Student loans sometimes make people worry a lot, especially when payments start again and money feels tight. In 2026, many people in the U.S. must pay back their student loans after several years of pauses and temporary aids. If you are worried about not being able to pay your monthly student loan payment, we got some great news for you. So, if you want to know more about what the available options are, we are here to tell you all about it.
Why paying student loans in 2026 may be difficult
Many people have issues when it comes to paying their loans for very common reasons: salaries don’t always increase at the same rhythm as the cost of living, some people have changed jobs, others earn less money than before, or they are still looking for job stability.
When student loan payments start again, these difficulties might make it complicated to keep up. Even though the situation might seem overwhelming, not being able to pay immediately doesn’t mean there are no solutions.
Income-driven repayment plan
Also called an IDR plan, it’s a plan available for federal student loans and are designed to make the payments more accessible. With this, the monthly payment is calculated according to the money you earn and how many people depend on you. This means that, if your income is low, your monthly payment will be also low (in some cases, it can be $0 per month…).
To apply for this type of plan, you must file information about your income through the federal student aid website. Once you are approved, your payment amount is reviewed every year. This helps make sure your payment still matches your financial situation.
Consolidation and refinancing
If you have several federal student loans, another option is consolidation. This means joining all your loans in one, which may make the payment easier to handle.
When you consolidate, you can access some extra payment plans. However, you could also lose certain benefits, so it’s important that you check this option very well before you decide what to do.
Refinancing is another possibility which can help you simplify your payments or adjust loan conditions, depending on your financial situation.
Temporary options
If an income-driven repayment plan is still too hard to manage, there are other short-term options that can make things easier for a while. Deferment and forbearance allow you to pause your student loan payments for a limited time if you meet certain conditions, such as being unemployed or dealing with financial hardship.
During this period, you don’t have to pay the monthly payments, which may give you a break. However, the interests may continue accumulating, which is why this is a short-term solution.
Talking to your loan servicer
One great piece of advice we can give you is to communicate with your loan servicer as soon as you know you could have issues to pay the loans. They can explain to you the different available options and help you avoid negative consequences.
What about private loans?
These loans usually offer fewer help options than federal loans. However, some private lenders may still provide special programs or temporary payment reductions if you are having financial difficulties. So, it is important to contact your lender and ask what help is available.
To sum up
If you happen to experience a difficult economic situation and you can’t handle your student loand this year, you should know you have options and that the system offers several tools to help borrowers. Have you ever experience a situation like this?