A three-year pause on federal student loan payments will soon end regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on a White House plan to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt.

President Joe Biden’s plan would erase $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year or households that earn less than $250,000. He also wants to cancel an additional $10,000 for those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college.

An estimated 43 million Americans hold student loan debt; most have balances of less than $20,000, according to federal data. Counterintuitively, people with smaller balances can have the hardest time paying them off, because they are often people who did not finish a degree.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, more than 1 in 13 student loan borrowers are currently behind on other payment obligations, a rate higher than before the student loan pause started in March 2020.

Student loan interest will start accruing on September 1 and payments will restart in October.

Here’s what to know to get ready to start paying back loans:

What’s happening with student loan forgiveness? Will my student loans be forgiven after 10 years?

Biden’s sweeping forgiveness plan is on hold while the Supreme Court considers whether it is legal.

But some student loan forgiveness options are still on the table, and the Biden administration has been trying to streamline and improve them.

If you’ve worked for a government agency or a nonprofit, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offers cancellation after 10 years of regular payments. Some income-driven repayment plans cancel the remainder of a borrower’s debt after 20 to 25 years.

Borrowers should make sure they’re signed up for the best possible income-driven repayment plan to qualify for these programs.

Borrowers who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges may also apply for borrower defense and receive relief.

These programs won’t be affected by the Supreme Court ruling.

Know your federal loans.

Check your loan service accounts. Make sure you know the name of your servicer, your due date and whether you’re enrolled in the best payment plan. Set reminders now so you don’t miss a payment.

Betsy Mayotte, President of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors, encourages people not to make any payments until required in October 2023.

Borrowers can use the loan-simulator tool at StudentAid.gov or the one on TISLA’s website to find a payment plan that best fits their needs. The calculators tell you what your monthly payment would be under each available plan, as well as your long-term costs.

Sometimes, when borrowers are in a financial bind, they’ll choose the option with the lowest monthly payment, which can cost more over the life of the loan, Mayotte said. Rather than “setting it and forgetting it,” she encourages borrowers to reevaluate when their financial situation improves.

Do I qualify for an income-driven repayment plan?

If you’d like to repay your federal student loans under an income-driven plan, the first step is to fill out an application through the Federal Student Aid website.

An income-driven repayment plan sets your monthly student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. It takes into account different expenses in your budget, and most federal student loans are eligible for at least one of these types of plans.

Generally, your payment amount under an income-driven repayment plan is a percentage of your discretionary income. If your income is low enough, your payment could be as low as $0 per month.

Should I set up a payment plan?

Yes — payment plans are always available for federal loans. Even so, some advocates encourage borrowers to wait to start paying until later in the fall, since there’s no financial penalty for nonpayment during the pause on payments and interest accrual.

What if I can’t pay?

If your budget doesn’t allow you to resume payments, it’s important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.

If your income has dropped, you can check to see if you qualify for deferment or forbearance, which would allow you to temporarily suspend payments.

Contact your loan servicer to see if you qualify, but be aware that during deferment and forbearance, interest will still accrue on your loans.

Are there ways I can reduce the costs of paying off my loans?

— If you sign up for automatic payments on federal loans, the servicer takes a quarter of a percent off your interest rate.

— Income-driven repayment plans aren’t right for everyone. That said, if you know you will eventually qualify for forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, it makes sense to make the lowest monthly payments possible, as the remainder of your debt will be cancelled once that decade of payments is complete.

— At least once a year, look at your monthly budget and see whether you can increase regular payments, which will lower the amount you pay in interest over the long term.

— Break up payments into whatever ways work best for you. You could consider two installments per month, instead of one large monthly sum.

— If you hold private loans, compare options for refinancing with another lender. You may be able to lower your interest rate. Just be sure to read the fine print carefully.

How do I get financial advice?

The Federal Student Aid website can help direct you to counselors, as well as organizations like the Student Borrower Protection Center and the Institute of Student Loan Advisors.