Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with Disabilities
The Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with Disabilities (RAP-D) is available support to eligible borrowers in managing the repayment of your Canada Student Loan and B.C. Student Loan debt by reducing your monthly required payment and allowing you to pay back what you can reasonably afford. The RAP-D adjudication process also considers the additional living costs faced by people with disabilities.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility criteria for RAP-D is like RAP with the exception that those applying for RAP-D must have a verified Permanent or, Persistent or Prolonged Disability.
How do I apply?
You can apply for both Canada RAP-D and BC RAP-D on one application form. For information on how to apply, visit the National Student Loans Service Centre website or call 1-888-815-4514.
About the program
The British Columbia Repayment Assistance Program (BC RAP) assists BC borrowers who received repayable student financial assistance via a Canada/BC integrated loan and are having temporary financial difficulty with repayment.
There are two types of repayment assistance available:
- 1Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP); and
- 2RAP for Borrowers with Disability (RAP-D).
RAP for Borrowers with Disabilities (RAP-D):
RAP-D is like RAP in that it is designed to assist borrowers having trouble meeting their repayment obligations. Those who are approved for RAP-D can obtain the following benefits:
- For RAP-D borrowers, the government covers the principal and interest not covered by the borrower’s monthly affordable payments. This ensures that a borrower on RAP-D does not have remaining student loan debt after a period of 10 years.
- Eligible RAP-D borrowers are allowed to claim disability-related expenses, which are taken into consideration when the RAP-D application is assessed.
BC RAP-D is administered by the Government of Canada and the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC), on behalf of and under the direction of the Government of British Columbia.
Where to get an application
Borrowers can obtain a joint Canada/BC RAP-D application form online.
When to submit applications
RAP-D is approved for six-month periods. A borrower must apply for each period by applying either online or by mail.
- Borrowers who received their funding directly from the Government of B.C. and Government of Canada can apply online if they have an NSLSC account (eRAP) or by calling the NSLSC to request an application form.
- Borrowers who received their funding via a Financial Institution in Canada can get a paper application online from the Financial Institution holding their loan.
For more information about how to apply for RAP-D, please visit the Repayment Assistance Plan website or phone the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514.
To continue to receive repayment assistance borrowers must reapply for BC RAP-D once every 6 months until they are no longer eligible, or their loan is paid in full.