Starting July 1, servicers will start sending notifications to borrowers, giving them a 90 day deadline to switch out of SAVE. Note that’s **starting** July 1, meaning that not everybody will receive that notification on July 1, meaning that not everybody will have the same deadline. July 1 is the **earliest** you might be notified, and 90 days after that, September 30, is the **earliest** you might have to switch.
On your deadline, you’ll be automatically transitioned to the Standard Repayment Plan, unless you apply to switch to a different plan before then.
jotopia2 on
The part I can’t reconcile 100% is the timeline. Because the email that went out from the dept of ed was super misleading. Nor do I know what my services is going to do. For me , my first step is understanding what the real timeline is. I’m not going to let myself be placed on something. But the timeline is not clear to me. Someone will say something about it and then others disagree so I don’t know who is right.
Starting on July 1, 2026, borrowers on the SAVE forbearance will start receiving notices giving them 90 days to move themselves to another plan. If you do not switch plans by yourself then you will be put into the Standard plan at the end of your 90 days. Not every borrower will get their 90 day notice on July 1st. They will go out in waves.
Currently ICR, PAYE, and IBR are available as far as IDR plans go. RAP will start July 2026. By July 2028 there will only be IBR and RAP. ICR and PAYE will be gone. You are only limited to RAP if you take any loans out on or after July 1, 2026.
Keep in mind that the Standard plan can be quite expensive for some borrowers if you have been in repayment for many years.
If you have never consolidated your loans then your Standard plan is the 10 year Standard plan. That counts towards forgiveness. If you have consolidated your loans then your Standard plan is a term between 10 and 30 years depending on what your loan balance was. This doesn’t count towards forgiveness unless your balance was very low and your consolidation Standard term is a 10 year term. See the chart here: [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/standard?upha=](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/standard?upha=).
Note: the new Tiered Standard plan mentioned in the Department’s messaging is only for a borrower who takes any loans out or consolidates on or after July 1, 2026. If you don’t fall into that category then your Standard plan is one of the two described above. Read about the new Tiered Standard plan as well as how RAP works here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/lsHO2ct2JR](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/lsHO2ct2JR)
The Standard plan is designed to pay off your loans in a specific amount of time. Your 10-30 year clock started ticking as soon as you entered repayment. It only pauses for periods of forbearance and deferment, like the Covid forbearance and SAVE forbearance.
For example, if your Standard plan is the 10 year Standard plan and you have been in repayment for 8 years then your Standard plan now would be calculated to pay off your remaining balance in 2 years. If you have been in repayment for 10+ years then your Standard payment now would be for your entire remaining balance at once. So, it’s very expensive and unexpected for many here who were already relying on an IDR plan.
I recommend you move to another plan when required. Waiting and automatically being put into the Standard plan isn’t going to be the best move for a lot of borrowers. Run the numbers and make a game plan for yourself.
Also, many have asked: Yes, you need to recertify your income to change to another IDR plan because providing current income documentation is always part of the IDR application. No one is automatically being moved to any plan other than Standard, where your income doesn’t matter. You either move yourself to something else or get put onto the Standard plan.
Here’s a link to the loan simulator on studentaid. It can be glitchy. It can only work with the info you give it and it often assumes you are just starting repayment, but it can be a good starting point to explore your options: [https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/](https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/)
NOTE: If you have double consolidated Parent Plus loans on SAVE then you can currently use any IDR plan you are eligible for. You cannot use RAP. By July 2028 you will only have IBR.
You can apply for another IDR plan here: [https://studentaid.gov/idr/](https://studentaid.gov/idr/). If you import your tax data as part of the application it would give you estimates for the IDR plans you qualify for within the application. RAP won’t be available until July 2026. You can wait until then to choose it if you wish. The 90 day notices don’t start going out until July anyway.
Here is another calculator that includes all of the IDR plans as well as the Tiered Standard plan (only available if you take a loan out on or after July 1, 2026): [https://www.edcapny.org/resources-for-borrowers/repayment-plan-calculator/](https://www.edcapny.org/resources-for-borrowers/repayment-plan-calculator/)
And here is Besty’s post with, as always, a lot of helpful information and answers to common questions coming up on the topic of the SAVE transition: [https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/gToBveoo66](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/gToBveoo66)
Aeonxreborn on
Can someone else sue again over this? Since some borrowers were forced into it or other legal reasons I am not familiar? (More curious if this could happen not hoping for it)
littleedge on
Respectfully, “so much text and it’s overwhelming” is a poor excuse. You *need* to take the time to understand something as impactful as your student loans. Put away distractions, turn things off, go to the source, and read it.
Everyone here is simply regurgitating what’s in the communication anyway.
5 Comments
You don’t have to do anything immediately.
Starting July 1, servicers will start sending notifications to borrowers, giving them a 90 day deadline to switch out of SAVE. Note that’s **starting** July 1, meaning that not everybody will receive that notification on July 1, meaning that not everybody will have the same deadline. July 1 is the **earliest** you might be notified, and 90 days after that, September 30, is the **earliest** you might have to switch.
