Student loan debt: Website launched for SAVE income-driven repayment plan

Student loan debt: Website launched for SAVE income-driven repayment plan

The Department of Education has released a website for new the new income-driven student loan repayment plan known as SAVE, or Saving on a Valuable Education.

The website, still in its beta version, was released Monday, The Hill reported. The full version is expected in August but those who use the beta site will not have to resubmit information. A demonstration of the new site is available here.

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“A beta version of the updated (income-driven repayment (IDR)) application is now available and includes the option to enroll in the new SAVE Plan — the most affordable repayment plan yet,” the department noted on its site.

The SAVE plan replaces the Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment, or REPAYE, plan.  Under SAVE, the income exemption for payments will increase from 150% above the poverty line to 225%, meaning, as The Hill explains, that a single person earning less than $32,800 would have $0 monthly payments.

Also, people who make their regular monthly payments will not have to pay additional unpaid interest. That means that if $70 of interest accrues on your balance each month, but your payment is set at $50, you will not be charged the remaining $20. Spousal income for borrowers who are married and filed separately will not be factored into borrower’s income.

Anyone enrolled in REPAYE will automatically be rolled into SAVE.