<p>"It's getting far harder for students to pay off their loans," says Alan Collinge, of Student Loan Justice, a grassroots organization that lobbies for student loan reform. "Student loan debt has reached overwhelming proportions. This is a burden no other generation has had to face," he says.</p>
<p>If you're having trouble making your payments, there are some programs that can provide some relief.</p>
<p>If your income isn't sufficient to repay a federal loan, you can apply for an economic hardship deferment or forbearance which would suspend or reduce your monthly payments. However, keep in mind that the interest will continue to grow on loans that are not federally subsidized.</p>
<p>To find out if you qualify for these programs, check out the hardship calculators at FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans, a financial aid Web site. If you do qualify, try to pay an amount equal to the interest payments so you're not digging yourself deeper into more debt....."
Student</a> loan debt -- how to get relief - CNN.com</p>