DOD Student Loan Repayment Program.
Contact your designated military personnel officer or representative for more information.
Servicemembers of any branch of the U.S. military can temporarily suspend monthly payments while the military repays their federal student loans.
Learn more about interest accrual during forbearance, and if you are responsible for paying the accrued interest.
Submit a Mandatory Forbearance this link will open in a new window form with Section 4 completed by an authorized official.
If you have a service-connected disability, you may qualify for discharge of your federal student loans.
Determination by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that you are unemployable due to a service-connected disability; or
Determination by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or a physician that you are unemployable due to a total and permanent disability.
To view information on supporting documentation requirements for Total and Permanent Disability Discharge and apply, visit StudentAid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge this link will open in a new window.
If you are a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the U.S. armed forces (current or retired) and you are called to active duty while you are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school or within six months of having been enrolled at least half-time, and you do not qualify for a military service deferment, you may be able to suspend payments on your federal student loans.
Learn more about interest accrual during forbearance, and if you are responsible for paying the accrued interest
Member of the National Guard; and,
Engaged in active state duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days because a governor activated you based on state statute or policy or with the approval of the President or the U.S. Secretary of Defense; and,
Your service is being paid for with state or federal funds; and,
You were activated no more than 6 months after the last date on which you were enrolled in school at least half-time; and,
You are performing service that qualifies you for a partial repayment of your loan(s) under any DOD Student Loan Repayment Program.
Submit a Mandatory Forbearance this link will open in a new window application. Section 4 should be completed by an authorized official or you can provide a copy of your orders.
StudentAid.gov/military this link will open in a new window
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
Learn more about government and nonprofit organizations that offer money for college to veterans, future military personnel, active duty personnel, or those related to veterans or active duty personnel.
If you have federal student loans, you can learn about repayment plans, deferment and forbearance, and other options to help you repay your loans.
Phone: 1-855-278-3619 (Toll Free)
Secure message: Inbox
Unsecure email: MilitaryVIP@mohela.studentaid.gov
Information and resources for servicemembers and their families, including information on veteran’s benefits and paying for college.
www.militaryonesource.mil this link will open in a new window
https://todaysmilitary.com/living/paying-for-college this link will open in a new window
https://benefits.va.gov/gibill this link will open in a new window
Get more information about the benefits available through SCRA.
scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/home this link will open in a new window
These are nationwide consumer reporting agencies where you can place an active duty alert on your credit report. Enter "active duty alert" in the website search box for forms and contact information.
Equifax - www.equifax.com this link will open in a new window
Experian - www.experian.com this link will open in a new window
Transunion - www.transunion.com this link will open in a new window
Innovis - www.Innovis.com this link will open in a new window
Get more information on loan discharge for disabled veterans.
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/disability-discharge this link will open in a new window
Federal Student Aid (FSA) is your federal loan provider. FSA uses servicers (private companies) like MOHELA to manage billing, questions, and payments, and to help you enroll in the best repayment plan for you.
Learn more about Federal Student Aid this link will open in a new window
See your repayment options with Loan Simulator this link will open in a new window
Information about your student loans is reported to the four nationwide consumer reporting agencies. Based on the information provided, each individual consumer reporting agency uses their own unique scoring model to determine your FICO credit score.
These credit reporting practices apply to all student loans that are owned by the Department of Education.
We will begin to report a loan delinquent once it is 90 days or more past due on the last date of the month.
We report to the consumer reporting agencies (CRA's) monthly, with the status as of the last day of every month. Monthly reporting excludes loans that were previously reported in a final credit reporting status (for example, paid in full, transferred, etc.) and loans where credit reporting is bypassed or deleted. Please note the CRA's need time to update reporting once we have reported information to them.
We will report each individual loan to the consumer reporting agencies as one unique tradeline that will appear on your credit report.
We are not authorized to complete "goodwill requests" for credit updates, per the directive of Federal Student Aid.
For more information, visit mohela.studentaid.gov/credit.
Due to changes in PSLF regulations, you can now buy back certain months of your payment history to make them qualifying payments for PSLF. Specifically, you can buy back months that do not count as qualifying payments because you were in an ineligible deferment or forbearance status.
The buyback opportunity is only available if you already have 120 months of qualifying employment and buying back months in forbearance or deferment would result in forgiveness under PSLF or Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF). Please note: The PSLF program is managed by the U.S. Department of Education, not MOHELA. To learn more about next steps, and general information on the program, visit Studentaid.gov/PSLFbuyback.