Income-Driven Repayment Calculator United States
This income driven repayment calculator estimates your 2026 monthly federal student-loan payment from discretionary income, household size and payment rate.
What it does
The Income-Driven Repayment Calculator estimates your monthly federal student-loan payment under the Repayment Assistance Plan that starts on 1 July 2026, or under income-based repayment at 10% or 15% of discretionary income.
Data sources & parameters
The figures below drive this calculator. We keep them aligned with the latest official guidance, and each result recalculates automatically whenever a value changes.
| Parameter | Value | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Poverty Level, base (household of one), 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia | 15,960 | federalregister.gov, aspe.hhs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Fix 2026-10-24: the 2026 window held the 2025 guideline and the 2026 guideline was dated 2027. Published 15 January 2026, FR doc 2026-00755. Carried forward open-ended. |
| Federal Poverty Level, increment per additional person, 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia | 5,680 | federalregister.gov, aspe.hhs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Fix 2026-10-24: the 2026 window held the 2025 guideline and the 2026 guideline was dated 2027. Published 15 January 2026, FR doc 2026-00755. Carried forward open-ended. |
| Repayment Assistance Plan base payment bands: [AGI from, flat amount, rate] | Rate schedule | govinfo.gov, studentaid.gov | Effective 2026-07-01New 2026-10-24: Higher Education Act s 455(q), inserted by Public Law 119-21, runs the Repayment Assistance Plan from 1 July 2026 on AGI bands rather than discretionary income |
| Repayment Assistance Plan monthly credit for each dependent | 50 | govinfo.gov, studentaid.gov | Effective 2026-07-01New 2026-10-24: Higher Education Act s 455(q), inserted by Public Law 119-21, runs the Repayment Assistance Plan from 1 July 2026 on AGI bands rather than discretionary income |
| Repayment Assistance Plan minimum monthly payment | 10 | govinfo.gov, studentaid.gov | Effective 2026-07-01New 2026-10-24: Higher Education Act s 455(q), inserted by Public Law 119-21, runs the Repayment Assistance Plan from 1 July 2026 on AGI bands rather than discretionary income |
| Repayment Assistance Plan qualifying monthly payments before cancellation | 360 | govinfo.gov, studentaid.gov | Effective 2026-07-01New 2026-10-24: Higher Education Act s 455(q), inserted by Public Law 119-21, runs the Repayment Assistance Plan from 1 July 2026 on AGI bands rather than discretionary income |
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
RAP monthly = max(floor, base payment on whole AGI / 12 - dependents x credit); IBR monthly = (AGI - 1.5 x federal poverty level) x plan rate / 12
How it works
For the Repayment Assistance Plan it reads an annual base payment off a band table applied to your whole adjusted gross income, divides by twelve, takes off a credit for each dependent and applies a floor. For income-based repayment it subtracts 150% of the federal poverty level for your household size from your adjusted gross income and applies the plan rate to what is left.
Where it is used
- Estimating a payment under the Repayment Assistance Plan
- Comparing the Repayment Assistance Plan with income-based repayment
- Seeing how dependents and household size change the payment
Worked example
With $50,000.00 of adjusted gross income and no dependents, the Repayment Assistance Plan sets an annual base payment of …, so the monthly payment is … and the balance is cancelled after … qualifying payments.
What the income-driven repayment calculator does
The income-driven repayment calculator estimates your monthly payment on federal student loans under an income-driven plan, where the payment is tied to your income instead of being sized to clear the balance over a fixed term.
Enter your adjusted gross income, your household size and your plan’s payment rate. The calculator returns your discretionary income, an annual payment and the monthly payment.
How income-driven repayment is calculated
First the calculator finds the federal poverty level for your household size, which starts at a base figure for one person, currently $15,650, and rises by a fixed amount for each additional person.
Income-driven plans shelter 150% of the poverty level, so that amount is subtracted from your adjusted gross income; what remains is your discretionary income. If your income is below the shelter, discretionary income and the payment are both zero.
The plan’s payment rate, generally 10% for newer plans and 15% for older ones, is applied to discretionary income for the annual payment, and dividing by twelve gives the monthly payment.
Why household size matters
Each extra person raises the poverty level, and because the plan shelters 150% of it, a larger household protects more income before the rate applies. Two borrowers with the same income can have very different payments if one supports a larger family. If your household has changed, updating it with your servicer can change what you owe each month.
A worked example
Suppose your adjusted gross income is $50,000, you are a household of one, and your plan uses the 10% rate. The single-person poverty level is $15,650, and 150% of that is $23,475, leaving discretionary income of $26,525. Ten percent of that is an annual payment of $2,652.50, about $221 a month. As a household of three, the poverty level would be $26,650, the shelter larger, and the same income would give a lower monthly payment.
Plan rules are changing
The SAVE plan has been the subject of litigation, and 2025 legislation created a new Repayment Assistance Plan that changes how income-driven payments are calculated and which plans stay open to new borrowers. Payment rates, income shelters and forgiveness timelines can all change as this takes effect. This tool uses the established 150% poverty-level approach as a baseline instead of modeling every plan variant. It is a planning estimate, not a servicer quote.
Assumptions and limitations
The calculator treats discretionary income as adjusted gross income minus 150% of the federal poverty level for your household, and the payment as that amount times the rate you select. It does not model interest accrual, interest subsidies, payment caps tied to a standard plan, partial-year income changes, or forgiveness after a qualifying period. It also does not determine which plan you are eligible for or which is cheapest over the life of the loan. Confirm the exact payment and your eligibility with your loan servicer.
About This Income Driven Repayment Calculator
Use this income driven repayment calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official HHS guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Tax year 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is an income-driven repayment plan?
What counts as discretionary income?
Should I use the 10% or 15% payment rate?
Does household size include my spouse and children?
Are income-driven plan rules changing?
Is this calculator exact?
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