Where you stand

Last verified Oct 17, 2026

Your loans are all from before July 1, 2026

Every Direct Loan you have was first paid out before July 1, 2026, and you haven’t borrowed since.

1. 1 What you can pick

   • RAP, IBR, the 10-year Standard plan, Graduated and Extended.
   • PAYE or ICR only if you were already on them; both close on July 1, 2028.
   • Borrowing again after July 1, 2026, including a new consolidation loan, would limit all your Direct Loans to RAP or Tiered Standard.

2. 2 What each costs

   Your payment depends on your income, household and balance. Compare the plans with your numbers

3. 3 What to do next

   • If you are on ICR or PAYE, pick another plan before July 1, 2028; otherwise you are moved to RAP (or IBR for loans RAP can’t take).
   • IBR no longer needs a financial hardship test to enter.
   • Moving to RAP keeps your earlier IDR progress, but RAP payments don’t count toward IBR forgiveness if you go back.

Read more

• RAP vs IBR: how the two income-driven plans differ→
• IBR after the 2025 law: what changed and who can still use it→
• Married? How filing jointly or separately changes RAP and IBR→

Not financial or legal advice. This page sums up the published rules for this situation. It can’t account for your full loan history; your servicer and StudentAid.gov have your actual record.

Official sources

1. Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025), Title VIII, Secs. 81001–82004
2. 34 CFR 685.209, income-driven repayment plans (current eCFR, as amended May 1, 2026)
3. 20 U.S.C. 1098e, income-based repayment (Cornell LII copy of the U.S. Code)
4. HHS/ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines
5. StudentAid.gov: One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Important Definitions (updated Aug. 24, 2026)