I've been in school half -time for 5 years now and recieved a bill statement in the mail to start paying my Financial Aid loan off, and I'm still in school. I'm going to dental school in 3 years and need to save all the money I can! I'm stressed! HELP! around $3500.
2006-06-27 01:51:11 · 11 answers · asked by Future Dentist Mike 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Financial Aid
If you are indeed half-time, your federal loans (and most private loans, too) should be at an "in-school deferment" status until after you graduate. Only if you drop *below* half-time status will you need to begin repayment. So...
Check with your Registrar (or whatever comparable office determines your credit-load and graduation status) to ensure that they do indeed consider you at least "Half-time" (not to be confused with "part-time" or "less-than-half -time"). Sometimes, lenders aren't always properly notified of their students' enrollment statuses -- particularly if your "anticipated graduation date" has changed since you first borrowed your loans. If your school says you are "half-time," then the most you should have to do is complete an "In-School Deferment" form for each lender you have. This form, which your Registrar certifies, will let your lender(s) know that you are eligible for deferment. Simple as that! You can download the Stafford Loan form here: http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/FP0606SCH.pdf
[If you have Perkins or any private loans, you'll need to get similar forms from the loan holders.]
Until this gets straightened out, though, don't just let those bills sit there collecting dust; you might need to make a payment or two. The last thing you want to do is is become delinquent (or, worse, default) on these loans before you're even done with school. If you can't make a payment, contact your lenders, explain the situation, and see if they can offer you a deferment. If they can't do this they should, at the very least, be able to offer you a forbearance on your loans
* The primary difference between deferment and forbearance is that, in a forbearance, interest will accrue on all your loans, even on subsidized ones. However, forbearances tend to be easier to obtain than deferments.
2006-06-27 03:20:21 · answer #1 · answered by FinAidGrrl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I was in school, the loan was deferred as long as I was a full-time student. Maybe your part-time status is what brought the bill on. Also, it is possible that it had a deadline - so many years after it was loaned, you would have to start payments. You would have to read the original loan agreement.
2006-06-27 08:57:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jeannie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the loan program know that you were in school? What do they say? What does the Financial Aid Office at your school say? There's never a problem. Worse case is that you will have to make a trifling payment. I've been there.
2006-06-27 08:57:31 · answer #3 · answered by Superstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check into deferment...
Deferment is a postponement of repayment under various, specific circumstances
* For Federal Perkins Loans, subsidized FFEL Stafford Loans, and subsidized Direct Stafford Loans, you don’t have to pay principal or interest during deferment.
* For unsubsidized FFEL Stafford Loans, unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans,
FFEL PLUS Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans, you can postpone paying principal, but you (or your parents, for PLUS Loans) are responsible for the interest. You can pay the interest during the deferment period, or the loan holder can capitalize the interest when the deferment ends. Remember that capitalization will increase the loan balance.
In most cases, you aren’t just granted a deferment automatically; you must formally request one through the procedures your loan holder has established. Often, you need to complete a deferment form. You’ll need to provide documentation showing you’re qualified for the deferment you’re applying for. Make sure all your paperwork is in order and make sure the loan holder receives it.
2006-06-27 08:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by Hawk996 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the entire contract and then call the financial aid office of the school to discuss your questions re: the particulars and see if something can be worked out.
2006-06-27 08:57:55 · answer #5 · answered by Howdy! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your rights in terms of deferment depend on when you borrowed your first student loan. in nearly all instances, you can continue deferment as long as you're at least a half-time student. it's possible that the national clearinghouse's records have yet to be updated with your school. check with your lender first to determine why you are being billed.
2006-06-27 09:01:39 · answer #6 · answered by lenny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You definitely need to check with your lender and find out if you're taking enough hours to qualify for payment deferment. It's been a while since I was in school, but I seem to remember needing to take a minimum number of hours.
2006-06-27 08:59:50 · answer #7 · answered by grizzly_r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have deferments but if you use all those up they want you start paying i had same thing happen the solution of the loaning company was borrow more money i said no way then they said if i could prove i was still in school (full time) i could wait check into it
2006-06-27 08:56:50 · answer #8 · answered by sam s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know, you shouldn't have to pay back your loans til 6 months after you're done with school. maybe it has something to do with you only being part time. talk to you lender. good luck with that
2006-06-27 08:54:46 · answer #9 · answered by vanilla_bean_dream 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not meet the requirement for hours taken for deferrment is my guess.
2006-06-27 08:55:41 · answer #10 · answered by DesignR 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