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Options to Postpone or Modify Repayment

If you are experiencing hardship or another qualifying life event, a temporary forbearance may be available. Additional eligibility criteria and requirements may apply. To determine if you qualify, please call us toll free at 877.292.6845 (TTY: Dial 711).

Important Information: All forbearances are approved at the discretion of Laurel Road. An approval or denial notification will be provided by MOHELA. For approved forbearances, unpaid accrued interest may be capitalized at the end of any forbearance. You may lose incentives related to your loan, including any interest rate discounts while in deferment or forbearance, as well as any progress towards co-signer release. Review your loan agreement for more information.

Hardship and Qualifying Life Event Forbearance Options

  • Economic Hardship - If you are experiencing unexpected financial hardship, which may include but is not limited to: illness, unplanned job loss, or reduction in monthly income.

  • Natural Disaster - If your ZIP code of residence is declared as an Individual Assistance zone by FEMA, due to a natural disaster.

  • Military Service - You may postpone repayment of your loan(s) while you are:

    1. serving on active duty during a war, other military operation or national emergency, or

    2. performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war, other military operation or national emergency.

    Note: to qualify for the Military Service forbearance, you must provide MOHELA with a copy of your military orders or a written statement from your commanding or personnel officer, or you must have your commanding or personnel officer certify your service.


Continuing Education Forbearance Options

  • Medical Residency/Fellowship - After loan disbursement, if a borrower with a DMD, DDS, MD, DPM or DO degree begins or extends a medical residency or fellowship for further specialization, we may agree under certain circumstances to allow a borrower to make $100/month payments for up to two 12-month periods (not to exceed 36 months in aggregate with any other forbearance offered by Laurel Road), provided that we receive acceptable documentation (including updated documentation) of evidence of program enrollment.

  • Return to Graduate School - After loan disbursement, if a borrower returns to graduate school or enrolls in a certificate program for post-doctoral studies, we may agree, under certain circumstances, to allow for a postponement of payments for one or more 6-month periods (not to exceed 36 months total or in aggregate with any other forbearance offered by Laurel Road), provided that we receive acceptable, updated documentation showing evidence of enrollment of at least half-time.


Note: by using a Continuing Education Forbearance Option, interest will capitalize at the end of the forbearance period and the term of the loan will be extended, but we will not re-amortize for the remaining term of the loan.



The contents of this page are for informational purposes only and may not include a full list of options available to you. Additional eligibility criteria and requirements may apply. For full details relating to your loan, please contact us at 877.292.6845 (TTY: Dial 711).