Trouble Paying?

If you have finished your studies, you must repay your student loans. If you are having trouble making loan repayments, there are options to consider:

• Can I Benefit from the Repayment Assistance Plan?
• Customize your payments
• Should I Consolidate My Debt?

Can I Benefit from the Repayment Assistance Plan?

Not everybody finds their dream job six months after they leave school. And people lose their jobs. If you don’t think you’ll be able to make your loan payments, there is repayment assistance in place to help you get through the rough spots.

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

The Repayment Assistance Plan is offered for both Canada and Alberta student loans. The plan provides you with short-term assistance if you have temporary financial challenges and long-term support if you have persistent financial challenges. Under RAP:

• you may be expected to make a monthly affordable payment that is based on your income and family size
• you may not have to make any monthly payments if your income is low
• your repayment period will not last more than 15 years after you stop being a student (and not more than 10 years if you are a borrower with a permanent disability)

You can apply for RAP at any time during your repayment term. If you are approved for RAP on your Canada student loans, you are automatically approved for RAP on your Alberta student loans. Here’s how it works:

• If you have both Alberta and Canada student loans, you will submit only one application to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). The NSLSC processes the application for RAP on your Canada student loans and then forwards the application to EDULINX who processes the application for RAP on your Alberta student loans
• If you have only Alberta student loans, you will submit your application only to EDULINX
• RAP is approved for a six month period. If you want to continue to receive RAP, you must submit a new application every six months

To be eligible for RAP:

• your loan must be in repayment status
• you must meet the financial eligibility requirements for RAP
• your loan must be in good standing with EDULINX, the NSLSC and/or your lending institution
• TIP: If you have missed payments, you can bring your loan into good standing by applying for RAP because RAP can be backdated up to six months (6) and/or interest can be capitalized up to three (3) months.
• your loan must not have been included in a bankruptcy
• you must not have missed previous RAP payments

If you have a permanent disability, you will be considered for RAP-PD (Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability). Under RAP-PD:

• you must meet the basic RAP eligibility requirements
• if you received disability grants as a student, you are automatically considered for RAP-PD
• if you did not receive disability grants as a student, you will have to provide proof of your permanent disability by providing appropriate documentation from your medical practitioner and proof of income
• your additional living costs due to your permanent disability may be considered in your application

For more information about the Repayment Assistance Plan, read or print the RAP Information Sheet