If you have decided you want to move to the new Repayment Assistance Plan, the next question is practical: how do you actually switch to RAP? This is a step-by-step guide to changing your federal student-loan repayment plan in 2026, using the standard federal process. RAP is the new income-driven plan that became available on July 1, 2026; for the full background on what changed, start with our guide to the July 1 student-loan changes.
What RAP is, in one line
RAP, the Repayment Assistance Plan, is the new federal income-driven repayment plan. It bases your monthly payment on a tiered 1% to 10% of your full adjusted gross income (AGI), minus $50 per dependent, with a $10 minimum. It waives unpaid interest so your balance does not grow, and it lowers your principal by at least $50 each month. If you want to see the math on your own income first, use our RAP payment calculator guide.
Should you switch to RAP?
Switching makes sense for some borrowers and not others. You are a likely candidate to consider RAP if:
- You were on SAVE, which has been struck down, and you need to choose a new plan anyway.
- Your current monthly payment feels high relative to your income, and an income-driven payment would lower it.
- You are pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness and want a qualifying income-driven plan. RAP counts for PSLF, though it is not always the lowest payment, see RAP and PSLF.
- You want the interest waiver and the $50 principal floor that RAP provides.
It may not be the right move if you already have significant forgiveness progress on an older plan like IBR that produces a lower payment, or if a non-income-driven plan already fits your budget. The honest answer depends on your numbers, which is why step 1 below is to compare before you commit.
How to switch to RAP, step by step
Step 1: Confirm RAP is actually your best option
Before you file anything, compare RAP against your current plan and any other plan you qualify for, on your real income, family size, balance, and forgiveness goal. The lowest monthly payment is not always the lowest lifetime cost. Skipping this step is the most common way borrowers end up on the wrong plan.
Step 2: Find out what plan and loans you have today
Log in at studentaid.gov, or check with your loan servicer, to see your current repayment plan, your loan types, and your balances. This matters because the path to RAP can differ depending on your loans. Confirm which of your loans are federal Direct Loans, since the income-driven repayment options apply to Direct Loans.
Step 3: Check whether consolidation is part of your path
For many borrowers with Direct Loans, switching to RAP is simply an application, no consolidation needed. But some loan types are not directly eligible for income-driven plans until they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan first. This commonly applies to older FFEL program loans and, in particular, to Parent PLUS borrowers, whose route into income-driven repayment has historically run through consolidation. Consolidation has trade-offs, it can reset progress toward forgiveness and change your interest rate, so do not consolidate without checking the consequences first. If you are unsure whether your loans need to be consolidated to access RAP, confirm with your servicer or studentaid.gov before you file.
Step 4: Apply through the income-driven repayment application on studentaid.gov
The standard way to enroll in a federal income-driven plan is the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) application at studentaid.gov. You submit the IDR application and select the income-driven plan you want. The application asks for your income information and family size, and you can typically authorize the IRS to transfer your tax information directly, or provide income documentation. You can also start an income-driven repayment request through your loan servicer. Note: the studentaid.gov application is the official enrollment route, but exact wording and screen-by-screen steps on the site change over time, so follow the prompts on the live application rather than memorizing a fixed sequence.
Step 5: Submit, then watch for confirmation from your servicer
After you submit, your loan servicer processes the request and confirms your new plan and monthly payment. Keep paying on your current schedule until the switch is confirmed, and keep a copy of your submission. If you do not see confirmation within a reasonable window, follow up with your servicer.
After you switch: recertification
Income-driven plans require you to recertify your income and family size once a year. Your servicer tells you your recertification date. If your income or family size changes, your payment can change at recertification. Missing recertification can cause your payment to rise, so put the date on your calendar. Keeping your information current is how your RAP payment stays tied to your actual income.
What to watch for
- Do not switch blind. Compare lifetime cost, not just the monthly payment, before you apply.
- Consolidation can reset forgiveness progress. If consolidation is part of your path, understand what it does to your payment count before you file.
- Protect your PSLF count. If you are pursuing forgiveness, check your payment count on studentaid.gov before changing anything, and keep employer certifications current.
- Mind the timing if you are on SAVE. SAVE borrowers receive a transition notice and a 90-day window to choose a new plan; do not let a default plan be chosen for you.
- Recertify every year. Missing it can raise your payment.
Get the switch right the first time
Switching plans is a decision you make once and live with for years, so it is worth getting right. A student-loan advisor using Finology Software compares RAP against your current plan on verified math, shows your real payment, payoff date, total cost, and any forgiveness tax, and confirms whether consolidation is part of your path, so you switch on purpose, not on a guess.
Ready to switch to RAP the right way? Get matched with a student-loan advisor who runs your numbers on verified math, or start a free trial.
July 1 student-loan changes: the full series
- July 1 student-loan changes, explained simply (start here)
- What RAP means for your student loans
- RAP vs SAVE vs PAYE vs IBR: which plan now?
- Is my income-driven repayment plan going away?
- Signs you are on the wrong repayment plan after July 1
- RAP and PSLF: what forgiveness-seekers need to know
- RAP payment calculator: what you will actually pay
