The rule
Your RAP payment drops by $50 a month for each dependent. A dependent is someone who qualifies under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code and is claimed on your federal tax return. If you are married and file separately, only the dependents on your own return count.
Who is not a dependent
Your spouse. A child you support but don’t claim on your return. Someone who lives with you but is claimed by another taxpayer.
The floor still applies
The payment can’t go below $10. At $30,000 of AGI the base payment is $50 a month, so the first dependent takes it to $10 and further dependents change nothing.
Example
| AGI | Dependents | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| $70,000 | 0 | $350.00 |
| $70,000 | 1 | $300.00 |
| $70,000 | 2 | $250.00 |
| $70,000 | 3 | $200.00 |
How IBR handles family
IBR uses family size: you, a spouse if you file jointly, children who get more than half their support from you, and certain others. Each extra person raises the poverty-line allowance by 150% of $5,680 in 2026 (48 states), which cuts the yearly IBR payment by $852 (10% plan) or $1,278 (15% plan), about $71 or $107 a month, until the payment reaches $0.
See RAP payments for common household shapes on the RAP payment by income pages.
Not financial or legal advice. This page explains the published rules. It does not tell you which plan to choose. Your loan servicer and StudentAid.gov have the final word on your account.
Official sources
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025), Title VIII, Secs. 81001–82004
- 34 CFR 685.209, income-driven repayment plans (current eCFR, as amended May 1, 2026)
- StudentAid.gov: One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Important Definitions (updated Aug. 24, 2026)
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Corrections are logged on What changed.
Next guide: Married? How filing jointly or separately changes RAP and IBR