As with Income-Based Repayment (IBR), the borrower must prove partial financial hardship.
[2] President Obama's 2015 budget proposed substantial changes to the Pay as You Earn program.
In addition to extending the program to all borrowers, regardless of when their first loans were disbursed, it proposed certain limits to PAYE that are designed to "protect against institutional practices that may further increase student indebtedness, while ensuring the program provides sufficient relief for students committed to public service."
These proposed changes include: In sum, although the budget proposes to expand PAYE to all borrowers, it severely restricts its benefits for those with high income/high student loan balances and for those pursuing careers in public interest.
If passed, it is unclear whether those who borrowed prior to the implemented changes will be grandfathered in to existing PAYE, IBR, and PSLF plans.