Americans with federal student loans will have the option to suspend payments with no interest for at least 60 days in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.

The decision came Friday from Betsy DeVos, U.S. secretary of education, acting on a promise from President Donald Trump to relieve borrowers of the burden. The delay in payments and the roll-back on interest is intended to help those struggling during the pandemic, according to a statement from the Department of Education.

“These are anxious times, particularly for students and families whose educations, careers, and lives have been disrupted,” said Secretary DeVos in a statement. “Right now, everyone should be focused on staying safe and healthy, not worrying about their student loan balance growing."

All federal student loan servicers have been instructed to grant forbearance to any person with loans if they request one. The relief will be in effect for at least 60 days, according to the department and began on March 13, 2020.

“To request this forbearance, borrowers should contact their loan servicer online or by phone,” according to the statement. An automatic suspension of payments for borrowers 31-days late as of March 13, 2020, or those who might become 31-days delinquent on payments will also be administered.

Borrowers can continue to pay on their loans if they wish and “the full amount of their payment will be applied to the principal amount of their loan once all interest accrued prior to the president’s March 13 announcement is paid.”

Any student loan borrower who has faced or will face a change in income because of the national emergence should contact their loan service.

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