Are FFELP Loan Payments Suspended? | Current Rules

No, FFELP loan payments are not broadly suspended now, except for narrow programs like some joint consolidation loans or approved pauses.

FFELP loans confuse a lot of borrowers, especially after years of changing relief programs and headlines about payment pauses. If your statements just restarted or your servicer keeps sending mixed messages, it can be hard to tell whether your own FFELP payments are supposed to be on hold or not.

This guide walks through what FFELP loans are, how the COVID-era payment pause worked, which borrowers still have any kind of suspension, and what you can do right now to lower or pause your bill in a safer way. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to read your own situation instead of guessing from broad news updates.

The details below rely on information from the U.S. Department of Education and the Government Accountability Office, along with official repayment rules for FFELP loans. That keeps the focus on what the current regulations and servicer practices actually allow, not rumors or wishful thinking.

What FFELP Loans Are And How They Work

FFELP stands for the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Under this older system, banks and state lenders issued student loans, and the federal government guaranteed them. The program stopped making new loans in 2010, but many borrowers still repay FFELP balances years later.

Some FFELP loans were bought by the U.S. Department of Education during past credit crunches, while others stayed with private or state lenders backed by guaranty agencies. The Federal Student Aid article on FFEL loans explains that only loans held by the Department of Education qualify for certain relief programs, while commercially held FFELP loans follow different paths.

You can see which kind you have by logging into your account at StudentAid.gov and checking the “Loan Breakdown” section. Loans with “FFEL” in the name are FFELP loans, and the “Current Owner” field tells you whether the Department of Education or a private or state organization holds them. That ownership label is central to whether any broad suspension ever applied.

Are FFELP Loan Payments Suspended? Current Status

Across federal student loans in general, the broad COVID-era pause on payments and interest ended in 2023. The Government Accountability Office notes that the pause stopped new bills, paused interest, and halted collections, but that relief wound down after the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 set a firm end date for the program, with payments resuming in October 2023.

That sunset applies to FFELP loans held by the Department of Education as well. Those borrowers no longer have automatic suspension based on COVID relief. Regular due dates, interest accrual, and collections have restarted unless a borrower qualifies for a different form of pause, such as deferment or forbearance.

Commercially held FFELP loans never had the same broad pause in the first place. Many borrowers with these loans kept paying through the pandemic unless they requested their own forbearance or deferment. So when people ask, “Are FFELP Loan Payments Suspended?” the honest answer for almost everyone is no—there is no blanket pause running now.

The main exception today is a narrow group of borrowers with joint consolidation FFEL loans (spousal consolidation loans) covered by new separation rules. For those loans, the Department of Education has asked holders to offer temporary forbearance or payment suspension while borrowers complete separation steps, but that relief only applies if you fall into that specific category and request it through your servicer.

Why The COVID Payment Pause No Longer Applies

During the early months of the pandemic, the CARES Act and later executive actions created a freeze on payments, interest, and collections for most federal student loans owned by the Department of Education. That group included Direct Loans and federally held FFELP loans, while commercially held FFELP loans sat on the sidelines unless lenders chose to grant relief on their own.

Congress later passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which barred any further extensions of the federal payment pause. Federal agencies and independent analysts, including GAO, report that interest restarted in September 2023 and required payments came back in October 2023 for eligible federal student loans.

Once that happened, the “special status” from the pandemic ended. Any pause on your FFELP loans today must come from ordinary tools in the regulations—such as deferment, forbearance, or an income-driven plan—not from the old COVID program.

How FFELP Loan Ownership Shapes Relief Options

Ownership still drives which doors are open. The Federal Student Aid article on FFEL loans explains that most FFELP loans are held by private lenders or guaranty agencies, not by the Department of Education. The Knowledge Center’s FFEL program library backs this up: FFELP is a closed program, but servicing and collections follow separate tracks for federal versus commercial holders.

If your FFELP loans are federally held, they already sit within systems run for the Department of Education. That setup brings access to the full set of federal student loan tools, including income-driven repayment and the credit counted under the one-time IDR account adjustment that ran through mid-2024.

If your FFELP loans are commercially held, you still have options, but some programs require an extra step. For example, to use certain Direct Loan–only plans or forgiveness routes, borrowers often need to consolidate their FFELP loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan. That choice reshapes interest and repayment timelines, so it deserves a careful look with your servicer before you move ahead.

Borrower Situation	Automatic Suspension Right Now?	Main Way To Ease Payments
FFELP loan held by U.S. Department of Education	No broad suspension after 2023	Apply for income-driven repayment, deferment, or forbearance
Commercially held FFELP loan in active repayment	Never had blanket COVID pause from federal law	Ask servicer about FFEL income-based or income-sensitive plans
FFELP loans consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan	No automatic pause today	Use Direct Loan income-driven plans based on income and family size
FFELP loans in default with a guaranty agency	No broad suspension; collections may resume	Rehabilitation, consolidation, or settlement, depending on status
Joint FFEL consolidation loan (spousal) during separation process	Possible temporary suspension if servicer grants requested forbearance	Request payment suspension tied to separation and follow timelines
FFELP borrower already on Income-Based Repayment (IBR)	No; payments follow current income data	Update income, recertify on time, or look at consolidation if helpful
FFELP borrower using a short-term forbearance	Yes, but only during approved forbearance period	Plan next move early so payments do not restart without a plan

Ways To Pause Or Lower FFELP Loan Payments Today

Even though broad suspension ended, you still have tools that can bring your bill down or pause it for a while. The right mix depends on your loan holder, income, and long-term goals.

