I have no idea why staying on the IBR plan ( and therefore, paying back your loans on a government approved plan) is considered to be freeloading. You are still paying back your loans on a plan that is offered to you by the government. Yes, you will get forgiveness before you pay off your full loan balance, but that is the reality for most people on these plans. If the federal government didn’t want this to occur, then they shouldn’t have offered the ability to stay on an IBR plan your entire loan term. I see absolutely nothing wrong this. You are not defaulting on your loans and fleeing the country, you are paying back your loans on the terms that you can afford. Why is this shameful?