Recent changes to the federal student loan system have left many borrowers with fewer repayment options . But even one of the remaining plans — known as the Income-Based Repayment plan , or IBR — is proving hard to access.

"Applications are being rejected without clear or logical explanations," said Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program. Rodriguez and her team members work with clients with student loans.

"These ongoing delays continue to erode public trust in the student loan system and are likely to worsen the delinquency and default rates we're already seeing," Rodriguez said.

IBR will be one of only a few repayment options left to many borrowers after recent court actions and the passage by Congress of President Donald Trump 's " b

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