Federal student loan payments are generally expected to resume for most borrowers no earlier than December 2025. This follows a period of forbearance and legal challenges affecting certain repayment plans, including the SAVE income-driven repayment plan. Interest on federal student loans under the SAVE plan started accruing again as of August 1, 2025, but actual repayment payments are anticipated to begin around December 2025 or possibly a little later, given processing timelines for enrolling in repayment plans. Specifically:
- Interest on federal student loans for borrowers in the SAVE plan resumed on August 1, 2025, but payments are not required immediately.
- The Department of Education expects servicers to be ready to start repaying by September 2025 and said payments would likely be due no earlier than December 2025.
- Some borrowers’ payments under the SAVE plan may be postponed further, with some reports indicating potential resumption as late as early 2026.
- The general pause on collections from defaulted loans ended earlier in 2025 (May 5, 2025), but this applies to loans in default, not the broader population of student loan borrowers.
- Payments typically must begin six months after leaving school or dropping below half-time enrollment for regular federal loans.
In summary, loans resumed accruing interest starting August 1, 2025, and payments for most borrowers are expected to begin no earlier than December 2025, with some variation depending on the borrower's situation and repayment plan enrollment progress.
