Extended repayment plans allow you to extend the loan term for up to 25 years. You must have total outstanding principal and interest exceeding $30,000 to qualify. If you have both FFEL and Direct loans, you must meet the $30,000 minimum requirement for each type of loan.
Extended plan monthly payments will be less than under the standard repayment plan. However, you will also pay more interest over the life of the loan because the repayment period is longer.
The Department of Education has a repayment estimator to help you estimate payments under the extended and other repayment plans.