Apply for RAP or IBR on StudentAid.gov

Federal income-driven repayment applications are free on StudentAid.gov/idr. If every loan was disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, RAP is the only IDR option. Older loans may allow RAP, IBR, ICR, or PAYE until those legacy plans retire. Use an FSA ID, IRS consent or income documents, then track status in My Activity.

Who this guide is for

This walkthrough is for federal borrowers who already decided they want Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) or Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and need the official filing steps. It assumes you read what each plan does. Start with RAP explained and IBR explained if the formulas still feel fuzzy.

You should also read SAVE ended: what to do now if you were on SAVE before March 2026. Many SAVE borrowers land on RAP or IBR through the same free IDR application described here.

If you pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness, pair this guide with PSLF in 2026: do not refinance so you do not pick a plan that stops qualifying payments.

Confirm which plan you can request

Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ ties plan choice to when loans were disbursed and loan type. Before you start the form, list each loan’s first disbursement date from your Aid Summary or servicer portal.

All loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026: RAP is the only income-driven repayment plan available.

At least one loan disbursed before July 1, 2026: You may be able to choose among RAP, IBR, ICR, or PAYE depending on loan type. PAYE and ICR end no later than July 1, 2028. See PAYE and ICR end in 2028.

Parent PLUS and certain consolidations: Parent PLUS loans are not eligible for RAP. Direct Consolidation Loans that repaid a Parent PLUS loan are also not eligible for RAP, including double consolidations meant to work around that rule. Parent borrowers who hold only Parent PLUS loans are not eligible for IDR unless they consolidated Parent PLUS into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026 under the rules Federal Student Aid describes.

Default: Defaulted loans are not IDR eligible until you rehabilitate or consolidate into a Direct Consolidation Loan and agree to repay under RAP.

Run edge cases through our plan eligibility calculator and compare payment estimates in the repayment plans calculator. The federal repayment calculator uses official assumptions and disclaimers.

For a side-by-side plan comparison, read RAP vs IBR vs Tiered Standard. Tiered Standard is not IDR, but some post-SAVE notices list it beside RAP and IBR.

What you need before you log in

Gather the following so you are not staring at a half-finished application:

1. FSA ID for StudentAid.gov (student and spouse if you file jointly and the form asks for spouse income).
2. Loan list with disbursement dates and types (Direct, FFEL, consolidation).
3. Income proof for the method you will choose:
   • IRS consent to retrieve federal tax information (Federal Student Aid recommends this when you can use it), or
   • A federal tax return, or
   • If you did not file federal taxes, pay stubs or an employer letter.
4. Family size consistent with what you will certify. Federal rules tie family size to your tax household in most cases.

Federal Student Aid states that documents other than tax returns must be no older than 90 days from the date you sign the IDR request.

Keep a PDF or screenshot habit. You will want proof if a servicer places you on the wrong plan after SAVE.

Step 1: Log in at StudentAid.gov

Open StudentAid.gov and sign in with your FSA ID. If you forgot credentials, use the official account recovery flow. Do not share your FSA ID with a debt-relief company. Federal Student Aid says you never have to pay for help with federal student loans. See student loan scams and paid forgiveness.

From the dashboard, confirm your loans match what you expect. If a loan is missing, resolve data issues with the servicer before you depend on an IDR approval letter.

Step 2: Open the IDR Plan Request

Go to StudentAid.gov/idr (Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request). This is the same federal entry point whether you want RAP, IBR, or a legacy plan you still qualify for.

The online form walks through:

• Which loans to include
• Which repayment plan you are requesting
• Income documentation method (IRS retrieval vs manual upload)
• Consents and certifications

If you cannot finish online, Federal Student Aid allows a paper IDR form sent to your federal loan servicer. Use the paper path only when you must. Online filing is usually easier to track through My Activity.

Step 3: Choose IRS retrieval or upload documents

IRS consent: When you consent, the system can pull federal tax information (FTI) to calculate discretionary income or AGI depending on the plan. Federal Student Aid recommends this route when you are eligible because it reduces document errors.

Manual documents: Upload an acceptable federal tax return if you are not using retrieval. If you did not file taxes, supply pay stubs or an employer letter that meets the freshness rule (under 90 days old when you sign, for non-tax documents).

Married borrowers should follow the form’s instructions for spouse income. IBR uses household discretionary income rules. RAP keys off adjusted gross income and dependents as Federal Student Aid describes for RAP.

Step 4: Pick RAP or IBR on the form

Select the plan you confirmed in the eligibility section:

RAP: Payments use 1 to 10 percent of AGI divided by 12, minus 50 dollars per dependent, with a 10 dollar monthly floor, over up to 30 years. See RAP explained for bracket detail.

