If you decide that an IDR plan is no longer right for you, you may be able to switch to a different plan. Use the Department of Education’s Loan Simulator Tool to see what plans you are eligible to switch to and what your payment would be under each plan to decide what is right for you.
Leaving the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan can be a little trickier than leaving other plans: to leave IBR, you generally must make at least one month’s payment under a standard repayment plan. After you make that payment, you can switch to another plan. If you are leaving IBR to switch into a different IDR plan, you can avoid having to make a standard payment by filling out the IDR request form and, on the form, requesting a one-month reduced-payment while you are switched to the new plan. Additionally, if you switch out of IBR, any unpaid interest may be added to your loan balance (capitalization).
Changes coming to IDR: A law was passed on July 4, 2025, that makes several changes to borrowers’ repayment options. The new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace most existing IDR plans (including SAVE, PAYE, and ICR) by July 1, 2028. The IBR plan will remain available to existing borrowers who don’t take out or consolidate any loans on or after July 1, 2026. Additionally, the law ends most Parent PLUS borrowers’ access to any IDR plan unless they have consolidated into a Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026, and enrolled in an IDR plan before July 1, 2028. Current borrowers should understand how these changes may impact them and pay attention to upcoming deadlines to avoid missing out on current benefits.
