Last year, a law went into effect that should allow cancer patients to pause their federal student loans while undergoing treatment and for six months afterward. But there was no way to actually request a deferment—until now.
Here is the cancer treatment deferment request form, from the US Department of Education. To apply, you need a letter from your doctor stating that you are being treated for cancer, along with the dates that the treatment began and when it is expected to end. If treatment lasts more than a year, you’ll need to send another letter to extend the deferment.
You’ll submit the form to whoever services your loan, and keep making payments until you find out whether your request was approved.
According to the Washington Post, deferment can apply “to federal loans made on or after Sept. 28, 2018, when the law was enacted, and to loans borrowers were repaying on that date.” There is no time limit, so you can apply for deferral even if you develop cancer, or if you are treated and the cancer returns, years from now.