Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

Get relief. Reduce your payment. Regain control.

If your payments are too high right now, the RAP Calculator helps you estimate an income-based payment based on 1-10% of your gross income, sometimes as low as $10/month.

It’s designed for borrowers experiencing financial hardship, giving you the breathing room you need to recover, stay current, and avoid default.

💡 Reminder: Enter amounts without commas (type 15000 instead of 15,000).

💡 What Is RAP?

The Repayment Assistance Plan offers income-based relief for federal student loan borrowers who can’t afford their current payments but want to remain in good standing.

RAP acts as a bridge between hardship and stability, offering an extra payoff incentive if your monthly payment does not cover the accrued interest – ED will subsidize the difference.

Created under the One Big Beautiful Bill, RAP is the Department of Education’s newest Income-Driven Repayment plan. This plan will not be available until July 2026.

💰 How Your Payment Is Calculated

Your RAP payment is based on your income and family size, using a sliding scale (1%–10% of your AGI) and factoring in dependents.

Your payment takes into account:

Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your family size

The formula:

Monthly RAP payment = (1-10% of AGI ÷ 12) – ($50 × dependents)
(minimum payment is $10)

If your income is very low or your calculation results in a negative number, your RAP payment will be $10/month.

✅ How to Qualify

To qualify for U.S. RAP assistance:

You must have federal student loans in good standing (not in default).
Show financial hardship — such as loss of income, reduced hours, or unexpected expenses.
Provide income and family information (AGI, family size, location).
Agree to make the reduced payments calculated through RAP.

If your financial situation improves, you can transition into a different IDR plan to maintain long-term affordability.

⚙️ How the Process Works

Estimate your payment using the RAP Calculator above.
Submit your request to your loan servicer or through your online account.
Provide income documentation if requested (e.g., recent pay stubs or tax return).
Make your reduced payments while approved for RAP.
Re-evaluate or renew if you continue to experience financial hardship.

📈 Why It Matters

RAP helps you:

Avoid delinquency or default
Pay down your balance while maintaining affordability
Protect your credit score
Stay eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and IDR Forgiveness