For the past year I have been trying to negotiate an affordable student loan payment on my private loans. However, ACS refuses to work with me and my payment amount keeps rising. My only option was to consolidate my federal loans to get more deferment since I could not afford to pay both private and federal loans at the same time ( {$900.00} and $ 600/month ). As a result I ca n't participate in IBR for my federal loan. My firm just did a massive layoff and now my only income is unemployment. ACS will only grant one month of forbearance and will not lower my $ 900 monthly payment. 
I do not want to default, but ca n't afford the montly payment. Many of the jobs that I am applying to require good credit so I may not be able to find employment once my loans go into default status.