I want to know if it is possible for married borrowers to be on different repayment plans. Specifically, I am wondering if it is possible for one borrower to use IBR and the other to use REPAYE while filing taxes separately.

My husband and I both have income and loans. His income is higher (roughly twice mine) and my loans are larger (roughly twice his). Based on my calculations, for me the most advantageous plan is IBR while filing taxes separately, because that does not take his income into account. For him, the most advantageous plan is REPAYE (either filing separately or jointly) because that does take my income and loans into account. For the time the best case scenario for us would be filing income taxes separately with me enrolled in IBR and him enrolled in REPAYE. At some point the tax savings of filing jointly could be greater than the student loan savings of filing this way, but that is not currently the case.

Basically what I want to know is:

1. Does REPAYE require that married borrowers are both enrolled in REPAYE? I’m guessing it does not.
2. More importantly, is my understanding of how our payments would be calculated if we are in different plans correct? It seems clear to me IBR is calculated the same whether or not both spouses use the plan. But REPAYE proportional distributes the payment amount based on what each borrower owes. Is that still the case even if only one borrower is enrolled in REPAYE? I think it should be and I can’t find anything to indicate that the proportional distribution of the REPAYE amount is contingent on both spouses being in REPAYE, but I just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts.