The day after you miss a payment, your loan becomes delinquent. It stays that way until:
You make the missed payment
Or set up a new plan (like deferment, forbearance, or income-based repayment)
If your loan is 90+ days delinquent, your servicer may report it to the credit bureaus—which can hurt your credit score.
If it goes on too long, your loan can move into default, which comes with bigger consequences like wage garnishment and legal action.
⚠️ What Delinquency Can Affect:
Delinquency and default can make it harder or more expensive to:
Get credit cards
Qualify for a car or home loan
Rent an apartment (landlords often check credit)
Set up utilities or a phone plan
Get decent rates on insurance
💡 Tip: If you're struggling to keep up, don’t wait. Relief can help you explore better repayment options before things get worse.