Student Loan Consolidation or Rehabilitation

[INeedYourHelp]

I currently have about $4700 in student loans that are seriously in default. I wanted to rehabilitate and then consolidate, but they want $2000 up front to rehabilitate, which I don't have. Is it better just to consolidate? I don't want them to take my tax refund away next year, so if I consolidate and keep all my payments on time, can they still take my refund? Please help

[Mr. Knowitall]

Did you find a consolidation lender willing to work with you despite your loans being in default?

[INeedYourHelp]

Yeah, I can definitely consolidate, but I thought rehabilitation would be good cause then it would remove the default status from my credit report. But if I did that, I would totally have to repay the loan within the next 6 months, which I can't afford.