Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan Request

The following instructions walk you through the process of completing the IDR Plan Request form. You can read through and follow all the instructions, starting with Section 1 below, or you can click one of the links below to jump to a particular section.

Section 1 - Borrower Information
Section 2 - Repayment Plan, Recertification Request, or Re-evaluation
Section 3 - Family Size Information
Section 4A - Marital Status Information
Section 4B - Income Information for Single Borrowers and Married Borrowers Treated As Single
Section 4C - Income Information for Married Borrowers Filing Jointly
Section 4D - Income Information for Married Borrowers Filing Separately
Section 5 - Instructions for Documenting Current Income
Section 6 - Borrower Requests, Understandings, Authorization, and Certification
Section 7 - Where to Send the Completed Form

Section1: Borrower Information

Section 1 of the IDR form

To complete Section 1, do the following:

Provide all the information (except for Email, which is optional), even if none of it has changed.

Unless you fill in your SSN and Name, we will not be able to identify who sent the form to us. Complete all the lines in this section to ensure that we know who you are. It also helps us process your request more quickly.

If any of the information you entered is new, check the box at the top. If none of it is new, leave the check box blank.

Section 1 of the IDR form

Continue with Section 2.

Section 2: Repayment Plan, Recertification Request, or Re-evaluation

To complete Section 2, do the following:

Under "1. Select the reason you are submitting this form," check the first check box labeled "I want to enter an income-driven plan."

Under "2. Choose a plan," check the box labeled "IBR."

Your loans are FFEL Program loans, which are only eligible for the IBR plan.

Under "3. Do you have multiple loan holders or servicers?" do one of the following:

If you have loans with another lender or servicer, check Yes.

Note: You must submit a separate request to each loan holder or servicer.

If you do not have loans with another lender or servicer, check No.

Under "4. Are you currently in deferment or forbearance?" do one of the following:

If you are not currently in a deferment or forbearance, check No .

If your loans are currently deferred or forborne, and you want to start making your payments under IBR immediately, check the first Yes box.

Note: This means that CFI will cancel or end your deferment or forbearance and place your loans back into repayment to start making your partial financial hardship (PFH) payments within 60 days of the processing date.

If your loans are currently deferred or forborne, and you want to start making your payments after your deferment or forbearance ends, check the second Yes box.

Note: This means that CFI will process your IBR request on top of your deferment or forbearance, and once it ends, your loans will be due for the PFH payment previously calculated.

Continue with Section 3.

Section3: Family Size Information

To complete this section, place a number on the line next to 5. and 6.

Notes:

Item 5 asks for the number of children (including unborn children) in your family that receive more than half of their support from you. If there aren't any, enter zero (0).
Item 6 asks for the number of other people, not including your spouse or your children, that live with you and receive more than half their support from you. If there aren't any, enter zero (0).
As explained in the Note at the bottom of the section, do not include yourself or your spouse in the count.
For more information, read Section 9 of the form.

Continue with Section 4A.

Section4A: Marital Status Information

Section 4A of the IDR form

To complete Section 4A, do the following:

Under "7. What is your marital status?" do one of the following:

If you are single, check the first box, then skip the rest of Section 4A, go directly to Section 4B, and answer item 11. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you are married, check the second box, then continue with item 8 in this same section (4A). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you are married but separated, check the third box, then skip the rest of Section 4A, go directly to Section 4B, and answer item 11. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you are married, but you cannot reasonably access your spouse's income information, check the fourth box, then skip the rest of Section 4A, go directly to Section 4B, and answer item 11. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you checked "Married" under 7, answer item 8 by doing one of the following:

If your spouse does have federal student loans, check Yes and continue with item 9 in this same section (4A). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If your spouse does not have federal student loans, check No and skip to item 10 in this same section (4A). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you checked "Yes" under 8, complete all 3 lines in item 9:

Spouse's SSN
Spouse's Name
Spouse's Date of Birth

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you checked "No" under 8, do one of the following in item 10:

If you did file jointly with your spouse on your last federal income tax return, check Yes, skip to Section 4C and answer item 13. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

If you did not file jointly with your spouse on your last federal income tax return, check No, skip to Section 4D and answer item 17. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4a of the IDR form

Section 4B: Income Information for Single Borrowers and Married Borrowers Treated As Single

Section 4B of the IDR form

If you were directed to Section 4B, do the following:

Answer item 11 by doing one of the following:

If your income did decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, check the Yes box and continue with item 12 in this same section (4B). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4b of the IDR form

If your income did not decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, do all of the following:

Check the No box.

Section 4b of the IDR form

Make a copy of your most recent federal income tax return or transcript so that you can send it in with the IDR form.
Skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

If you did not file a federal income tax return during the last 2 years, check the third box and continue with item 12 in this same section (4B). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4b of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 12, answer it by doing one of the following:

If you do currently have taxable income, do all of the following:

Check the Yes box.

