There are still more borrowers who are behind on their payments and could go into default. The department told NPR that 2.9 million borrowers are between 61 and 90 days past due on their loan payments. According to the Department, an additional 4 million people are in “late-stage delinquency,” have been reported to the credit bureaus, and are rapidly approaching default.

According to Scott Buchanan, executive director of the nonprofit trade association Student Loan Servicing Alliance, “the majority of borrowers are not at risk of defaulting right now, but they might be in five months.” “And so taking action today is pretty important.”

The Education Department said in a press release on Monday that it will issue notices of wage garnishment, which involves taking up to 15% of a borrower’s disposable income, “later this summer.” It is advising borrowers who are in default to sign up for an income-driven repayment plan or begin making monthly payments in the interim.

Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, says, “It’s completely understandable that people would be terrified, perplexed, and overwhelmed by the prospect of paying hundreds or thousands of dollars a month that they don’t have.”

With tariffs driving up the cost of many goods, many families are already finding it difficult to make ends meet in the current unstable economy. Furthermore, he says, families who have student loan debt may soon see a reduction in their Social Security or paycheck.

Experts discussed the options available to borrowers and the potential repercussions as collections pick back up with NPR. Here’s some information.