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Help With Your Student Loans

2025 Los Angeles Fires

If you’ve been impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles fires and are managing student loans, you may have access to special relief options. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) is here to help borrowers understand available programs, avoid scams, and make informed decisions during recovery. Below you’ll find resources and guidance on repayment pause options, forbearance, and where to go for additional support.

Get answers to your most common questions in our Federal and Private Student Loan Relief FAQ.

Pause on Federal Student Loan Payments

  • If you live in a FEMA-designated disaster area, you may qualify for a 90-day pause on your federal student loan payments, known as a disaster forbearance.
    • You do not have to make payments while you’re in disaster forbearance, but interest will add up.
    • The time your loans are in disaster forbearance will count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you are working for a qualifying employer. It will also count toward IDR forgiveness if you had an IDR plan when your forbearance started.
  • If you do not live in a FEMA-designated disaster area and your loans are eligible, you may have options:
    • If you lost your job, you can request an unemployment deferment;
    • If your income has been reduced or you have no income due to losing your job, you can apply for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan or request to lower your monthly IDR payments; or
    • If you are facing financial hardship due to the disaster, you can request a general forbearance.

Do I Need to Take Action?

  • No, if your loans are NOT in default. For most federal student loans, your loan servicer will automatically apply disaster forbearance if your address on file with them is in a FEMA-designated disaster area.
  • Yes, if your loans are in default. You need to contact your loan servicer to request a forbearance.
  • Double-check: Call your loan servicer to make sure the disaster forbearance is in place. If it isn’t, you can request one by phone.

Private Student Loan Relief

  • Ask for Forbearance: Contact your private student loan servicer to request a disaster forbearance if you are experiencing financial hardship due to the wildfires.
  • If Approved: Your loan servicer will let you know how long the forbearance will last.
  • If Denied: You can file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Sometimes, lenders approve forbearance after receiving a complaint.

Important Tips

  • Set Up Email Notifications: Make sure you turn on email notifications for your accounts on studentaid.gov and your loan servicer’s website to get important updates on your loans.
  • Don’t Change Your Address: If you’ve had to move because of the wildfires, don’t change your permanent address with your loan servicer. To receive automatic disaster forbearance, your permanent address must be in a FEMA-designated disaster zone.
  • Avoid Default: Don’t stop making payments without contacting your loan servicer first. If you default on your loans, the government can take money from your paycheck or your federal tax refund.

Under the California Student Borrower Bill of Rights (SBOR), federal and private lenders must provide borrowers with accurate information about repayment options and benefits and must post information on their websites regarding options. Do not communicate with any entity that charges money to assist you.

Where Do I Go for Free Help?

Submit a Complaint

Loan servicers are legally required to be prompt and transparent in providing information to you. If you are having issues with your student loan servicer, submit a complaint or contact us at (866) 275-2677 or dfpi.ca.gov/submit-a-complaint/.

 

 

 

Last updated: Feb 5, 2026 @ 9:07 am