SAVE Plan Deadline Independent guide · Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education Español

Missed your SAVE deadline? What happens, and how to get out

It isn’t the end: you’re moved to the Standard plan, which usually costs more, but you can still apply for an income-driven plan.

By the SAVE Plan Deadline editorial team · Updated

What happens on your deadline

If you don’t pick a plan within 90 days of your notice, your servicer moves you to the Standard plan or the new Tiered Standard plan, depending on your loans. Neither looks at your income: the payment is set only by your balance and the term.1,2

For our example borrower ($55,000 income, $38,000 at 6.5%), that means $431 a month on the 10-year Standard plan, or $331 on the 15-year Tiered Standard plan, versus $229 on RAP.

It isn’t final. You can apply for RAP or IBR any time at studentaid.gov/idr. While your application is processed, though, you’ll be billed the Standard amount.3,4

How to get off the Standard plan

  1. Work out which plan fits you with the calculator.
  2. Apply for it at studentaid.gov/idr and save the dated confirmation.3
  3. Call your servicer, tell them you’ve applied for an income-driven plan, and ask what your options are while it’s processed. Note the date and the agent’s name.
  4. If weeks pass with no answer, or the plan is applied wrong, file a complaint with the FSA Ombudsman.5

There’s a backlog: the Department of Education has confirmed more than 576,000 pending income-driven applications.6 The sooner yours is in, the better.

If you work in public service

Payments on the 10-year Standard plan count toward PSLF; payments on Tiered Standard generally don’t.4 If you were moved to Tiered Standard and you’re pursuing PSLF, every month there can be a month lost. What counts for PSLF now.

If you can’t afford the new payment

Don’t ignore it. At 90 days late your servicer reports it to the credit bureaus, and after 270 days without payment the loan goes into default.7 Apply for an income-driven plan right away and talk to your servicer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch to RAP or IBR after the deadline?

Yes. You can apply any time at studentaid.gov/idr, though you’re billed the Standard amount while it’s processed.

Does the Standard plan count for PSLF?

The 10-year Standard plan does; Tiered Standard generally doesn’t.

What if I don’t pay the new amount?

At 90 days late it’s reported to the credit bureaus, and at 270 days the loan goes into default.
NEXT EXIT

Your exact plan, in writing

$29 one time

Which plan to pick and why, what you’ll pay in total, whether filing separately saves you money, PSLF, the steps on studentaid.gov, and ready letters if your servicer gets it wrong.

See the report

14-day money-back guarantee. Switching is free at studentaid.gov: we sell clarity, never the paperwork.

Sources

  1. Attorney General James urges student loan borrowers on SAVE to choose new repayment options (July 6, 2026) New York State Attorney General · Official source
  2. Federal student loan repayment plans in 2026 Tate Law
  3. Income-Driven Repayment Plan application Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source
  4. Does the Tiered Standard plan qualify for PSLF? Tate Law
  5. FSA Ombudsman Group Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source
  6. What's going on with your student loan repayment? Student Loan Planner
  7. Student loan delinquency and default Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source