Missed a Student Loan Payment? Here's What to Do
Missing a student loan payment can feel overwhelming, but what you should do next depends on how long it's been. Use this decision tree to find your situation and next steps.
What this means
When you miss a federal student loan payment, your loan becomes delinquent (past due). Delinquency means you owe a payment that hasn't been made by the due date. The longer the delinquency lasts, the more serious the consequences may become — including potential default (when a loan is severely past due, typically 270 days or more for federal loans).
Who may be affected
- Borrowers who forgot or couldn't make a payment
- Borrowers whose auto-pay failed or wasn't set up correctly
- Borrowers who weren't sure when payments restarted
- Borrowers who may be approaching or already in default
Decision tree: what's your situation?
How long has it been since you missed a payment?
You're current. Keep making payments on time. Consider enrolling in auto-pay for the 1% interest rate reduction (available through June 2028). Plan your payment in Balance On Hand to stay ahead.
Contact your servicer as soon as possible. You may be able to make the payment and avoid negative credit reporting. Ask about deferment (a temporary pause) or forbearance if you're unable to pay right now.
Your loan is delinquent and may have been reported to credit bureaus. Contact your servicer immediately to discuss options. You may qualify for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that lowers your monthly payment based on your income. Ask about IBR, ICR, or PAYE.
Your loan may be in default. Default can lead to wage garnishment (automatic paycheck deductions), tax refund offset (the government keeping your tax refund), and other collection actions. See our default and collections guide for options including loan rehabilitation and consolidation.
What to check
- Log in to StudentAid.gov to check your loan status
- Contact your servicer to confirm what you owe and discuss options
- Ask if deferment or forbearance is available if you can't pay right now
- Ask about income-driven repayment plans if your current payment is too high
- Check whether your loan has been reported as delinquent to credit bureaus
Key terms explained
- Delinquency: Your loan is past due. This starts the day after you miss a payment.
- Default: Your loan is severely past due (typically 270+ days for federal loans). This triggers serious consequences.
- Deferment: A temporary pause on payments, usually for specific qualifying reasons (like returning to school or economic hardship).
- Forbearance: Another type of temporary payment pause. Interest may still accrue during forbearance.
- Garnishment: When money is automatically deducted from your paycheck to repay a defaulted loan.
- IDR (Income-Driven Repayment): Plans that set your payment based on your income and family size. Options include IBR, ICR, and PAYE.
Next steps
- Contact your servicer right away — the sooner, the better
- If you don't know who your servicer is, use the Find Your Servicer guide
- If you're in default, review the default and collections page for recovery options
- Once you have a plan, add your payment to Balance On Hand to see how it fits your cash flow
Get back on track with a clear picture
Once you know your payment amount and due date, add it to Balance On Hand to see how it fits with your paycheck schedule and other bills. This helps you plan ahead and avoid another missed payment.
Open Balance On HandOfficial sources
StudentAid.gov — If You're Struggling to Repay
Options for borrowers who are having trouble making student loan payments.
Visit StudentAid.gov → Retrieved 2026-06-28StudentAid.gov — Delinquency and Default
Understanding the consequences of delinquency and default on federal student loans.
Visit StudentAid.gov → Retrieved 2026-06-28Balance On Hand is a cash-flow planning tool. It is not a lender, loan servicer, or financial advisor. It does not access your student loan account. The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify all details through StudentAid.gov or your official loan servicer.
Add your student loan payment to Balance On Hand and see what your next 3 years look like.
Balance On Hand is free to use. Verify your real payment amount and due date through StudentAid.gov or your official loan servicer, then plan the payment in Balance On Hand.