You got an email or a letter from your loan servicer, and it says the SAVE Plan is over. Now what?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably staring at a notice that gives you 90 days to pick a new repayment plan, and you don’t want to guess wrong. That’s fair. More than one plan is technically “new,” the rules changed fast, and the wrong pick could mean a bigger bill than you actually need to carry.
Here’s a quick way through it: what happened, what your notice means, how RAP, IBR, and Standard compare, and how to switch on StudentAid.gov before your window closes.
What happened to the SAVE Plan
A federal appeals court order in March 2026 blocked the Department of Education from implementing the SAVE Plan, and the interest-free forbearance that came with it ended too. Starting around July 1, 2026, servicers began sending formal notices telling affected borrowers they had 90 days to pick a new plan. Roughly 7 million borrowers were caught up in the change.
The 90-day clock: what your notice means
Your 90 days probably didn’t start the same day as anyone else’s. Servicers sent notices on a rolling basis, so your deadline is tied to the date on your own notice. Log in to your servicer’s portal or StudentAid.gov to confirm it, and don’t wait until day 89, since a plan change can take a few weeks to process.
Your three main options: RAP, IBR, or Standard
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). New since July 1, 2026. Your payment is based on your income and how many dependents you claim, not your balance. Unpaid monthly interest is waived, and if your payment covers little of your principal, RAP kicks in up to $50 extra toward it. Remaining balances can be forgiven after 30 years of qualifying payments, per the Department of Education.
Income-Based Repayment (IBR). An older income-driven plan that, unlike SAVE, PAYE, and ICR, isn’t being phased out. Payments are a share of discretionary income (the exact share depends on when you first borrowed), and forgiveness usually lands at 20 to 25 years. If you’re already partway through a forgiveness timeline, especially PSLF, check with your servicer before switching away from an income-driven plan at all.
Standard or Tiered Standard. A fixed payment over a set schedule, up to 25 years under Tiered Standard depending on your balance. No income math, no forgiveness, but usually the fastest way to zero balance. It’s also where you land automatically if you miss your deadline.
RAP vs IBR vs Standard, at a glance
| Plan | Payment based on | Interest | Forgiveness | Might fit you if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | Income and dependents | Unpaid interest waived monthly | Up to 30 years | Income is modest, or you have dependents |
| IBR | Share of discretionary income | Accrues normally | 20 to 25 years | You want an income-driven plan that isn’t expiring |
| Standard / Tiered | Loan balance, fixed schedule | Accrues normally | None; loan gets paid off | You can afford a higher payment and want it done |
These are general ranges. Your real number depends on income, family size, balance, and when you borrowed, so confirm it with the Loan Simulator on StudentAid.gov.
How to pick, based on your income and household
Modest income plus one or more dependents usually points to RAP, since the per-dependent reduction can make it the cheapest option by a wide margin. Several years into an income-driven timeline already, especially toward PSLF? IBR tends to be the safer move, since it isn’t scheduled to disappear and it protects your payment count more predictably. Higher income, or you just want debt gone on a fixed schedule and can handle the bill? Standard or Tiered Standard.
Run the numbers through the Loan Simulator, then check the estimated payment against your actual budget rather than a rough guess. No budget yet? Our step by step guide to budgeting in Google Sheets sets one up in under an hour.
How to switch on StudentAid.gov
- Log in with your FSA ID (or your servicer’s own portal).
- Open the repayment plan section and run the Loan Simulator for RAP, IBR, and Standard.
- Submit your plan change request once you know which one you want.
- Save the confirmation email or message from your servicer.
- After your next billing cycle, check that the new payment matches what you expected, and call your servicer if it doesn’t.
What happens if you do nothing
Miss your 90 days and your servicer moves you automatically into the Standard Repayment Plan (or Tiered Standard). For many borrowers, that’s a noticeably higher payment than an income-driven option would set, since it ignores income entirely. If your income recently dropped, from a layoff or otherwise, that’s exactly what RAP or IBR are built for. If you’ve been laid off recently and loans are just one item on a longer list, our layoff checklist covers the rest.
Could this affect your credit?
Many federal loans sat in interest-free forbearance during the SAVE litigation, so some borrowers haven’t made a payment in a while. That grace period doesn’t last. Once you’re back in active repayment, a missed or late payment can be reported to the bureaus, and 90-plus days past due can pull your score down.
Watch your credit report a cycle or two after you switch. If a payment shows up as late when you paid on time, dispute the error on your credit report with the bureau. If the mistake is on your servicer’s end, like a lost application, you can file a complaint with the CFPB to force a documented response.
Your move this week
- Find your notice and confirm your exact 90-day deadline.
- Run the Loan Simulator on StudentAid.gov for RAP, IBR, and Standard.
- Compare the estimated payment against your real budget.
- Check with your servicer before switching off an income-driven plan if you’re mid-forgiveness.
- Submit your choice before the deadline, and save the confirmation.
This article is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice, and it isn’t a promise about your future payment. Rules changed more than once in 2026 and could shift again while litigation continues. Confirm your deadline and numbers directly on StudentAid.gov or with your servicer before you act.
Frequently Asked Questions
My SAVE Plan ended. What should I do now?
Check your servicer’s notice for your specific 90-day deadline, then use the Loan Simulator on StudentAid.gov to compare RAP, IBR, and Standard. Submit your choice before the deadline so you aren’t moved automatically into Standard.
What plan should I switch to after SAVE?
It depends on income, household size, and how far you are into forgiveness. RAP often gives the lowest payment for modest earners with dependents. IBR fits borrowers who want to stay on an income-driven plan long term. Standard or Tiered Standard suits those who can handle a higher fixed payment.
What happens if I don’t pick a new plan before my deadline?
Your servicer automatically enrolls you in Standard (or Tiered Standard), a fixed payment unrelated to income, which is often higher than an income-driven option would be.
Is RAP better than IBR?
Neither is automatically better. RAP uses income and dependents and waives unpaid interest, which can help modest earners with kids. IBR has a longer track record, isn’t being phased out, and may protect payment counts for borrowers already working toward forgiveness. Run both through the Loan Simulator with your real numbers.
What’s the deadline to switch off the SAVE Plan?
Ninety days from the date on your own servicer notice, not one date for everyone. Notices went out on a rolling basis starting around July 1, 2026, so check your account for your exact date.
Will switching plans hurt my credit score?
Changing plans by itself shouldn’t. What can hurt it is missing a payment once you’re back in active repayment, or a servicer error reported incorrectly. Check your credit report a cycle or two after you switch and dispute anything that looks wrong.
