Deferment options for your Discover® Student Loans

A deferment allows you to temporarily postpone payments on your student loan(s) if you are enrolled in school at least half-time, on active military duty, in a residency program, or serving a public organization.

Important: If you are experiencing financial difficulties and you are unable to make your student loan payments, we have options to help. Additionally, you may be eligible for deferment if you are currently enrolled in a repayment assistance payment program. Please call us anytime at 1-800-STUDENT to discuss your options.

Deferment types and eligibility requirements

The following types of deferments are intended to provide temporary postponement of payments if you meet the eligibility requirements described below. Please continue making your payments until we notify you that your deferment request has been approved.

In-School Deferment

This deferment type is for borrowers who are in school.

To qualify for this deferment type, you must be enrolled, at least half-time, at an educational institution approved by Discover and meet any other conditions required in your promissory note.

You may also qualify for deferment if you are enrolled less than half-time and you have a CitiAssist loan received before March 31, 2012. If you are a CitiAssist borrower, you may have a limited amount of In-School Deferment available.

If your school reports to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), we will obtain your enrollment information from the NSC. If we are unable to verify your enrollment status, we will ask you to send a completed School Enrollment Verification form available on our website on the download forms page. You can also complete the application online by logging into your Account Center at and clicking the Request a Deferment link in the help menu.

Or, you can send us a letter that includes the following:

• Enrollment status
• Enrollment start date
• Enrollment end date or anticipated graduation date
• US Department of Education School Code (Including campus code if available)
• Either (i) a school official’s signature and date, or (ii) a school seal/school letterhead with a date

Active Military Duty Deferment

This deferment type is for borrowers on active military duty.

To qualify for this deferment type, you must be on active military duty or qualifying National Guard duty during a war, other military operation, or a national emergency. Deferment ends at the conclusion of active duty, up to a maximum of 36 months. Eligibility is determined after active duty is confirmed.

If the deferment is approved, the begin and end dates will be determined based on the supporting documentation, your payment due date, or the date your maximum eligibility is reached.

We will also use the information you submit to determine eligibility for benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Please note that eligibility requirements for SCRA benefits are separate and different from the eligibility requirements for deferment. If you have any questions about SCRA or other benefits while on active military duty, please call us at 1-844-DFS-4MIL (1-844-337-4645). If you are overseas, you may call us at 1-801-451-3730.

Discover can use the following ways to confirm active military duty:

• Verification of active military duty confirmed by the Department of Defense’s Defense Manpower Data Center verbally over the phone or;
• Supporting documentation on military letter head or;
  • Military Enlistment/Re-enlistment contract
  • Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
    Note: An LES is not acceptable for Reservists or National Guard when additional documentation is available
  • Deployment or active duty orders
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders
  • Certificate of Release or Discharge from active duty
  • DD Form 1966
  • Signed letter from Military Official
    Note: This can be wet signed or stamped signature
  • Military reservation form

  Public Service Deferment

  This deferment type is for borrowers serving with a public service organization.

  To qualify for this deferment type, you must serve at least six months in a public service organization. Below are some examples of public service organizations. Please note, this deferment type is only available after your entire grace period has been used.

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  2. Peace Corps (ACTION Program and Tax-Exempt Organization Volunteer)
  3. AmeriCorps
  4. Red Cross
  5. US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHSCC)
  6. US Department of State (Fulbright Program)
  7. US department of labor
  8. Health Resources and Services Administration

  Public Service Deferment ends at the conclusion of your service, up to 36 months.

  You can provide a public service organization that is not listed above, and we will review the organization and determine if it meets our public service organization requirements. You may be eligible for public service deferment if you are working full time at an approved field or organization.

  To request this deferment type, you must provide a signed letter from an official of the public service organization evidencing your commitment to serve for at least six months, including the start date and estimated end date for public service.

  Residency Deferment

  This deferment type is for borrowers who are in a residency program.

  To qualify for this deferment type, you must be enrolled in a residency program for a health care profession in a hospital or health care facility to qualify. Residency Deferment ends at the conclusion of the residency program, up to 60 months.