On your deadline, you’ll be automatically transitioned to the Standard Repayment Plan, unless you apply to switch to a different plan before then.
The part I can’t reconcile 100% is the timeline. Because the email that went out from the dept of ed was super misleading. Nor do I know what my services is going to do. For me , my first step is understanding what the real timeline is. I’m not going to let myself be placed on something. But the timeline is not clear to me. Someone will say something about it and then others disagree so I don’t know who is right.
Read about the transition here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/BazoUbRtjx](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/BazoUbRtjx).
Starting on July 1, 2026, borrowers on the SAVE forbearance will start receiving notices giving them 90 days to move themselves to another plan. If you do not switch plans by yourself then you will be put into the Standard plan at the end of your 90 days. Not every borrower will get their 90 day notice on July 1st. They will go out in waves.
Currently ICR, PAYE, and IBR are available as far as IDR plans go. RAP will start July 2026. By July 2028 there will only be IBR and RAP. ICR and PAYE will be gone. You are only limited to RAP if you take any loans out on or after July 1, 2026.
Keep in mind that the Standard plan can be quite expensive for some borrowers if you have been in repayment for many years.
If you have never consolidated your loans then your Standard plan is the 10 year Standard plan. That counts towards forgiveness. If you have consolidated your loans then your Standard plan is a term between 10 and 30 years depending on what your loan balance was. This doesn’t count towards forgiveness unless your balance was very low and your consolidation Standard term is a 10 year term. See the chart here: [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/standard?upha=](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/standard?upha=).
Note: the new Tiered Standard plan mentioned in the Department’s messaging is only for a borrower who takes any loans out or consolidates on or after July 1, 2026. If you don’t fall into that category then your Standard plan is one of the two described above. Read about the new Tiered Standard plan as well as how RAP works here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/lsHO2ct2JR](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/lsHO2ct2JR)
The Standard plan is designed to pay off your loans in a specific amount of time. Your 10-30 year clock started ticking as soon as you entered repayment. It only pauses for periods of forbearance and deferment, like the Covid forbearance and SAVE forbearance.
For example, if your Standard plan is the 10 year Standard plan and you have been in repayment for 8 years then your Standard plan now would be calculated to pay off your remaining balance in 2 years. If you have been in repayment for 10+ years then your Standard payment now would be for your entire remaining balance at once. So, it’s very expensive and unexpected for many here who were already relying on an IDR plan.
I recommend you move to another plan when required. Waiting and automatically being put into the Standard plan isn’t going to be the best move for a lot of borrowers. Run the numbers and make a game plan for yourself.
Also, many have asked: Yes, you need to recertify your income to change to another IDR plan because providing current income documentation is always part of the IDR application. No one is automatically being moved to any plan other than Standard, where your income doesn’t matter. You either move yourself to something else or get put onto the Standard plan.
Here’s a link to the loan simulator on studentaid. It can be glitchy. It can only work with the info you give it and it often assumes you are just starting repayment, but it can be a good starting point to explore your options: [https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/](https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/)
Read about the current IDR plans and eligibility here: [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven) and also here: [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven/questions#paye-eligibility](https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven/questions#paye-eligibility
NOTE: If you have double consolidated Parent Plus loans on SAVE then you can currently use any IDR plan you are eligible for. You cannot use RAP. By July 2028 you will only have IBR.
You can apply for another IDR plan here: [https://studentaid.gov/idr/](https://studentaid.gov/idr/). If you import your tax data as part of the application it would give you estimates for the IDR plans you qualify for within the application. RAP won’t be available until July 2026. You can wait until then to choose it if you wish. The 90 day notices don’t start going out until July anyway.
Here is a calculator that includes RAP: [https://www.studentloanplanner.com/income-based-repayment-calculator/](https://www.studentloanplanner.com/income-based-repayment-calculator/)
Here is one that includes ICR: [https://www.tateesq.com/calculator/income-contingent-repayment](https://www.tateesq.com/calculator/income-contingent-repayment)
Here is another calculator that includes all of the IDR plans as well as the Tiered Standard plan (only available if you take a loan out on or after July 1, 2026): [https://www.edcapny.org/resources-for-borrowers/repayment-plan-calculator/](https://www.edcapny.org/resources-for-borrowers/repayment-plan-calculator/)
Here is one you can use to estimate your Standard payment amount based on the number or years left on your assigned Standard timeline: [https://smartasset.com/student-loans/student-loan-calculator#ULZjsYILdK](https://smartasset.com/student-loans/student-loan-calculator#ULZjsYILdK)
And here is Besty’s post with, as always, a lot of helpful information and answers to common questions coming up on the topic of the SAVE transition: [https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/gToBveoo66](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/s/gToBveoo66)
Can someone else sue again over this? Since some borrowers were forced into it or other legal reasons I am not familiar? (More curious if this could happen not hoping for it)
Respectfully, “so much text and it’s overwhelming” is a poor excuse. You *need* to take the time to understand something as impactful as your student loans. Put away distractions, turn things off, go to the source, and read it.
Everyone here is simply regurgitating what’s in the communication anyway.