SAVE Plan Deadline Independent guide · Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education Español

Your SAVE deadline is 90 days after your notice.

Pick a new plan before then, or you’re moved to the Standard plan. Find your date and your new payment.

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EXIT 90

SAVE ends

90 days after your notice

Enter the date on your notice

What happens next, in five facts

Your deadline
90 days after the date on your servicer’s notice. Notices started going out on July 1, 2026, so the first deadlines fell on September 29, 2026. Others arrive in waves.2,1
If you do nothing
You are moved to the Standard or the new Tiered Standard plan. Neither looks at your income, so the payment is often far higher.2,10
Your options
RAP, IBR or a Standard plan. PAYE and ICR are still open to you for now, but they end on July 1, 2028, so you would have to move again.2,11
The trap
You can move from IBR to RAP later, but not from RAP back to IBR: months on RAP never count toward IBR. And IBR closes to new enrollees on July 1, 2028.6,7
The cost to switch
Zero. You apply yourself at studentaid.gov/idr. Nobody needs your FSA ID password, and nobody needs to be paid to enroll you.12

No notice yet? Servicers send them in waves, some into early 2027. You don’t have to wait: you can switch plans now.

What each plan would cost you

Your numbers

Have your latest tax return and your studentaid.gov loan summary at hand. Nothing you type leaves this page.

$

Form 1040, line 11. Filing jointly? Use the joint AGI.

$

All Direct Loans, from your studentaid.gov dashboard.

Children or others on your tax return.

%

Not sure? Leave 6.5%.

Decides whether IBR takes 10% or 15%.

Full-time for a government or nonprofit employer.

Optional. Months counted so far.

Your three lanes

Showing an example borrower: $55,000 income, single, $38,000 at 6.5%. Enter your numbers to see yours.

Lowest payment

RAP

Repayment Assistance Plan

$229/mo

Length
Forgiven after 30 yrs
Counts toward PSLF
Yes
Can switch later
Never back to IBR
Deadline to choose
Open any time

IBR

Income-Based Repayment

$259/mo

Length
Forgiven after 20 yrs
Counts toward PSLF
Yes
Can switch later
Yes, to RAP
Deadline to choose
Before July 1, 2028

Do nothing

Standard plan, assigned automatically

$431/mo

Length
Paid off in 10 yrs
Counts toward PSLF
Yes
Can switch later
Yes
Deadline to choose
Automatic after your deadline

Or $331/mo on Tiered Standard (15 yrs, no PSLF credit).

Estimates from the 2026 federal formulas. Your servicer calculates the official amount.

NEXT EXIT

Your exact plan, in writing

$29 one time

Which plan to pick and why, what you’ll pay in total, whether filing separately saves you money, PSLF, the steps on studentaid.gov, and ready letters if your servicer gets it wrong.

See the report

Switching plans is free at studentaid.gov. We sell clarity, never the paperwork.

Which plan fits your situation

You work in public service (PSLF)
Pick the lower payment of RAP and IBR: both count toward PSLF. Don’t stay on Tiered Standard: in general it doesn’t count.13,3
Single, no dependents, earning $30,000 to $70,000
RAP is usually lower each month: it charges 1% to 10% of your AGI in $10,000 steps.4
You have kids or file jointly with a spouse
IBR is usually lower: it protects 150% of the poverty line for your whole household, while RAP takes off only $50 a month per dependent.5,4
You earn over about $80,000
IBR is usually lower, and its payment never exceeds the 10-year Standard payment.
It’s a close call
Lean toward IBR: from IBR you can still move to RAP later, but never the other way.
You can afford the Standard payment
If you aren’t counting on forgiveness, paying it off in 10 years can cost the least in total. The report runs that math on your numbers.
You’re married
Filing separately keeps your spouse’s income out of both RAP and IBR, though it can raise your taxes. Run both.7

RAP vs IBR: the full comparison

How to switch in about ten minutes

  1. Log in at studentaid.gov/idr with your FSA ID.12
  2. Open the Income-Driven Repayment application and pick the plan you want, or the lowest-payment option.
  3. Let the IRS share your tax information (fastest) or upload proof of income.
  4. Submit, then save the dated confirmation: it’s your proof you asked in time.
  5. Check your servicer account over the next weeks until the new plan shows up.

Full guide, including what to do if your application stalls

Questions borrowers are asking

When is my SAVE plan deadline?

90 days after the date on your notice. A notice dated July 1, 2026 is due September 29, 2026. The date on your notice or in your servicer account is the one that counts.1

I haven’t received a notice yet. What should I do?

Notices go out in waves. Watch your mail, email and servicer account, and make sure your contact details are current. You don’t have to wait: you can apply for a new plan now at studentaid.gov/idr.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

You’re placed on the Standard or Tiered Standard plan and billed that payment. You can still apply for RAP or IBR afterward, but you pay the higher amount while it’s processed.2,3

Is RAP or IBR better?

It depends on your income, family and whether you’re pursuing PSLF. Single with no dependents and earning $30,000 to $70,000, RAP is usually lower each month; with kids, a joint return or a higher income, IBR usually is. Run your numbers above.4,5

Can I switch from RAP back to IBR?

No. You can move from IBR to RAP, but months on RAP don’t count toward IBR forgiveness. And IBR closes to new enrollees on July 1, 2028.6,7

Does time in the SAVE forbearance count toward PSLF?

Generally, no. If you work in public service, PSLF Buyback may let you buy those months back.8,9

Do I have to pay someone to switch plans?

No. Switching is free and you do it yourself at studentaid.gov. Be wary of anyone who asks for your FSA ID or charges to enroll you.

Will the SAVE deadline be extended?

As of September 29, 2026, the Department of Education has not announced a general extension. If that changes, we’ll update this page.

Sources

  1. When borrowers must switch out of the SAVE Plan Student Loan Planner
  2. Attorney General James urges student loan borrowers on SAVE to choose new repayment options (July 6, 2026) New York State Attorney General · Official source
  3. Does the Tiered Standard plan qualify for PSLF? Tate Law
  4. The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) in P.L. 119-21 (IF13075) Congressional Research Service · Official source
  5. 2026 Poverty Guidelines U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (ASPE) · Official source
  6. Student loan changes under the new law NerdWallet
  7. Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) explained Student Loan Planner
  8. What's going on with your student loan repayment? Student Loan Planner
  9. PSLF Buyback Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source
  10. Student loan borrowers exiting SAVE may face sharply higher payments if they don't take action soon (Sept 19, 2026) CNBC
  11. Federal student loan repayment plans in 2026 Tate Law
  12. Income-Driven Repayment Plan application Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source
  13. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) · Official source