Call you student loan servicer at once if you've missed payments for more than 270 days. Although you may want to provide the representative reasons for why you missed payments, your priority should be to get put back on your repayment plan, make necessary payments and remove your student loan from default.
Pay your loan on time for 12 consecutive months to obtain loan rehabilitation. If your loan servicer grants you rehabilitation, your file will indicate that you have "good borrower" status, and you'll be able to take out further student loans. Continue paying on time to avoid going into default.
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you have not already done so this school year. Once you complete the FAFSA, the government will send your school's financial aid office information about your income and background so that it can create an appropriate aid package for you. Point your browser to fafsa.gov to get started.
Make an appointment with your designated financial aid counselor to talk through the various aid options available for you. If you lack the income to sufficiently pay your existing student loans, ask your counselor how she can optimize your aid package so that it pays your educations costs, without providing you unnecessary cash refunds which will cost you in the long run.
Pay cash for all future education if are unable to meet your student loan obligations. There is no debtor's prison, so while you can't be incarcerated for failure to pay, lenders can garnish your wages and bank accounts until you've met your obligations to them.