To qualify for this plan, your Direct Loan balance (your new Direct Consolidation Loan Amount plus other Direct Loans) must be greater than $30,000. Your plan options are:
Fixed Monthly Payment Option - Under this plan, you will pay a fixed amount of at least $50 each month for up to 25 years. Repayment under this plan will result in lower total interest paid when compared to graduated plans with similar terms.
Graduated Monthly Payment Option - Under this plan, you will pay a minimum payment amount of at least $50 or the amount of interest accrued monthly, whichever is greater, for up to 25 years. Your payments start out low and then increase every two years. Repayment under this plan may provide lower initial monthly payments, although the total interest paid may be greater when compared to plans with similar terms with fixed payments. This plan may be beneficial if your income is low now but is likely to steadily increase.
**Extended repayment terms are available to Direct Loan borrower with no outstanding principal or interest balances as of October 7, 1998 and with more than $30,000 in Direct Loans.
(Source: loanconsolidation.ed.gov)
