If you are a Canadian who is having difficulty repaying your student loan debt, there may be help for you in the form of a government grant program called the Repayment Assistance Plan.
Here are some of the features the first stage of this debt assistance program: The repayment period is capped at 15 years (or 10 years if you are disabled); you can make payments that you can afford; the Government of Canada will pay the interest during this time; you will not have to pay more than 20% of your income toward your student loan payments; your provincial or territorial student loans may also be covered.
If you have been in the first stage of the Repayment Assistance Plan and are still having difficulty with repayment, you may enter the next stage. In this stage, the Government of Canada continues to pay the interest, but also begins paying a portion of the loan principal as well. The entire amount will be eventually paid off after 15 years in the program have elapsed.
To apply, call the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) at 1-888-815-4514 to see if you may be eligible for the Repayment Assistance Plan.
This is a terrific program for Canadians who are burdened with too much student loan debt and need a little help through government grants.