SAVE Plan Ended: Your 90-Day Deadline to Pick a New Plan
A court order ended the SAVE income-driven repayment plan in March 2026. If you were on SAVE, or applied for it, you have to pick a different plan. Here is what Federal Student Aid says, with links to the official pages.
What happened
A federal court in Missouri approved a settlement between the U.S. Department of Education and the State of Missouri that vacated the SAVE Plan rule. Under the settlement, the Department will not enroll new borrowers in SAVE, will deny pending SAVE applications and will move SAVE borrowers to other plans. (Sources: Federal Student Aid, SAVE Plan Borrowers FAQs ↗ · U.S. Department of Education, March 27, 2026 ↗)
Your deadline is 90 days from your servicer's notice
- Servicers started sending notices on July 1, 2026, in groups, so borrowers with the same servicer can have different deadlines. FSA says every SAVE borrower will be notified before the end of 2026.
- You have 90 days from your servicer's notice to choose a new plan. FSA's example: a notice received July 1, 2026 meant a deadline of Sept. 29, 2026.
- Miss it and your servicer sends a final 30-day notice.
- If you still don't choose, you're placed in the Standard Repayment Plan, or the Tiered Standard Plan if you have a loan disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 that has entered repayment.
To find your notice, search your email for the subject "You Have 90 Days to Select a New Repayment Plan" or "Final Notice – You will be Placed into a New Repayment Plan in 30 Days", or check your servicer's website inbox.
Choosing a new plan
Use the official Loan Simulator ↗ on studentaid.gov to compare plans, and see our guide to RAP, IBR and Tiered Standard or RAP payment estimator. If you're working toward PSLF, choose a qualifying plan. RAP counts.
Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Rules can change; your servicer's notice controls your deadline.
Is the SAVE plan over?
Yes. Federal Student Aid says a court order ended the SAVE Plan in March 2026, and SAVE borrowers must choose a different repayment plan.
What is the deadline to leave SAVE?
90 days from the date your loan servicer's notice was sent. After that you get a final 30-day notice, then automatic placement in the Standard or Tiered Standard plan.