Borrowers are seeing their student loan payments jump by $500 or more as they are forced out of a popular repayment plan, according to a new report released last week. The spike in payments is hitting borrowers who are trying navigate complex changes to federal student loans following legislative and regulatory updates that went into effect earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Education Department and loan servicers are increasingly being criticized for processing problems and errors.

“This is a huge wake up call and a desperately needed reality check for lawmakers," said Natalia Abrams, President of the Student Debt Crisis Center, the organization that released the report, in a statement last week. "Student loan payments are increasing, and with 1 in 5 borrowers in default, those numbers will only continue to rise. Immediate action must be taken by the White House, Department of Education, and Congress to ensure these 7 million borrowers are not left behind due to a failing system they did not create.”

The report focuses on borrowers whose federal student loans had been in the SAVE plan. Earlier this month, the Education Department began the process of moving borrowers out of SAVE, forcing them to enroll in other repayment plans. At the same time, borrowers are reporting increasing problems and errors that are delaying or derailing their ability to maintain access to affordable repayment plan programs and student loan forgiveness. Here’s a breakdown.

Millions Of Student Loan Borrowers Are Being Forced Into More Expensive Repayment Plans

Starting in early July, the Education Department began notifying borrowers with student loans in the SAVE plan that they must apply for a different income-driven repayment plan within three months. If they don’t, the department said it would place borrowers on a Standard repayment plan, which........

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