Once a borrower defaults, their entire loan balance, including both principal and interest, becomes immediately due. Wage garnishments will continue until the total loan balance is paid off or the borrower takes action to bring the account up to date. In addition, once defaulted, a borrower can no longer pause their payments through deferment or forbearance. Why This Matters Wage garnishment can reduce take-home pay by up to 15%, making already tight household budgets harder to manage. For borrowers in defa ...