December 3, 2019

IDR Test

Department of Education's REPAYE planTICAS ProposalRubio
LOAN Act
S. 1292 (116th)
Merkley
Affordable Loans for Any Student Act
S. 1002 (116th)
President's FY20 Budget ProposalFoxx
PROSPER Act
H.R. 4508 (115th)
Zeldin (formerly Polis-Hanna)
ExCEL Act
H.R. 2580 (115th)
King-Burr
Repay Act
S. 1176 (115th) 
Warner-Rubio
Dynamic Repayment Act
S. 799 (115th)
House Education & Labor Committee Democrats
College Affordability Act
H.R. 4674 (116th)
IDR Mandatory or Optional?N/AOptional 
(automatically enrolls distressed borrowers)
IDR is default (borrower can opt out)Optional (automatically enrolls distressed borrowers)Optional (automatically enrolls distressed borrowers)OptionalIDR is default (borrower can opt out)OptionalIDR is default (borrower can opt out)Optional (automatically enrolls distressed borrowers)
Income/Debt Requirement for EntryNoNoNoNoUnknownNoNoNoNoNo
Monthly Payment as a Share of Income10% of discretionary income10% of discretionary income10% of income above a flat $10k exemption (indexed to inflation)10% of discretionary income12.5% of discretionary income15% of discretionary income; minimum $25 monthly payment15% of discretionary income (including non-wage income above $3k)10% of discretionary income less than $25k plus 15% of discretionary income of at least $25k ("bend point" indexed to inflation)10% of income (including non-wage income above $3k) above a flat $10k exemption (indexed to inflation)10% of discretionary income
Repayment Period (after which remaining balance is forgiven)

  • 20 years for borrowers with undergraduate debt only
  • 25 years for borrowers with any graduate debt

20 yearsGrants Secretary authority to determine the appropriate forgiveness timeframe20 years

  • 15 years for borrowers with undergraduate debt only
  • 30 years for borrowers with any graduate debt

Borrower in repayment for as long as it takes to repay the principal and interest that would be paid under a 10-year standard planFull life of loan (no debt forgiveness)

  • 20 years if total balance at start of repayment is equal to or less than $57.5k (current max undergraduate aggregate borrowing amount)
  • 25 years if total balance at start of repayment exceeds $57.5k


  • 20 years if total balance at start of repayment is less than the max undergraduate aggregate borrowing amount
  • 30 years if total balance at start of repayment is greater than or equal to undergraduate aggregate max

20 years
Eligibility Exclusions

  • Open to all Direct Loan borrowers (FFEL and Perkins borrowers may consolidate to DL to participate)
  • Parent loans are not eligible


  • All federal loan borrowers are eligible
  • Parent loans are not eligible

All federal loan borrowers, including those with Parent loans, are eligibleAll federal loan borrowers, including those with Parent loans, are eligibleUnknown

  • Only ONE loans qualify for plan; pre-existing federal loans must be consolidated into a ONE loan to participate
  • Parent loans are not eligible


  • Only IDEA loans qualify for plan; pre-existing federal loans must be consolidated into an IDEA loan to participate in IDEA repayment
  • Parent loans not eligible


  • Only new borrowers
  • Parent loans are not eligible


  • Only IDEA loans qualify for plan; pre-existing federal loans must be consolidated into an IDEA loan to participate in IDEA repayment
  • Parent loans not eligible

All federal loan borrowers, including those with Parent loans, are eligible
Interest Capitalization While Enrolled in IDRInterest can capitalize after borrowers exit a deferment or forbearanceNo interest capitalization while enrolled in IDRNo interest capitalization (replaces interest for all loans with one-time financing fee)No interest capitalization while enrolled in IDRUnknownInterest capitalization if borrower exits plan or chooses to have payments recalculated to equivalent of 10-year standard paymentNo interest capitalization during grace and repayment periodsInterest capitalizes when payment exceeds fixed 10-year payment amountNo interest capitalization during grace and repayment periodsNo interest capitalization while enrolled in IDR
Treatment of Interest Accrual While Enrolled in IDR

  • Subsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 100% covered for up to the first 3 years, then 50% covered afterward
  • Unsubsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 50% covered during all periods


  • Subsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 100% covered for up to the first 3 years, then 50% covered afterward
  • Unsubsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 50% covered during all periods

Replaces interest for all loans with one-time financing fee (regardless of repayment plan)

  • Subsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 100% covered for up to the first 3 years, then 50% covered afterward
  • Unsubsidized loans: Unpaid accrued interest is 50% covered during all periods

UnknownCaps interest payments so that borrowers would be required to repay the equivalent of the principal and interest amount they would have paid under a standard 10-year plan (in addition to interest accrued during any deferments)Total interest accrued never exceeds 50% of the total amount of the loanUnpaid accrued interest is 100% covered for all DL for up to the first 3 yearsNoneUnpaid accrued interest for subsidized loans is 100% covered for up to the first 3 years
Targeting

  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately
  • Phases out income exclusion for AGIs above $100k

Not specified in bill

  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately
  • Expands income exclusion threshold to 250% of FPL, and phases out exclusion for AGIs above $120k


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Does not address married filing separately


  • Removes standard payment cap
  • Addresses married filing separately
  • Expands income exclusion threshold to 200% of FPL and phases out exclusion for AGIs above $80k for single borrowers and $160k for married borrowers

 
Annual Income Recertification (requirements and consequences for missing deadline)

  • Borrower must provide verification of income
  • If borrower misses annual deadline, borrower moved to alternative repayment plan with remaining debt reamortized, and interest capitalizes. Borrower must recertify to re-enter REPAYE and may be required to make catch-up payments in REPAYE.

Automated via data sharing between ED and IRS

  • Automated via data sharing between ED and IRS
  • Failure to file required tax return may lead to loans being put into default

Automated via data sharing between ED and IRSAutomated via data sharing between ED and IRSBorrower must provide verification of income

  • Accomplished via paycheck withholding, which borrowers can opt out of, and establishes annual under- or over-payment reconciliation process leveraging data sharing between ED and IRS
  • Failure to file required tax return may lead to loans being put into default


  • Borrower must provide verification of income
  • If borrower fails to submit verification, payments do not count toward forgiveness in IDR or PSLF


  • Accomplished via paycheck withholding, which borrowers can opt out of, and establishes annual under- or over-payment reconciliation process leveraging data sharing between ED and IRS
  • Failure to file required tax return may lead to loans being put into default

Automated via data sharing between ED and IRS
Debt Forgiven in IDR Plan Treated as Taxable Income?YesNoYesYes^^UnknownYesN/A (no debt forgiveness)YesNoNo