I have the best solution for you.

Have your wife call her student loan lender. She can do either of the following with her student loans, that will not effect your income or hers, negatively:

1. Ask for a deferment: this option is available to people who have financial hardship. the deferment requires your wife to submit documents to her student loan lender as: last pay stub.

2. Ask for income based repayment: this will lower the monthly loan payment to a small amount, based on your wife's income.

These are the best two options for your wife. I have student loans. I have used both options with no problems.

The problem happens if your wife does nothing. Then, the student loan lender will put your wife's student loans in a "default status" and she will get her wages "garnished" and then her social security "garnished" and her tax refund "garnished, and then the student loan lender will do the same to your income, since you are married to her.

No action taken, results in wage garnishment. So, your wife needs to take responsibility NOW and call her lender and select one of the two options I listed above. If she doesn't, she's screwed you both. Sorry.