Millions of people had a nice three-year siesta on federal student loan payments. But this month, many will need to restart payments.

Many changes have happened in the last few years. An estimated 804,000 borrowers who have made regular payments for 25 years have had balances forgiven. Many other borrowers should see lower payments, possibly as low as $0, even though President Joe Biden’s initial student loan forgiveness plan didn’t happen.

Most borrowers should already have received a bill that lays out your October payment date and amount. If you haven’t, check your loan servicer account and make sure that your contact information is up to date.

Here’s what to know and where to start:

I don’t remember how to do this. Where do I start?

Log into studentaid.gov, the official website for federal student loans, and check the name of your loan servicer. Many servicers changed during the pandemic. You may get a bill from a different business name.

Once you know your servicer, familiarize yourself with the basics: Log into your account online and check your balance, monthly payment amount and interest rate. Since interest rates were paused during the pandemic, you can compare the balance to your last 2020 bill.

Make sure that your personal information is correct and updated. While you’re at it, check the same information with any servicers for private student loans.

What is my monthly payment amount?

Borrowers can find out what their monthly student loan payment will be on their account with their loan servicer. If you don’t know who your servicer is, you can find it by logging in your studentaid.gov account.

This looks different than I remember. Why has my loan amount changed?

Interest restarted on federal student loans in September, so that may account to a small increase to your balance.

The Biden administration also has been forgiving a lot of people’s loans or shifting some people onto a new income-driven repayment plan — SAVE — which may change your balance and/or your interest rate and monthly payment amount.

If you think there’s an error, you should contact your servicer first.

How do I lower my payments?

Borrowers have several new options.

StudentAid.gov has a loan-simulator tool to find payment plans that best fit needs. Over the past year, the federal government has made several adjustments to “income-driven repayment plans,” which set monthly payments at an amount intended to be affordable for your income and family size.

Most federal student loans are eligible for at least one IDR plan.

The SAVE plan aims to lower many people’s monthly payments, and increase them only if a borrower’s income increases. Some people will be charged $0 if they are below a certain income threshhold. Interest won’t accrue as long as borrowers make federal payments.

The Education Department also is forgiving loans for many people who have worked in public service for a certain number of years or who have made regular payments for more than 20 or 25 years.

If you truly can’t make your current payments, federal officials say there will be a grace period. You should also assess the pros and cons of forbearance and deferment.

Am I being scammed?

Anytime there is an adjustment in federal assistance or loan options, scams increase. That’s another reason to check your account at studentaid.gov and make sure your information is accurate. You don’t need to apply for any outside programs or pay for assistance.

Borrowers should protect their personal information, look out for official correspondence in the mail and beware of phone and email scams.