Which income-driven repayment plan gives me the lowest student loan payment now?

With SAVE dismantled, the main remaining income-driven options are IBR (Income-Based Repayment) and, for some, ICR or the plan created by the 2025 budget law. IBR generally caps payments at 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income depending on when you borrowed, with forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. The plan that produces the lowest payment depends on your income, family size, loan balance, and when you first borrowed, so run each on the loan simulator at studentaid.gov. Remember the tradeoff: a lower payment stretches the term and adds interest, but it can be worth it if you are pursuing forgiveness or need cash-flow relief. Recertify your income every year or your payment jumps to the standard amount.