# Earnest Repayment Options and Borrower Protections

## Refinancing your federal loans with a private lender doesn’t mean losing out on repayment protections

[Check My Rate](/content/_/apply/earnest/student-loan-refi/index.html)

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### Frequently Asked Questions

#### Your guide to private refi repayment options

When your Earnest loan enters repayment, it will automatically be placed into a Standard Repayment Plan. However, we service a variety of private student loan programs with flexible alternatives to fit your changing financial circumstances.

### Standard Repayment Plan

### Deferment

### Interest-Only Repayment Program

### Skip-a-Pay

### Forbearance (Unemployment & Hardship Protection)

### Loan Forgiveness and Discharge

### Extended Term & Rate Reduction Programs

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### How federal loan protections stack up to Earnest protections

### Interest rates

**Federal loans**  
Set by Congress  
**Earnest Refinancing**  
Based on your credit

### Forgiveness options

**Federal loans**  
PSLF, IDR Forgiveness  
**Earnest Refinancing**  
Available for death and full disability

### Repayment plans

**Federal loans**  
Income-Driven repayment  
**Earnest Refinancing**  
Set your exact monthly payment

### Hardship protections

**Federal loans**  
- Up to 36-month deferment  
- Up to 12-month forbearance

**Earnest Refinancing**  
- Up to 36-month in-school deferment  
- Up to 12-month forbearance  
- Annual Skip-a-Pay benefit

### Refinancing

**Federal loans**  
Not available  
**Earnest Refinancing**  
Refi again after 30 days for more potential savings

|  | **Federal loans** | **Earnest Refinancing** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interest rates | Set by Congress | Based on your credit |
| Forgiveness options | PSLF, IDR Forgiveness | Available for death and full disability |
| Repayment plans | Income-Driven repayment | Set your exact monthly payment |
| Hardship protections | - Up to 36-month deferment <br> - Up to 12-month forbearance | - Up to 36-month in-school deferment<br> - Up to 12-month forbearance<br> - Annual Skip-a-Pay benefit |
| Refinancing | Not available | Refi again after 30 days for more potential savings |

## Are federal protections worth putting off refinancing?

Many federal borrowers hold out for forgiveness, however, if you don’t currently qualify for an income-based repayment plan, your loans may be costing you more than you think. If you're looking to lower your rate and make monthly payments more affordable, refinancing could be the answer.

[See Your Options](/content/refinance-student-loans/federal-student-loan-decision-hub/index.html)

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## Decision Guide

## Answer 3 questions. Get clarity.

### Planning to qualify for PSLF?

If you work for a government agency, nonprofit, or qualifying public service employer and are making qualifying payments—refinancing would forfeit your PSLF eligibility entirely. Stay federal.

### Expecting stable or growing income?

Income-driven repayment caps payments as a percentage of your income. If your income is variable or uncertain, that flexibility has real value. If it's stable, you likely don't need it.

### Relying on IDR to make payments affordable?

If you're on standard repayment and can afford your payments, you're not using the protections people fear losing. If you don't expect to need those safety nets, refinancing could lower your rate.

[Check My Rate](/content/_/apply/earnest/student-loan-refi/index.html)

Disclaimer: This page provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.