Payment problems

Have you already notified DUO of your income, but find yourself unable to pay the new monthly instalments? We have multiple repayment options available. We are always happy to work with you to find the best fit.

Changing the reference year

In calculating your monthly instalments, we look at your income and that of your partner, if you have one, from 2 years ago. If your income has fallen since then, you can ask us to look at a later year instead. We call this reference year rescheduling (changing the reference year). This can result in a lower monthly instalment. A condition for changing your reference year is that your income has decreased by at least 15%.

You can request a change of reference year in Mijn DUO or by using the form ‘Income statement for request to reduce monthly debt payment instalments’.

Log in to Mijn DUOwith DigiD

• Income statement for the request to reduce the 2024 monthly student debt repayment instalments for residents of the Caribbean regionpdf, 186kb
• Income statement for the request to reduce the 2025 monthly student debt repayment instalments for residents of the Caribbean regionpdf, 248kb

Temporarily stop repaying

You can temporarily stop paying off your student debt. This is called a payment-free period. You choose when, how often and for how long to apply the payment-free period. You can apply a payment-free period for a maximum of 60 months in total.

You can request a payment-free period in Mijn DUO or by using the form 'Changes loan repayment'.

• Changes loan repaymentpdf, 228kb

Payment-free period rules

• You can suspend your repayments for a total of 60 months. This can be all at once or spread over several periods.
• Your debt continues to accrue interest.
• The repayment phase (15 or 35 years) is extended by the number of payment-free months you apply.
• You can make additional repayments.

Avoid arrears

Please contact us if you think you cannot repay your student debt. We will work with you to find a solution.

Payment arrears or collection agency

If you have fallen behind on paying off your student debt, please contact us. We can help you, by arranging a repayment plan, for instance, or finding another solution tailored to your circumstances.

Collection agency

If you are in arrears, and you do not respond to notifications sent by DUO, we will transfer your overdue monthly instalments to an international collection agency. This means you will lose the option of arranging a repayment plan with DUO. You are then required to pay the debt, interest and other costs through the international collection agency, which you would understandably want to avoid. If you find yourself unable to make your repayments, please get in touch with us immediately. We will be happy to assist you in finding a practical solution.

Contact

You can contact DUO in various ways.