Where you stand

Last verified Oct 17, 2026

You have parent PLUS loans

You borrowed Direct or FFEL PLUS loans for a dependent child’s education.

1. 1 What you can pick

   • Parent PLUS loans can’t use RAP.
   • New parent PLUS loans (on or after July 1, 2026): Tiered Standard only, capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 per student.
   • Older parent PLUS loans: the 10-year Standard, Graduated or Extended plan.
   • A Direct Consolidation Loan made before July 1, 2026 that repaid parent PLUS: ICR through June 30, 2028, and IBR once it has made an ICR payment before July 1, 2028.
   • Consolidating on or after July 1, 2026: the new loan can only use Tiered Standard.

2. 2 What each costs

   Each option has a different payment. Work out your payments

3. 3 What to do next

   • A consolidation made now is a new loan with only Tiered Standard; review your options on StudentAid.gov before consolidating.
   • Taking out a new Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026 removes the ICR route for older consolidated parent PLUS loans.

Read more

• Parent PLUS loans under the new rules→
• New federal loan limits from July 1, 2026→
• FFEL and Perkins loans: getting into RAP means consolidating→

Not financial or legal advice. This page sums up the published rules for this situation. It can’t account for your full loan history; your servicer and StudentAid.gov have your actual record.

Official sources

1. Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025), Title VIII, Secs. 81001–82004
2. 34 CFR 685.209, income-driven repayment plans (current eCFR, as amended May 1, 2026)
3. StudentAid.gov: One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Important Definitions (updated Aug. 24, 2026)
4. StudentAid.gov: SAVE Plan Borrowers – FAQs About Choosing a Different Repayment Plan (October 2026)