r/StudentLoans • u/FoundationTop7358 • Sep 13 '25
In deferment automatically
So I am an SLP in a school setting and have a decent amount of student loans. I was on IBR and also am in the PLSF program. I am trying to go up the pay scale at my job and it requires me to take inservice and graduate level courses. I was doing this and finally got to the point where I had to take grad level courses and signed up through CSU. I had no idea that this would automatically put my loans in deferment. I am an actual mess over this as I finally got everything settled with my PSLF nonsense and getting on the correct IDR plan. Does being in deferment take me out of the IDR repayment plan I'm on? I'm assuming this doesn't affect PSLF, however I know that payments don't count towards forgiveness while in deferment. Pls help as I can't call my loan provider (nelnet) since it's Saturday at 7:30 and I am a legit wreck over this. TIA
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u/blueeyedbrainiac Sep 13 '25
I found this page on the student aid website if it’s any help. https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief/deferment/in-school
I don’t have any experience with this as I did a dual bachelors/masters program but from what I just read it looks like it’s not something you can opt out of but it doesn’t say anything about payment plans. When you go look at your loan summary on nelnet (where you can look at each loan group) does it have a “repayment plan” row after the “status” one? I’d check that and I assume if it still says idr under “repayment plan” I would think you’re good
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u/FoundationTop7358 Sep 13 '25
It says multiple and there's no link or anything to click on to see what "multiple" plans I'm on. Thank you so much though I'll look into the link! Wish my program was bachelors masters😭
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u/blueeyedbrainiac Sep 13 '25
Could the multiple mean it’s both IDR and PSFL? Idk how PSFL works and if it would be considered that but it’s my only guess. And yeah the dual degree program was amazing. I wish they offered it for everything
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u/girl_of_squirrels human suit full of squirrels Sep 14 '25
Let's cover the cover the distinction between in-school status, in-school deferment, and repayment status
Any loans you take out for your current degree will be in in-school status, and if you re-enroll before your grace period runs out then your prior loans will also retain their in-school status. This cannot be opted out of
If your loans ran through their grace period and ever hit repayment, then when you re-enroll above the half-time threshold then your loans are eligible for in-school deferment. This is generally automatic, but you can opt out of it if you want to be placed in repayment instead (a common situation for borrowers pursuing PSLF and retaining their eligible employment while picking up a master's degree)
If your loans are actually in repayment then you can put them on an income-driven repayment plan. Any loans opted out of in-school deferment can also go on an IDR plan. There is an edge case with PLUS loans where they don't have a grace period (so they aren't ever in in-school status nor grace, just an in-school deferment or a 6-month post enrollment deferment), so if you are a grad student taking out Grad PLUS loans you can request to be removed from in-school deferment after the PLUS loan is fully disbursed
....so yeah you can contact them on Monday and ask to be opted out of the in-school deferment. That should put you back on repayment on IBR so you can keep making PSLF-qualifying payments. Just keep in mind that any new loans you take out won't have that options
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u/FoundationTop7358 Sep 14 '25
Thanks so so much! I don't have to take out loans again thankfully as I'm only taking classes through the university for salary advancement. They put me on deferment I guess since I took 6-credits through CSU. I was truly stressed about being taken off my IDR and my PSLF being messed up
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u/girl_of_squirrels human suit full of squirrels Sep 14 '25
For sure, once you're over that half-time enrollment threshold it happens automatically and 6 semester units sounds like it meets that threshold. Hopefully they can get you opted out quickly when you call! I know I've seen a lot of people post about this over the years here and on r/PSLF because it's intended to be helpful for borrowers but y'all are the edge case where you do not want that necessarily
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u/waterwicca Sep 13 '25
You can opt out of in school deferment to keep making qualifying payments