Hi Heather,

Thank you very much for offering your expertise on this forum. I have been on the IBR plan since I entered repayment in 2010. This year, I was determined to no longer have a ‘partial financial hardship.’ I am considering switching to REPAYE because my monthly payments will be lower. My questions are:

1. Will the 6 years of qualifying payments I have made toward the 25 year forgiveness period on IBR count toward the REPAYE 25 years? (I have grad school loans.) Or do I start all over?
2. Will I receive the same interest subsidy benefits of REPAYE as someone entering repayment for the first time?
3. Can I switch back to IBR in the future if that plan would once again offer a lower payment than REPAYE?

Thanks again,
Sara