Fill Out Rehabilitation Training Deferment Request Online
Rehabilitation Training Deferment Request (REH)
Federal Student Aid
Requests postponement of federal student loan payments while the borrower is enrolled in an approved rehabilitation training program.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
The Rehabilitation Training Deferment Request (REH) lets federal student loan borrowers postpone payments while they are enrolled in an approved rehabilitation training program. It covers Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, and Perkins Loans, and it applies to programs that provide vocational, drug abuse, mental health, or alcohol abuse rehabilitation services.
You can open the form in the Universal PDF editor, type your answers into the borrower sections, and download a clean PDF to bring to your program's authorized official for certification before sending everything to your loan servicer.
What the rehabilitation training deferment is for
A deferment is a period during which you are entitled to postpone repayment. On subsidized loans, interest is not charged to you during the deferment; on unsubsidized loans, interest keeps accruing and can capitalize later. Perkins Loan borrowers also receive a six month post-deferment grace period after the deferment ends.
This particular deferment exists for borrowers whose rehabilitation program demands enough time and effort that holding a regular job is not realistic while they complete it.
Who qualifies
Section 2 of the form walks you through the eligibility test. You must be able to answer yes to all four questions:
- Your program is licensed, approved, certified, or recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a state agency responsible for vocational rehabilitation, drug abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or alcohol abuse services
- The program provides services under a written, individualized plan that specifies when the services are expected to end
- The program requires a substantial commitment, meaning a level of time and effort that would normally prevent you from working 30 or more hours per week in a position expected to last at least three months
- You are receiving, or are scheduled to receive, rehabilitation services in the program
How to fill out the form
Work through the borrower sections first, then hand the form to the program for certification:
- Section 1: your identifying information, including SSN, date of birth, address, and contact details
- Section 2: the four eligibility questions described above
- Section 3: your requests and certifications, including an optional box to make interest payments during the deferment, plus your signature and date
- Section 4: completed by an authorized official of the rehabilitation training program, who confirms the program's start and expected end dates; alternatively you can attach separate documentation from the official that contains the same information
How to submit it
Return the completed form and any required documentation to your loan servicer, using the address shown in Section 7 of your copy if one is printed there. If your loans are held by different loan holders, you must send a separate deferment request to each one.
Your loan holder may place your account in a short forbearance while it processes the form or to cover any delinquency that exists when you submit it.
Frequently asked questions
Interest is not charged to you on subsidized loans during the deferment. On unsubsidized loans interest continues to accrue, and unpaid interest may capitalize when the deferment ends. You can check a box in Section 3 to make interest payments during the deferment if you want to avoid that.
An official of the rehabilitation training program itself. Instead of having the official fill in Section 4, you may attach separate documentation from the official that includes the program dates and a certification that you and the program meet the conditions in Section 2.
It begins on the date you became eligible, as certified by the authorized official, and ends on the earlier of the certified end date or the date you no longer meet the eligibility criteria. You must notify your loan holder immediately if your eligibility ends early.
You must submit a separate deferment request to each loan holder. If you have a joint spousal consolidation loan, each co-maker must individually qualify and submit their own request.
Yes. The instructions ask for typed or dark ink entries. You can complete the form in the Universal PDF editor, download it, print it, and sign it before collecting the program certification.
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