Are Forbearance and Deferment the Same Thing?

Both allow you to temporarily postpone or reduce your federal student loan payments. The main difference is if you are in deferment, no interest will accrue to your loan balance. If you are in forbearance, interest WILL accrue on your loan balance.

Does deferment or forbearance hurt your credit?

How do student loan deferment and forbearance affect your credit score? Neither deferment nor forbearance on your student loan has a direct impact on your credit score. But putting off your payments increases the chances that you'll eventually miss one and ding your score by mistake.

What is the difference between a deferment and forbearance if you had the choice which would you rather have?

The major difference is that forbearance always increases the amount you owe, while deferment can be interest-free for certain types of federal loans. ... Deferment: Generally better if you have subsidized federal student loans or Perkins loans and you are unemployed or dealing with significant financial hardship.