IBR: Payments are 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income depending on whether you are a new borrower (first loan on or after July 1, 2014, or no outstanding loans when taking a new loan on or after that date). Payments are never more than the 10-year Standard amount. Forgiveness may arrive at 20 or 25 years depending on borrower status. Most Direct and FFEL loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 can use IBR if other rules allow. Parent loans consolidated after July 1, 2026 are not IBR eligible per Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ.

If the form offers ICR or PAYE and you still qualify, remember both plans retire no later than July 1, 2028.

Step 5: Submit and watch My Activity

Submit the request only after you review income, family size, and plan selection. Federal Student Aid then points you to My Activity for processing status.

Statuses Federal Student Aid lists include:

• Draft
• In Progress
• Canceled
• In Review
• Action Required
• Completed

Action Required means something blocked processing. Open the notice and upload or correct what federal instructions list. Ignoring Action Required can leave you on a higher interim payment.

Federal Student Aid notes servicers process most IDR applications within a few weeks, but timing sometimes runs longer. Keep paying your current required amount until the servicer confirms the switch.

After approval: recertification and life changes

IDR is not a one-time form. You must recertify income and family size at least once per year. Federal Student Aid recommends submitting at least 90 days before your annual deadline. A missed recertification can raise your payment because it is no longer income-based until you fix it.

If income or family size changes mid-year, use Manage Your Plan on the IDR Plan Request page or send documents your servicer accepts. Full rhythm and auto-recertification rules live in IDR recertification and income changes.

Special cases borrowers ask about

SAVE borrowers after March 2026

SAVE ended after a court order. If your servicer sent a deadline to pick a new plan, treat the IDR request as urgent. Compare RAP and IBR in the calculators, then file. Do not assume SAVE payments continue.

Parent PLUS and consolidation timing

Parent PLUS loans are never RAP eligible. Consolidation that repaid Parent PLUS blocks RAP even if other loans were in the bundle. If you are weighing a new consolidation after July 1, 2026, read Direct Consolidation after July 1, 2026 before you reset repayment history.

Parents who consolidated Parent PLUS into Direct Consolidation before July 1, 2026 may have different IDR options than parents who waited. Follow the current IDR FAQ and your servicer notice.

FFEL loans not held by the Department

Some FFEL loans need federal consolidation before they can enter RAP or IBR on Direct terms. Consolidation is a separate application at studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation. Understand plan eligibility after a July 2026 consolidation before you combine loans.

Autopay interest reduction

Starting July 1, 2026, qualifying automatic payments may earn a 1 percent interest rate reduction. Borrowers who enroll by December 31, 2026 (or who are already enrolled) may keep the reduction through June 30, 2028 while auto pay stays active. Details are in federal autopay discount through 2028. Autopay does not replace annual IDR recertification.

Estimators before you commit

1. Plan eligibility for disbursement and Parent PLUS edge cases.
2. Repayment plans for RAP vs IBR payment dollars at your AGI and family size.
3. Federal repayment calculator for government-hosted estimates.

FAQ

Where do I apply for RAP or IBR?

Apply through the Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request at StudentAid.gov/idr. Federal Student Aid states that applying for an income-driven repayment plan is free. If you cannot complete the online form, you may use a paper form and send it to your federal loan servicer. Never pay a third party for the same government process.

Which IDR plan can I request after July 1, 2026?

If all of your federal student loans were first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, the Repayment Assistance Plan is the only income-driven plan available. If you have at least one loan disbursed before that date, Federal Student Aid says you may be able to choose among RAP, IBR, ICR, or PAYE depending on loan type, with PAYE and ICR retiring no later than July 1, 2028.

What documents do I need for an IDR application?

Federal Student Aid recommends consenting for the IRS to retrieve federal tax information when possible. Otherwise you may submit a federal tax return. If you did not file taxes, you may use recent pay stubs or an employer letter. Documents other than tax returns must be no older than 90 days from the date you sign the IDR request.

How do I check my IDR application status?

After you submit, Federal Student Aid directs you to My Activity for status. Common labels include Draft, In Progress, Canceled, In Review, Action Required, and Completed. If the status is Action Required, open the message and supply what the servicer or StudentAid.gov lists before the request stalls.

How long does IDR processing take?

Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ notes that servicers process most applications within a few weeks, but processing sometimes takes longer. Keep making required payments on your current plan until your servicer confirms the new plan and payment amount in writing or in your online account.

Can defaulted loans use RAP or IBR?

Defaulted federal student loans are not eligible for income-driven repayment until you rehabilitate the loans or consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan and agree to repay under the Repayment Assistance Plan. Resolve default through official StudentAid.gov paths before you expect an IDR approval.

Sources

Primary citations for this guide are listed in the article frontmatter and rendered through the ArticleSources component. In the body, Federal Student Aid’s IDR FAQ is the controlling source for application steps, eligibility, and recertification as of November 13, 2026.