Find out who has your student loan. Look on your loan statement, and find the web address to the place that carries your student loan. If you haven't already, sign up for an online account, this way you have access to all aspects of your account. You can find out exactly how far behind you are, on your payments.
Go to the Department of Educations website. You can get into your account with your PIN that you received when you filled out your student financial aid forms. Access your account, on the left side of the page, you will see where it says forbearances. Underneath forbearances, you will see General Forbearance, Click on this. The next page has a button that says "submit online paper less" click on this.
Fill out the paperwork. This will take about five minutes of your time. Basically you are showing why you need a forbearance, and then you are asked how long of a forbearance you need, up to a years time they give you. Finish up the paper work and submit it. You will receive an answer soon there-after.