yes, you can defer. i did for six months last year. i could do it again. if you don't have a job, are unemployed or whatever, you can simply stop paying for a period. they are pretty damn nice. and look, one of my clients is sallie mae. want me to ring up my contact and find out or what?
you seem to miss my point: i was talking about whoever couldn't seem to pay their student loan.
if you don't belief me, check it out:L economic hardship deferrels (no penalty) http://www.salliemae.com/forms/defer.html#hardship
disability deferment http://www.salliemae.com/forms/defer.html#disability
over all http://www.salliemae.com/forms/defer.html