There is no gray area with economic hardship deferments. If you are employed you can get an economic hardship deferment if your student loan payment is over 20% of your monthly income.

I owe $680 dollars a month in student loans. I make $3,500 a month. So you see, I make $2400 a year too much to qualify for an economic hardship deferment.

In fact , I would be better off by taking a pay cut for a year.

This much I understand , even though I could rant about cost of living differences and how this much money in Atlanta is nothing! But lets leave that.