The student-loan defaults have hit their highest level in nine years due to the weak economy and high unemployment rates. It could eventually cost the government billions of dollars and harm the creditworthiness of the next generation.

The federal student loan borrowers are said to be in default if they don’t pay for 270 days. According to the most recent figures given by the Department of Education, the default rate rose to 6.7% for fiscal 2007 from 5.2% in fiscal 2006.

The rate depicts the number of borrowers whose first loan repayments were due between Oct. 1, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2007, and who defaulted before Sept. 30, 2008.

Almost 3.3 million borrowers entered repayment during that time, and more than 225,300 borrowers defaulted.

As the federal default statistics are basically two years old by the time they are processed and released, the recent data is starting to depict the recession’s impact.

Whatever the economic conditions are, there are still quite some options available for borrowers falling behind, including repayment plans with monthly sums that start low and increase along with the debtor’s salary.

Also according to a new option given by Congress on July 1, qualified borrowers are allowed to limit their monthly payments to 15% of their discretionary income. Payments can also be deferred up to three years if the borrower can prove a hardship, such as unemployment.

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