RAPpath RAP guide
RAP and Parent PLUS Loans
Parent PLUS loans cannot be repaid under RAP — not directly, and not even after consolidation. An income-driven path is still open for loans consolidated before July 1, 2026 — if you enroll before the 2028 deadline.
The rule in plain English
- Parent PLUS loans are excluded from RAP. A Direct Consolidation Loan that repaid a Parent PLUS loan (an “excepted consolidation loan”) is excluded too.
- Your income-driven option is ICR. A Parent PLUS loan consolidated before July 1, 2026 can be repaid under Income-Contingent Repayment — the only income-driven plan these loans qualify for.
- Enroll in an income-driven plan before July 1, 2028 to keep eligibility for an IBR plan once ICR ends on that date.
- The July 1, 2026 consolidation cutoff has passed. A consolidation made on or after that date is excluded from RAP and lands on the Tiered Standard plan only.
- The double-consolidation loophole closed on July 1, 2025 — it is no longer available.
What to do now
- Confirm with your servicer whether your Parent PLUS loans were consolidated before July 1, 2026 and which plans they qualify for.
- If they were, enroll in ICR now if you want income-driven payments, and make sure you are on an income-driven plan before July 1, 2028 so you keep IBR access when ICR ends.
- If they were not, compare the Standard, Graduated, and Extended plans with your servicer — RAP is not available for these loans.
Frequently asked questions
Are Parent PLUS loans eligible for RAP?
No. Parent PLUS loans — and Direct Consolidation Loans that repaid a Parent PLUS loan ("excepted consolidation loans") — are not eligible for the Repayment Assistance Plan, even after you consolidate. RAP is simply not an option for Parent PLUS debt.
What income-driven plan can Parent PLUS borrowers use?
If your Parent PLUS loan was consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026, you can repay it under Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) — the one income-driven plan these loans qualify for. Enroll in an income-driven plan before July 1, 2028 and the consolidation loan also becomes eligible for an IBR plan, which is what remains once ICR ends on July 1, 2028.
I missed the July 1, 2026 consolidation cutoff. What now?
A Direct Consolidation Loan made on or after July 1, 2026 counts as a new loan, and because it repaid a Parent PLUS loan it is excluded from RAP — leaving only the Tiered Standard (fixed-payment) plan. Unconsolidated Parent PLUS loans stay on their Standard, Graduated, or Extended plan. Confirm your exact options with your servicer, since this is an area where guidance is still being clarified. Note: the older "double consolidation" loophole closed on July 1, 2025.
Educational summary of published rules as of October 2026 — not legal or financial advice. Eligibility and deadlines can change; verify with your servicer and StudentAid.gov.
Next: How RAP works · RAP vs IBR · RAP payment by income
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