  Please note, this deferment type is only available after your entire grace period has been used.

  Approved fields include, or are related to, the following: Acute Care, Allopathy (MD), Anesthesiology, Audiology, Cardiovascular, Chiropractic Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Dentistry, Dermatology, Diagnostic Radiology, Dietetic, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Internal medicine, Interventional radiology, Medical Technology, Medicine, Music Therapy, Neuropsychology, Nuclear medicine, Nursing, Obstetrics, Occupational Therapy, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Optometry, Orthotics, Osteopathy (DO), Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Periodontology, Pharmacy/Pharmacology, Physical medicine, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Plastic surgery, Podiatry, Preventive medicine, Prosthetics, Psychiatry, Public Health, Radiography, Rehabilitation, Senior House Officer Training, Surgery, Thoracic surgery, Urology, Vascular surgery, and Veterinary.

  To request this deferment type, you must:

  1. Provide a letter, dated within six months of request, signed in ink by an authorized official from the hospital or health care facility. The letter must include your start and end dates (month/day/year).
  2. If your residency deferment request is for a fellowship, the letter must include terminology that states the fellowship is required for: state certification, board certification, or organizational compliance.

  If your field is not listed and you wish to have your field considered, please obtain a letter printed on school, hospital, or health care facility letterhead for our review. This letter must be accompanied by a new deferment request form dated within 60 days. A program acceptance letter does not qualify. The letter must include the following information:

  • Program enrollment start and end dates (month/day/year)
  • Signature and date (in ink) from an authorized certifying official dated within six months of request
  • If your residency deferment request is for a fellowship, the letter must include terminology that states the fellowship is required for: state certification, board certification, or organizational compliance

  California Active Military Duty Deferment

  This deferment type is for California reservists on active military duty.

  To qualify for this deferment type, you must be an active duty reservist, the spouse of an active duty reservist, or a legal dependent of an active duty reservist. The reservist that makes the customer eligible for California Military Deferment must reside in the state of California at the time of the California Military Deferment request. California Military Deferment is available for the lesser of 180 days or the period of active duty plus 60 calendar days and, in either case, not longer than 180 days within a 365-day period. Eligibility is determined after active duty of the reservist is confirmed.

  We may also use the information you submit to determine eligibility for benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Please note that eligibility requirements for SCRA benefits are separate and different from the eligibility requirements for deferment. If you have any questions about SCRA or other benefits while on active military duty, please call us at 1-844-DFS-4MIL (1-844-337-4645). If you are overseas, you may call us at 1-801-451-3730.

  Discover can use the following ways to confirm active military duty:

  • Verification of active military duty confirmed by the Department of Defense’s Defense Manpower Data Center verbally over the phone or;
  • Supporting documentation on military letter head or;
    • Military Enlistment/Re-enlistment contract
    • Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
      Note: An LES is not acceptable for Reservists or National Guard when additional documentation is available
    • Deployment or active duty orders
    • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders
    • Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
    • DD Form 1966
    • Signed letter from Military Official
      Note: This can be wet signed or stamped signature
    • Military reservation form

    Common questions

    How do I apply for a deferment?

    To request a deferment, log into the Account Center and click the Request a Deferment link in the help menu, or complete the Deferment Request form.

    If you have any questions regarding deferment, please call us anytime at 1-800-STUDENT.

    What happens to my payments after I submit my deferment request?

    Please continue making your payments until we notify you that your deferment request has been approved.

    What happens to my interest during deferment?

    During deferment, interest continues to accrue, and any unpaid interest will be added to your principal balance at the end of the deferment period, unless otherwise required by applicable law. You have the option to pay the interest as it accrues, or we will add any unpaid interest to your principal balance at the end of your deferment. This may increase the principal balance of your loan, the amount of your monthly payment, and the total cost of your loan. Enrollment in deferment may impact borrower benefits including Auto Debit Reward, On-Time Payment, and cosigner release.