Payments are back, SAVE is over, and one in five borrowers is already behind. If your payment is unaffordable, or you've been ignoring your loans and want to know what happens next, this episode is for you.

We’ll walk through your options before you miss a payment, what deferment and forbearance actually cover now, and the real timeline from delinquency to default. You'll also learn why loan rehabilitation usually beats consolidation, and the new rule that lets you rehabilitate twice starting July 2027.

Key moments:

(03:17) The latest delinquency and default numbers, and who is already behind

(07:36) Income-driven vs. fixed plans when your payment is unaffordable

(13:26) Deferment and forbearance options, and how to get them approved faster

(20:32) What to do in the first 90 days of missing a payment to protect your credit

(27:12) Loan rehabilitation vs. consolidation for getting out of default

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