Deferment Chart

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Use the chart below to discover the deferment option(s) which may be appropriate for your situation.

Deferment option	Disbursement Date on or after...	Federal Stafford	Federal SLS	Federal PLUS	Deferment Forms
At least half-time study as determined by eligible institution	July 1, 1993¹	YES	YES	YES³	SCH* SCH Spanish*
Approved graduate fellowship program	July 1, 1993¹	YES	YES	YES³	EDU* EDU Spanish*
Approved rehabilitation training program for disabled	July 1, 1993¹	YES	YES	YES³	EDU* EDU Spanish*
Unable to find full-time employment	July 1, 1993¹	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years³	UNEM* UNEM Spanish*
Economic hardship²	July 1, 1993¹	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years³	HRD* HRD Spanish*
Military	July 1, 2001	Up to 3 years	No	Up to 3 years³	MIL*

Note: Both principal and interest may be deferred on SLS, PLUS and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans for the deferment period.
¹New Borrowers with first disbursements made on or after July 1, 1993. In this case, a new borrower is defined as one who has no outstanding balance on GSL, PLUS, SLS or ALAS as of 7/1/93, or on the date a loan is obtained on or after 7/1/93.
²Borrower is working full-time and earning an amount that does not exceed the greater of the minimum wage or poverty line for a family of two as determined by the Community Service Block Grant Act, or if borrower meets other criteria established by Department of Education regulations.
³Deferments are not available based on dependent's status.

Options for loans made before July 1, 1993 and for loans made to borrowers with loans outstanding on or after July 1, 1993

Deferment option	Federal Stafford	Federal SLS	Federal PLUS	Action
Full-time study at an approved school	YES	YES	YES	SCH* SCH Spanish*
At least half-time study at an approved school	YES	YES	YES	SCH* SCH Spanish*
Full-time study in an eligible fellowship program	YES	YES	YES	EDU* EDU Spanish*
Full-time participation in an approved rehabilitation program	YES	YES	YES	EDU* EDU Spanish*
Full-time active duty in Armed Forces or serving as commissioned officer in Public Health Service¹	Up to 3 years^2,3	Up to 3 years^2,3	Up to 3 years^2,3	PUB* PUB Spanish*
Full-time active duty in National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)¹	Up to 3 years²	Up to 3 years²	NO	PUB* PUB Spanish*
Full-time service in Peace Corps or VISTA	Up to 3 years³	Up to 3 years³	Up to 3 years³	PUB* PUB Spanish*
Full-time volunteer service in tax-exempt organization	Up to 3 years³	Up to 3 years³	Up to 3 years³	PUB* PUB Spanish*
Eligible internship or residency	Up to 2 years^2,3	Up to 2 years^2,3	Up to 2 years^2,3	EDU* EDU Spanish*
Unemployment	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years	UNEM* UNEM Spanish*
Temporarily disabled or unable to work while caring for temporarily disabled spouse or other dependent	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years	TDIS* TDIS Spanish*
Parental leave	Up to 6 months	Up to 6 months	NO	PLWM* PLWM Spanish*
Mother of preschool child entering/re-entering work force at a pay not to exceed $1 over minimum wage	Up to 1 year²	Up to 1 year²	NO	PLWM* PLWM Spanish*
Teacher in shortage area as designated by the Secretary of Education	Up to 3 years²	Up to 3 years²	NO	EDU* EDU Spanish*

Note: Both principal and interest may be deferred on SLS, PLUS and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans for the deferment period.
¹No more than 3 years total for Armed Forces, public Health Service and NOAA service combined.
²On new borrower loans disbursed for loan periods beginning on or after 7/1/87.
³Only on loans made prior to 8/15/83.

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