This may be true because you rehabbed. If you were to have switched to an IBR before you defaulted they would have likely applied a retroactive forbearance:
"Most customers who cannot afford their standard monthly payment, or have fallen behind
on their accounts cannot afford to make a multi-month lump sum payment to catch up. Yet, a
borrower’s account must be current in order to enroll in IDR. To solve this program requirement,
a borrower often requires a retroactive forbearance applied to his or her account to bring the Past-due account current." ~ Navient.
" A deferment may be granted retroactively. However, it cannot be granted retroactively to begin more than six months before the date the lender receives the request and supporting documentation." -
https://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/doc0370_bodyoftext.htmWhile you can find mention of the retroactive forbearance with the gov, but as with most it is vague, seems to leave the decision in the hands of the servicers with circumstances that are difficult of not impossible to locate in the actual legislation. They will often point you to your servicer and your servicer will often say no, even if the correct answer is yes.
This might be a battle you will not win. Eventually they will fall off your credit report and since you rehabbed your default will be removed. If you want to spend the time, you could send a bunch of letters to them and maybe they will eventually change their minds. Always speak with a specialist on the phone.
The most help I can give you is probably helping to explain payment plans to you. Income-driven repayment plans are great if you're not high income and/or you plan on getting your loans forgiven in 20 years (25 grad). There are four plans and the lowest only requires 10% of your disposable income (after you subtract 150% federal poverty level). Payments can be as low as $0. Have you selected a plan that works for you?
