How is the RAP payment calculated?

Take 1% to 10% of your whole AGI depending on its $10,000 band ($120 a year if AGI is $10,000 or less), divide by 12, subtract $50 for each dependent on your tax return. The minimum is $10 a month.

Does my spouse count as a dependent for RAP?

No. RAP takes $50 off only for dependents claimed on your federal tax return. A spouse is never a tax dependent. On a joint return the couple's AGI is combined and the payment is split by each spouse's share of the eligible loan balances.

Is RAP or IBR cheaper?

It depends on the numbers. RAP takes 1% to 10% of your whole AGI, minus $50 a month per dependent, and has no cap. IBR takes 10% or 15% of AGI above 150% of the poverty guideline, capped at the 10-year standard payment. Lower incomes and people with dependents often see a lower RAP payment; higher incomes with large balances often see IBR reach its cap. Run your own numbers above and confirm on StudentAid.gov.

Can I still choose IBR?

Only for Direct Loans made before 1 July 2026. Once you receive any new Direct Loan on or after 1 July 2026, your choices are RAP or the Tiered Standard plan.

Does filing taxes jointly change my RAP payment?

Yes. On a joint return RAP and IBR use the couple's combined AGI, then multiply the payment by your share of the couple's eligible federal loan balances. Filing separately uses only your own AGI.

RAP payment calculator

Repayment Assistance Plan estimate for federal Direct Loans. Independent, not a government tool.

Your AGI (last tax return)

Tax dependents

RAP-eligible balance

Average interest rate

Tax filing status

Single / head of household Married, joint Married, separate

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Official estimate: StudentAid.gov Loan Simulator. Compare RAP with IBR and Tiered Standard on the comparison page.

Income growth per year

Qualifying payments already made

Autopay rate cut (1% to Jun 2028, then 0.25%)

Year by year

How the RAP payment works

RAP uses your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your federal tax return. AGI of $10,000 or less gives a base of $120 a year. Above that, the base is a percentage of your whole AGI: 1% if it is over $10,000 and up to $20,000, 2% over $20,000 up to $30,000, and one more point for each $10,000 band, up to 10% above $100,000. Divide the base by 12 and take off $50 for each dependent claimed on your tax return. If the result is under $10, you pay $10.

On a joint return the couple's AGI is added together, then the payment is multiplied by your share of the couple's RAP-eligible balances. If that share comes to less than $10, you pay $10.

Interest waiver and principal match

For each month you pay on time, interest your payment doesn't cover is not charged. If the payment lowers your principal by less than $50, the Department reduces principal by the lesser of $50 or your payment, minus what your payment put toward principal. A $10 payment that all goes to interest gets a $10 match; a $229 payment that puts $40 toward principal gets a $10 match. Paying ahead (so a due date is skipped) or being in deferment or forbearance means no match for that month.

After 360 qualifying payments over at least 30 years, any balance left is forgiven. Earlier IBR payments and on-time Tiered Standard payments can count toward the 360.

Common questions

What is the minimum RAP payment? $10 a month. Only the final payment can be less.

Does my spouse count as a dependent? No. Only dependents claimed on your federal return count for the $50 credit. If you file separately, only dependents on your own return count.

Is there a cap on RAP payments? No. Above $100,000 AGI the payment is 10% of AGI, with no limit tied to your balance. IBR, by contrast, is capped at the 10-year standard payment.

Rules: 34 CFR 685.209(b)(2), (b)(3), (f)(5), (g)(3), (h)(4), (k)(7)–(8), (o)(2)–(3), as amended 1 Jul 2026 (eCFR up to date as of 20 Oct 2026).