I've done m best to follow along with the news and and official announcements but it's difficult.
I'm unsure how much personal financial detail to include but I went to college in 2000, dropped out, long story short I went through a bad mental period where I went into default and garnishment. The garnishment was lifted during COVID and I was automatically enrolled in ICR fixed payments for the two consolidated loans held by Dept of Education. I've made monthly payments and if I were late it was by a day or so and I immediately paid the monthly.
I'm currently at 4.2% interest on each and paying more into principal than interest. I'll currently have everything paid in my early 50s if nothing changes.
The loan simulator showed my lowest payments as possibly $50 a month but that would extend the repayment for a very long time.
I've been able to swing the $114 monthly payment so far. we don't have children, we rent, we have cut subscriptions and unnecessary crap, readjusted priorities, I've taken out a debt consolidation loan for my credit cards, keeping up with hospital bills for my health problems is a lot.
So when ICR ends what do I do? With the ongoing economic uncertainty I'm tempted to try consolidating and IDR but I am not touching a thing without better information and advice.
$3725 owed and ICR ending in July
byu/Libran-Indecision inStudentLoans
Posted by Libran-Indecision
2 Comments
> So when ICR ends what do I do?
Get on IBR and pay extra if you can
> I’m tempted to try consolidating
Why? No reason to consolidate
Consolidating is unnecessary and not possible if you already consolidated everything together.
ICR will be around until July 2028. You can use it for now. You will still have IDR choices even when ICR is gone. There will be RAP and IBR.