Repay a student loan – Repayment assistance

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

If you have trouble paying your loan, you can apply to have the federal and your provincial or territorial governments help you by paying towards your loan through these plans:

• the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
• the Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability (RAP-PD)

Depending on your financial situation and whether you stay in a repayment assistance plan, the balance of your loan will be gradually paid off through your contributions and contributions from the governments. If you have a permanent disability, the expenses related to your permanent disability will also be taken into account.

• Find out if you can get help from the RAP and RAP-PD

Severe and permanent disability

If you have a severe and permanent disability, you may be able to have your student debt cancelled through the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit.

You could be eligible if your disability prevents you from working in a gainful way for the rest of your life.

• Apply for the Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit

Family doctors and nurses

If you are working as a family doctor, resident in family medicine, nurse or nurse practitioner in an under-served rural or remote community, you may be eligible for assistance to repay all or part of your student loans.

Over a period of 5 years, family doctors or residents in family medicine could receive up to $40,000 in loan forgiveness. Nurses or nurse practitioners could receive up to $20,000.

• Apply for Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses

Canadian Forces reservists

If you are a reservist in the Canadian Forces in a designated operation, you do not have to make payments on Canada Student Loans or provincial or territorial student loans.

• Keep your loan interest free as a reservist

Contact us to discuss your options

Whether you already missed a loan payment or not, contact us to discuss your options and get advice on the type of help that might be available:

• contact the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC)
• if you live in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island, also contact your provincial or territorial loan provider