 TITLE: How Does Marriage Affect Your Student Loans? CONTENT: Marriage May Affect Your Student Loan Repayment and Interest\n------------------------------------------------------------\nIf you're on an income-based repayment (IBR) plan for federal student loans, your monthly payments may increase when you get married. IBR plans are calculated based on your household size and income so, depending on your filing status, the government may factor your spouse's salary in when determining how much you can afford to pay.\nYou're required to recertify your IBR plan each year, and your monthly payments may change based on your previous year's income. Assuming that you and your spouse both earn income, your payment may rise after you're married. However, the amount can also drop if you become a single-income household, due to job loss or one of you leaving the workforce to raise children. You can also request assistance or a new repayment plan if your income is reduced long-term.\nSo, your newly increased payments won't necessarily be high throughout your marriage. But if you and your partner experience an increase in income due to promotions at work or taking on higher-paying jobs, you can expect your monthly student loan payments to rise accordingly.\nYour household income also affects your ability to deduct student loan interest on your federal taxes. If you are married and file jointly with your spouse and your combined income is $170,000 or higher, neither of you will be able to claim the student loan interest deduction. You can claim the full deduction if your household income is $140,000 or less. If you earn between $140,000 and $170,000, you may be eligible for a reduced tax benefit. END