Section 4b of the IDR form

Skip to Section 5 and read the instructions on how to document your current income. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 5.)
After gathering the requested documentation, continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

If you currently do not have taxable income (either you have no income or you receive only untaxed income), check No. You are not required to provide any documentation of your income. Skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

Section 4b of the IDR form

Section4C: Income Information for Married Borrowers Filing Jointly

Section 4c of the IDR form

If you were directed to Section 4C, do the following:

Answer item 13 by doing one of the following:

If your income did decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, check the Yes box and skip to item 15 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4c of the IDR form

If your income did not decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, check the No box and continue with item 14 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4c of the IDR form

If you and your spouse did not file a federal income tax return during the last 2 years, check the third box and skip to item 15 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4c of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 14, answer it by doing one of the following:

If your spouse's income did decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, check the Yes box and continue with item 15 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4c of the IDR form

If your spouse's income did not decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, do all of the following:

Check the No box.

Section 4c of the IDR form

Make a copy of your most recent joint federal income tax return or transcript so that you can send it in with the IDR form.
Skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

If you were directed to item 15, answer it by doing one of the following:

If you currently do have taxable income, check the Yes box and continue with item 16 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.).

Section 4c of the IDR form

If you currently do not have taxable income (either you have no income or you receive only untaxed income), check the No box and continue with item 16 in this same section (4C). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4c of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 16, answer it by doing one of the following:

If your spouse currently does have taxable income, do all of the following:

Check the Yes box.

Section 4c of the IDR form

Skip to Section 5 and read the instructions on how to document your spouse's current income. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 5.)
After gathering the requested documentation, continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

If your spouse currently does not have taxable income (has no income or receives only untaxed income), do the following:

Check the No box.

Section 4c of the IDR form

Do one of the following:

If you checked Yes in item 15 (regarding taxable income for yourself), do both of the following:
1. Skip to Section 5 and read the instructions on how to document your current income. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 5.)
2. After gathering the requested documentation, continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)
If you checked No in item 15, you are not required to provide any documentation for yourself or your spouse. Skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

Section4D: Income Information for Married Borrowers Filing Separately

Section 4d of the IDR form

If you were directed to Section 4D, do the following:

Answer item 17 by doing one of the following:

If your income did decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, check the Yes box and continue with item 18 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4d of the IDR form

If your income did not decrease significantly since you filed your last federal income tax return, do all of the following:

Check the No box.

Section 4d of the IDR form

Make a copy of your most recent federal income tax return or transcript so that you can send it in with the IDR form.
Skip to item 19 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

If you did not file a federal income tax return during the last 2 years, check the third box and continue with item 18 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4d of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 18, answer it by doing one of the following:

If you currently do have taxable income, do all of the following:

Check the Yes box.

Section 4d of the IDR form

Skip to Section 5 and read the instructions on how to document your current income. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 5.)
After gathering the requested documentation, continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

If you currently do not have taxable income, (either you have no income or you receive only untaxed income), check the No box and continue with item 19 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4d of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 19, answer it by doing one of the following:

If your spouse's income did decrease significantly since filing his or her last federal income tax return, check the Yes box and continue with item 20 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4d of the IDR form

If your spouse's income did not decrease significantly since filing his or her last federal income tax return, do all of the following:

Check the No box.

Section 4d of the IDR form

Make a copy of your spouse's most recent joint federal income tax return or transcript so that you can send it in with the IDR form.
Skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

Note: If you check No under item 19, this information will only be used if you are on or placed on the REPAYE plan.

If your spouse did not file a federal income tax return during the last 2 years, check the third box and continue with item 20 in this same section (4D). (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section 4d of the IDR form

If you were directed to item 20, answer it by doing one of the following:

If your spouse currently does have taxable income, do all of the following:

Check the Yes box.

Section 4d of the IDR form

Skip to Section 5 and read the instructions on how to document your spouse's current income. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 5.)
After gathering the requested documentation, continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

Note: If you check Yes under item 20, this information will only be used if you are on or placed on the REPAYE plan.

If your spouse currently does not have taxable income (has no income or receives only untaxed income), check the No box and skip to Section 6. (Click here to jump to instructions for Section 6.)

Section5: Instructions for Documenting Current Income

Section 5 of the IDR form

If you are directed to Section 5, it is because, based on your answers in Sections 4A, 4B, 4C and/or 4D, you were instructed to provide documentation of your current income and/or your spouse's current income (if applicable), rather than sending a tax return or tax transcript in with the IDR Plan Request form.

Read the instructions carefully, gather the requested documentation, then continue with Section 6. (Click here to jump to those instructions.)

Section6: Borrower Requests, Understandings, Authorization, and Certification

Section 6 of the IDR form

Read the entire section carefully, then sign and date the form. If you are married, your spouse must sign too, unless you are separated or unable to reasonably access your spouse's income information.

Continue to Section 7.

Section7: Where to Send the Completed Form

Section 7 of the IDR form

Use the information in Section 7 to address the envelope for the form and, if applicable, any additional documentation that you will be including with it. If you have any questions, CFI's telephone number and website address are printed on the left side of the section.