How to apply for RAP or IBR

The application is free, takes about ten minutes, and lives on StudentAid.gov. Here's what to have ready, what each step asks, and what happens after you submit.

Last reviewed: August 2026

What to have ready

• Your FSA ID — the username and password for StudentAid.gov. If you've forgotten it, reset it first; recovery can take a day if your contact info is stale.
• Last year's tax return, or at least your AGI from it. Most people can skip this by using the IRS data retrieval tool built into the application.
• Recent pay stubs — only if your income has dropped significantly since that return. That's the case where documenting current income beats using the old AGI.
• Your family size and number of dependents.
• Your decision — run the calculator first so you know which plan you're asking for before you start.

Step by step

1. Go to StudentAid.gov and log in. From the dashboard, find the section for repayment and choose the income-driven repayment application. Beware of lookalike sites in search results — the only correct domain is studentaid.gov.
2. Choose your reason for applying. You'll pick something along the lines of entering a new IDR plan or changing plans. Exiting SAVE borrowers are changing plans.
3. Select the plan. You can either name a specific plan — RAP, IBR — or ask to be placed in the plan with the lowest monthly payment. Naming your own is better: "lowest payment" ignores considerations like forgiveness timelines that may matter more to you than a few dollars a month.
4. Provide income information. The IRS data retrieval tool imports your AGI directly and is the fastest path. Use manual entry with documentation only if your income has changed materially since that return.
5. Enter family size. Yourself, your spouse if applicable, and dependents you support. This drives IBR's protected income and RAP's per-dependent reduction.
6. Answer the spouse questions if married. If you file separately and want your spouse's income excluded, this is where that gets recorded. See the filing separately guide if you haven't decided.
7. Review and sign electronically. Read the summary screen before signing — it states the plan you're requesting.
8. Save the confirmation. Screenshot or download it, with the date visible. If processing goes wrong later, proof of your submission date is the single most useful document you'll have.

After you submit

Processing typically takes a few weeks, and can run longer during this transition because millions of applications are moving through the same pipeline at once. During that period:

• Keep making whatever payment is currently due. Don't stop paying because an application is pending.
• Watch for servicer requests. If they need a document, respond quickly — an unanswered request can void the application and put you back at the start.
• If your window closes while you're waiting, call your servicer, tell them an IDR application is pending, and ask what protection applies. A submitted application generally protects you, but say it out loud and note who you spoke to and when.
• If the Standard payment hits before approval and you can't afford it, ask for a short forbearance to bridge the gap. Not ideal — forbearance months rarely count toward forgiveness — but far better than delinquency.

Recertifying every year

Income-driven plans require annual income recertification. Miss the deadline and the consequences are real: your payment can jump to the Standard amount, and on some plans unpaid interest capitalizes. Set a calendar reminder for one month before your recertification date, every year, for as long as you're on the plan. Most servicers offer automatic recertification through IRS data sharing — turn it on if it's available to you.

If your income drops mid-year — job loss, reduced hours, a career change — you don't have to wait for the annual date. Recertify immediately with current income documentation and your payment adjusts.

Common problems

• Application rejected for missing information: usually a mismatched family size or missing spouse data. Fix and resubmit; it doesn't count against you.
• Approved into the wrong plan: happens, especially if you asked for "lowest payment." Call your servicer and request the specific plan you wanted.
• Payment doesn't match your estimate: our calculator uses statutory formulas and last year's AGI. Servicers may use different income documentation, apply rounding, or use a different poverty-guideline year. Small differences are normal; a large gap is worth a phone call.
• Nothing happens for weeks: log into your servicer's site and check application status directly rather than waiting for mail.

Where to get free help

Your servicer is the first line — start early because hold times are long. The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman handles disputes servicers won't resolve. Nonprofit organizations such as The Institute of Student Loan Advisors (TISLA) offer free, unbiased guidance from people who do this professionally. None of these charge you a fee, and none of them need your FSA ID password.