If you have a student loan, and you are having troubles making payment, you may be eligible for a deferment. A deferment is a postponement of payment on a loan, during which interest does not accrue if the loan is subsidized.

The federal government pays the interest charged on subsidized Direct Stafford and consolidation loans during a deferment period. However, you are responsible for the interest charged on all other Direct loans during a deferment period. You may either pay the interest as it accrues or allow it to accumulate and be capitalized when the deferment period ends.