Loans · Student
Student loan RAP zero-payment checker.
Earn under the federal threshold for your family size and your Canada Student Loan payment can drop to $0 for a renewable 6-month period — no interest accrual, no penalty, no impact on your credit.
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) compares your monthly gross family income against a threshold that rises with family size. Below it, your payment is $0. Above it, you may still qualify for a reduced payment, capped at 10% of household income under the program's own rules.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Check.
The full threshold table
| Family size | Monthly gross family income threshold |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,866 |
| 2 | $4,535 |
| 3 | $5,556 |
| 4 | $6,412 |
| 5 | $7,170 |
| 6 | $7,854 |
| 7 or more | $8,483 |
Below your family size's threshold, your required payment is $0 for a 6-month RAP term — and it's renewable indefinitely by reapplying, as long as your income stays under the line. Government contributions cover the interest so the loan doesn't grow while you're on RAP.
Why this tool won't guess your reduced payment above the threshold
Above the threshold, canada.ca states only that "you may still qualify for reduced monthly payments," without publishing the exact sliding-scale formula on its public page. The one number the government does publish, in its 2022 program backgrounder, is that the affordable payment is capped at 10% of household income — a ceiling, not a complete formula for the amount between $0 and that ceiling. Rather than invent a number in that gap, this tool tells you the cap and directs you to the NSLSC's own RAP calculator or application for the exact figure.
Sources, read 25 September 2026: canada.ca "Repayment Assistance Plan" (the monthly gross family income threshold table by family size), and canada.ca / ESDC "The Repayment Assistance Plan" (the 2022 program backgrounder confirming the 10%-of-household-income cap on the affordable payment).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to reapply every 6 months?
Yes. RAP approval lasts up to 6 months at a time, so you reapply through the NSLSC before it expires if your situation hasn't changed. It's not a one-time application that covers you indefinitely.
Does RAP hurt my credit or count as a missed payment?
No. A RAP-approved $0 or reduced payment is not a missed payment, a default, or a mark against your credit — it's a legitimate program status, and interest is covered by the government while you're on it (for the federal portion of your loan).
Does this apply to provincial student loans too?
This tool models the FEDERAL RAP thresholds. Most provinces (Alberta, BC, and others) integrate their provincial loan into the same RAP application and use the same thresholds, but confirm your specific province's process, since a few provinces run separate systems.
What if my income is well above the threshold but I'm still struggling?
Reduced RAP payments, capped at 10% of household income, may still apply above the zero-payment line. Apply through the NSLSC regardless of where your income falls relative to the table — it's the only way to get the exact number.
Eligibility estimate only — apply through NSLSC for the real determination
This tool checks the published zero-payment threshold only. It does not calculate a specific reduced-payment dollar amount for income above the threshold, since the government has not published a complete public formula for that range as of this verification. It also does not model RAP for borrowers with a permanent disability (RAP-PD), which uses different, more generous thresholds. Apply through the National Student Loans Service Centre for your actual determination.