---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1098f"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1098f"
heading: "Deferral of loan repayment following active duty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1098f"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter IV — Student Assistance"
  - "Part G — General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs"
---

# §1098f. Deferral of loan repayment following active duty

- (a) **Deferral of loan repayment following active duty—** In addition to any deferral of repayment of a [loan](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=2) made under this subchapter pursuant to section [1078(b)(1)(M)(iii)](/usc/20/1078.md?p=b-1-M-iii), [1087e(f)(2)(C)](/usc/20/1087e.md?p=f-2-C), or [1087dd(c)(2)(A)(iii)](/usc/20/1087dd.md?p=c-2-A-iii) of this title, a borrower of a [loan](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=2) under this subchapter who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a member of such Armed Forces in a retired status, is called or ordered to [active duty](/usc/20/1088.md?p=d-1), and is enrolled, or was enrolled within six months prior to the activation, in a program of instruction at an [eligible institution](/usc/20/1058.md?p=b), shall be eligible for a deferment during the 13 months following the conclusion of such service, except that a deferment under this subsection shall expire upon the borrower’s return to enrolled student status.
- (b) **Active duty—** Notwithstanding [section 1088(d) of this title](/usc/20/1088.md?p=d), in this section, the term “[active duty](/usc/20/1088.md?p=d-1)” has the meaning given such term in [section 101(d)(1) of title 10](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1), except that such term—
  - (1) does not include [active duty](/usc/20/1088.md?p=d-1) for training or attendance at a service school; but
  - (2) includes, in the case of members of the National Guard, active [State](/usc/20/1003.md?p=21-A) duty.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 493D, as added Pub. L. 110–84, title II, § 204, Sept. 27, 2007, 121 Stat. 795.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2007, see section 1(c) of Pub. L. 110–84, set out as an Effective Date of 2007 Amendment note under section 1070a of this title.