Unemployed? Well, thanks to loan forbearance, paying off the tens of thousands you spent on your college degree can be one less worry while you’re looking for another job.

With this helpful lender’s method, you can temporarily reduce or postpone payments on your student loans while you’re out of work. If you have subsidized loans, like a Perkins Loan, the government will even pay the interest that accrues during the deferment. However, if yours is an unsubsidized loan, you’ll either have to pay the interest as it accrues, or add it to your balance.

While increasing the amount you owe may sound like a bad idea, deferring your student loans is not only a great move to cut your current expenses, but it’ll also reduce your chances of defaulting on your loan, which would seriously hurt your credit score.

Need to defer for longer than six months? Then simply reapply every six months, for up to the maximum 36 months of deferral. You may have to show that you’ve made honest attempts at finding a job, but it will be well worth it to save your credit.

To find out what rules apply to your loan, contact your lender directly.