How soon can I consolidate?

[flowerchild]

I'm waiting on the closing (end of this month) of my chp 13 now and probably won't get my discharge for 4 to 6 months. I looked at the national data center and my payments are set to start to them in October. All of my loans are all held by the government. I will desperately need to consolidate these loans which are about $60K. Can I start the consolidation process if I don't have my discharge papers yet? If not does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do? The payments on these will be much higher than my payment to the courts was so I NEED to consolidate in order to pay them.

[Fresh]

You cannot consolidate until you have been discharged. If you can qualify for a deferment or forbearance, I would suggest getting either of those to hold you until you can get the consolidation process underway. Otherwise, if you cannot pay them, let them go until you can consolidate as long as that will not put you into default. If you are in default status, you cannot immediately consolidate.