Income-Driven Repayment Plans: Questions And Answers - Federal Student Aid, U.s. Department Of Education Page 18
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26Married Borrowers
31. Is my spouse's income included when my servicer determines my eligibility for an
income-driven repayment plan or my monthly payment amount?
It depends on the plan and, for some of the plans, how you and your spouse file your federal income tax
return.
REPAYE Plan
Your loan servicer will generally use both your income and your spouse's income to calculate your
monthly payment amount, regardless of whether you file a joint federal income tax return or separate
federal income tax returns.
However, only your individual income will be used to calculate your monthly payment amount if you are
separated from your spouse or are unable to reasonably access your spouse's income. If you filed your
last tax return jointly with your spouse, you’ll provide alternative documentation of your income, such as a
pay stub. If you filed your last tax return separately from your spouse, you can provide your tax return as
documentation of your income.
PAYE Plan, IBR Plan, and ICR Plan
If you and your spouse file separate federal income tax returns, your loan servicer will use only your
income when determining whether you qualify for the PAYE Plan or the IBR Plan, and when calculating
your monthly payment amount under the PAYE, IBR, or ICR plans.
If you and your spouse file a joint federal income tax return, your loan servicer will use your joint income
when determining your eligibility for the PAYE or IBR plan, and when calculating your payment amount
under the PAYE, IBR, or ICR plans. However, only your individual income will be used to calculate your
monthly payment amount if you are separated from your spouse or are unable to reasonably access your
spouse’s income. In this case, you’ll provide alternative documentation of your income, such as a pay
stub.
32. If my spouse also has federal student loans, how will this affect the determination of my
eligibility for an income-driven repayment plan or my monthly payment amount?
This depends on the plan, as explained below.
REPAYE Plan
Generally, your servicer will automatically adjust your payment amount proportionally, based on each
spouse’s share of the total loan debt. For example, if the calculated REPAYE Plan payment amount for
you and your spouse (based on your joint income) is $200 and you owe 60 percent of your combined loan
debt and your spouse owes 40 percent, your individual REPAYE Plan payment would be $120, and your
spouse’s individual REPAYE Plan payment would be $80. If you and your spouse have loans with more
than one loan servicer, your payment amounts will be further adjusted.
PAYE Plan and IBR Plan
If you and your spouse file a joint federal income tax return, your servicer will use your combined eligible
student loan debt when determining your eligibility for the PAYE Plan or the IBR Plan, and will
automatically adjust your payment amount proportionally, based on each spouse’s share of the total loan
debt. If you file separate federal income tax returns, only your eligible student loan debt will be used when
determining your eligibility for the plan, and there will be no adjustment to your payment amount if your
spouse also has eligible loans.
Federal Student Aid |
StudentAid.gov
Page 18 of 26
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