Income-driven repayment sits near the top of the list for most FFELP borrowers. Federal guidance explains that the main income-driven option for FFELP loans is Income-Based Repayment (IBR), which ties your monthly bill to your discretionary income and family size rather than the old 10-year standard amount. If you consolidate FFELP loans into the Direct Loan program, more income-driven designs may become available, though rules change over time.

Some servicers also offer income-sensitive repayment for certain FFELP loans, which adjusts your bill based on income for a limited window. This option can help during years with tight cash flow, but interest may grow faster, so repayment over the long term can cost more.

Deferment and forbearance pause payments for specific reasons such as unemployment, economic hardship under federal definitions, or medical issues. Interest rules vary by loan type; in many cases, interest keeps building, which means a bigger balance later. These tools can still be life-saving in a rough season, but they work best as short-term relief, not a permanent plan.

Taking Stock Of Past Relief: IDR Account Adjustment And Deadlines

Many FFELP borrowers heard about the one-time income-driven repayment (IDR) account adjustment, which credited extra months toward forgiveness for people in repayment, deferment, or certain forbearances. Federal Student Aid’s IDR adjustment page explains that borrowers with commercially or federally held FFEL loans could benefit by consolidating into a Direct Loan before the June 30, 2024 deadline.

That cutoff has passed, and the Department of Education has been applying those counts. If you consolidated and your loans now sit in the Direct Loan program, you can check your payment counts inside your online account once the update appears. If you missed the adjustment window, you still have access to regular income-driven repayment and other long-standing relief tools; you just no longer get that one-time boost.

The key lesson from that limited program carries forward: broad relief windows often have deadlines. When you hear about a new adjustment, waiver, or forgiveness opportunity tied to FFELP loans, read the fine print early so you have time to act if it actually fits your situation.

Step	Where To Do It	What You Learn
1. Confirm your loan types	Log in at StudentAid.gov and open “Loan Breakdown”	Whether you have FFELP loans, Direct Loans, or both
2. Check who owns each FFELP loan	Click each loan and read the “Current Owner” field	Whether the Department of Education or a private entity holds it
3. Match your situation to relief tools	Compare your status with the table above and servicer materials	Which mix of IDR, deferment, or forbearance fits your goals
4. Run payment estimates	Use your servicer’s calculators or federal IDR estimators	How different plans would change your monthly bill
5. Ask about consolidation, if relevant	Contact your servicer or submit a Direct Consolidation application online	Whether moving into the Direct Loan program would unlock better terms
6. Submit the chosen application	Online forms through your servicer or StudentAid.gov	Formal request for a pause, new plan, or consolidation
7. Watch for confirmation notices	Email and letters from your servicer	Exact start date and details for your new repayment setup

Step-By-Step Plan To Check Your Own FFELP Status

Start by pulling your data from the source. Log in to StudentAid.gov and download your full loan list. Mark which ones are FFELP, which are Direct, and which are already consolidated. This quick map keeps you from mixing up rules that only apply to one group.

Next, match each FFELP loan to an owner. If the Department of Education holds it, general federal student loan guidance about income-driven repayment and forgiveness more often applies to you. If a commercial lender or guaranty agency holds it, relief may run through separate FFEL-specific options, and some Direct Loan programs will only open if you consolidate.

Then, talk with your servicer. Bring clear questions: “Is my account current?”, “Which repayment plans do you offer on this FFELP loan?”, “What would my bill be under IBR or income-sensitive repayment?” Ask them to send written confirmation of any new plan or forbearance so you are not relying only on a phone call.

Common Pitfalls FFELP Borrowers Face

One common trap is assuming that every headline about payment suspension or forgiveness includes FFELP in the same way as Direct Loans. Many programs sort borrowers by loan type and ownership, and the fine print often mentions that privately held FFELP loans stand outside the main relief.

Another trap is stacking short forbearances without a long-term plan. That pattern can push balances higher over time, especially when unpaid interest capitalizes. Short pauses can still help during job loss or family changes, but they work best when paired with a later shift into a sustainable repayment plan.

A third trap is rushing into consolidation without running the numbers. Consolidation can open better income-driven plans and forgiveness routes, yet it can also reset certain timelines or raise the total interest paid. Walking through side-by-side payment estimates before you sign keeps you from trading one problem for another.

When To Reach Out For Personal Help

FFELP rules mix older program design with newer relief efforts, which means many borrowers carry a patchwork of loans and histories. If your situation involves default, disability, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or joint consolidation, a one-on-one session with a nonprofit student loan counselor or legal aid office in your state can bring clarity faster than trying to parse every regulation alone.

You can also draw on official sources when you want to double-check what a servicer told you. The Federal Student Aid article on FFEL loans, the Knowledge Center entry for the FFEL program, and GAO reports on the payment pause all explain how federal rules line up behind the scenes. Pair those resources with written statements from your servicer, and you’ll have a solid picture of whether any pause applies and how to shape the next phase of repayment.

The headline takeaway: FFELP payments are no longer suspended across the board. Relief now comes from targeted tools—income-driven repayment, deferment, forbearance, consolidation choices, and a few narrow programs for special loan types. Once you know which bucket your loans belong in, you can shape a plan that matches your income and long-term goals instead of waiting for another blanket pause that is unlikely to return.