01
Is the loan federal or private?
Start with loan type
StudentAid.gov income-driven repayment plans are for eligible federal loans. Private student loans use a different process.
What student loan payment will a mortgage lender count?
START HERE
Mortgage lenders use a monthly student loan payment in your debt-to-income calculation. First confirm the payment in your records. Then check whether an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is available for your federal loans.
1
STEP 01
Keep your FSA ID private
You sign in and submit on the official site.
2
STEP 02
Check five facts
Loan type, payment, plan, proof, and recertification date.
3
STEP 03
Save payment proof
Update mortgage DTI only after the servicer documents the payment.
Five facts to check
02
What is the monthly payment?
The number DTI uses
Mortgage debt-to-income is based on monthly debt payments, not the total student loan balance. Confirm the amount a lender can document.
03
Which repayment plan are you on?
Check the current plan
Confirm whether you already have an income-driven plan, a standard plan, or another status. Use StudentAid.gov for current federal options.
04
Can you prove the payment?
Gather documents
Find a servicer statement, account screen, or credit report that shows the monthly payment. A number from memory is not enough.
05
When must you recertify?
Plan ahead
Income-driven plans may require updated information. Note the next recertification date so a payment change does not surprise you during mortgage preparation.
Choose a starting point
Start with what you know
If you know your loans are eligible federal loans, review official repayment options. If you are not sure what you have, use the checklist first.
StudentAid.gov is free. You sign in and submit with your own FSA ID.
Review federal options
Use the official StudentAid.gov tools to compare current income-driven repayment options for eligible federal loans.
Gather the basics
Confirm the loan type, current monthly payment, repayment plan, and payment documentation before you make a mortgage-readiness plan.
Borrower checklist
What to gather before you review repayment options
These six checks help you identify the monthly student loan payment a mortgage lender may use and the documentation you still need.
List every student loan
Write down each student loan and mark it federal or private. StudentAid.gov income-driven repayment plans apply only to eligible federal loans.
What to bring
A loan list with the servicer, balance, and federal or private label for each account.
What to check
Whether each federal loan appears in your StudentAid.gov account and whether any private loan needs a separate conversation.
Your checklist
Loan list
Make this part clear before you move on.
01
ItemCurrent item
List every student loan
More on student loans and mortgage readiness
View all guides
FAQ
Answers about IDR, passwords, and mortgage DTI
Are income-driven repayment (IDR) applications free?
Yes. StudentAid.gov provides the official federal IDR tools and application at no charge. You should not have to pay a company to complete the government form. UQUAL can help you understand the mortgage-readiness impact, but you review the options and submit the application yourself.
Does UQUAL need my FSA ID or password?
No. You sign in with your own FSA ID. UQUAL does not take, store, or use your password or one-time security code, and UQUAL staff do not log in as you.
Is UQUAL a student loan relief or settlement company?
No. UQUAL is a loan-readiness company. We provide education and coaching about student loan payments that may affect mortgage debt-to-income. We do not provide debt settlement, credit repair, legal advice, tax advice, or a paid federal IDR filing service.
Can IDR improve my credit score?
IDR is a repayment option, not a credit-score strategy. A documented monthly payment may affect mortgage DTI, but IDR does not guarantee a higher score. Late or missed payments can still hurt credit.
When can a mortgage lender use a new payment?
Timing depends on the servicer and the type of request. Do not update your mortgage DTI based on submission alone. Wait until the servicer posts the payment and you have documentation a lender can review.
What if my student loans are private?
Private student loans do not use the federal IDR application on StudentAid.gov. You can still document the monthly payment for mortgage planning, but repayment options must come from the private lender or servicer.
Does UQUAL guarantee a lower payment or mortgage approval?
No. A federal repayment application does not guarantee a lower payment, forgiveness, or mortgage approval. Eligibility and mortgage underwriting depend on current program rules and your individual file. UQUAL helps you understand the information and prepare the next step.
