My total monthly bills add up to more than I make, now that my student loans have come out of forebearance. I really want to start paying them down but cannot afford the $160/ month they require. Before this last time I went on forbearance, I offered to pay $50 per month and the student loan company said this was unacceptable that my options were A) go into forbearance, costing $100 and resulting in accumulating interest without payments for six months or B) default. This seems absurd to me. I have no forbearance left and really want to start making some kind of effort! I know some creditors must accept any payment no matter how small- are student loans exempt from this?? Thanks for the responses!

Actually creditors are not required to take anything less than the contractual payment. Have you consolidated your loans?

While they don't have to accept less, you can try to mail in a payment and see if theywill take it.