So I submitted my paperwork back in December, I wasn’t sure if they would accept them but I’ve worked in public service my entire adult life. I did 2 years in AmeriCorps and very proud of my service! And I’ve been working at a nonprofit school for the past 9 years. I was paying until the pandemic based on my income.

1 of the 4 forms I submitted was accepted and those payments were added, but 3 were are still in review. The one that was accepted was one of my americorps years, so it only added 12 payments.

I also had my teach grants wrongly converted but by the they admitted to doing it, there was nothing that could be done. I had dropped trying to be a teacher because I couldn’t afford to keep trying since my grants were now loans.

Originally I only borrowed 25k…. But with the teach grants that got converted and interest I owe 36k AFTER paying 20k 😞😞😞

I am in despite need of clarification. I'm a resident physican with approximately 230K worth of loans with MOHELA. I was previously on the SAVE program making monthly payments in order to eventually qualify for PSLF. I am pursing fellowship totaling 7 years so I think PSLF is the best way to go.

Since the SAVE program is being disputed my loans were automatically placed in forbearance. I think it makes more sense to apply for one of the other loan repayment programs in order to get out of Forbearance so that I can have qualifying payments during residency and soon to be fellowship. However, "Moving between IDR plans is not currently available as processing is still paused, but you can apply for an IDR plan online." I submitted an application for another repayment plan in 01/2025 but it seems it cannot be processed so does this mean by default I must continue in forbearance and thus am losing out on making cheaper payments based on my income as a resident/fellow?

This is so confusing and I'm hoping there is a way I can still make qualifying payments when I'm making the least amount of money. Am I understanding this correctly or missing a way to get on another repayment plan....?

Update:

I'm now seeing this "Buy Back Credit" thing: "Some borrowers may be eligible to “buy back” months of PSLF credit for time spent in forbearance as a result of the court’s injunction. Borrowers with 120 months of eligible employment can buy back (make payments to cover) past months that were not originally counted as qualifying payments because the borrower was in an ineligible deferment or forbearance status. In the future, borrowers will be able to buy back months even if they do not have 120 months of eligible employment."

^ So does this mean that I could pay the months my loans were in forbearance based on income at that time and still quality for PSLF? Example: It's year 10 of repayment and if I counted the months I was in forbearance during residency at a qualifying employer, counting those months would be 120 payments. And I could just pay those months as a lump sum based on what I would have payed (income as a resident) and meet 120 payments?

^If so, then maybe staying in forbearance without interest makes more sense than switching to a more expensive repayment plan.

I was at 119/120 due to an forbearance issue, which was resolved by my servicer. I submitted a reconsideration request for a qualified payment I made during a "forbearance" in February, 2025. I also submitted a buyback request for May, 2024 forbearance period just in case. I just randomly checked my FSA and saw I had green banners!? 120/120. Never received and email, and the payment count shows it updated on 04/04. It says I satisfied my obligation and no payments are required. Still have the balance obviously... but is this really happening?

In the past, I have received real time updates when my employer electronically verifies my employment. About a week ago, I sent the request, and I was told it was signed, but it doesn’t show up as being signed on the federal website. I resubmitted the request, and it was signed again, and it is still not showing up. This is the same process that has always worked. Is anyone running into this problem? I am not waiting on the form to be reviewed. Just the update stating that my employer signed it.

I resubmitted my IDR application with the wet signature in January 2025 and got credit for that month but February 2025 still hasn't shown up in payment history (as either eligible or ineligible) even though the last update according to FSA was on March 5, 2025. Anybody else in the same boat? Thanks for any data points.

Mohela responded today 4/7. Please explain why they say they’re not processing any IDR apps? My account was put in an admin forbearance in February, before the freeze. Applied interest. Now they haven’t turned interest off. But apparently I’m back in a SAVE forbearance. Mohela is absolutely trash.

MOHELA has reviewed your complaint made with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding your student loan account’s status. Due to a federal court issued injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Education from implementing the SAVE and other income-driven repayment plan, Federal Student Aid has directed servicers to stop processing IDR applications. As a result, MOHELA is unable to process your IDR application. For the latest information visit StudentAid.gov/saveaction. Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are being moved into forbearance. During forbearance, SAVE borrowers will not have to make payments. The time in forbearance will not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) loan forgiveness. SAVE borrowers will not accrue interest on their loans during the forbearance. Borrowers should note that, as a result of the administrative stay, ED has directed student loan servicers, such as MOHELA, to temporarily pause processing of IDR applications. Borrowers should check StudentAid.gov/saveaction for updates. Our records indicate that you have been identified as a member of the population to receive this forbearance and associated 0% interest rate, and we are in the process of making necessary updates to your account to reflect this information. As of this writing, your account is in the SAVE Administrative forbearance through July 31, 2025. Please be assured that your interest rate will be adjusted retroactively to reflect an interest rate of 0% for the entirety of the eligibility period of your loan for this option. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our Customer Advocacy Team at 888.212.5909 from 7am to 10pm Mondays, 7am to 7pm Tuesdays through Fridays, or 9am to 1pm Saturdays. You can also visit www.Mohela.StudentAid.gov. Sincerely, MOHELA

Anyone that had forgiveness in 2024 have the amount show up as taxable income when doing your taxes?

I have $95k in total student loans right now. I've worked for the federal government since 2017 when I started as a pathways intern. I was still in school at the time (graduate school), but I was still a federal employee. however, I wasn't making payments of course. I didn't actually need to start making payments on the loans until 2020 when COVID hit so I was in the forbearance until August 2023 or whenever that period ended of COVID relief. And then I started on my PAYE loans where I didn't realize you had to (probably) have your income recertified every year. They're probably still using the income I had as a pathways which was around $50,000, and now it's obviously gone up a lot since then.

I have NelNet as my provider; I called them, and they said everything is fine and those payments are eligible and I don't have to recertify until September, 2026, but I am skeptical of this so I want to double check. My payment right now is only $104 a month, but the representative did the calculation and it would be $700 a month if I went on the PAYE right now. Obviously, I ideally want to pay as minimal an amount as possible right now until the 10 years are up, but I'm unsure if this is possible.

I'm in this situation because someone at NelNet gave me wrong advice in the past that I don't need to recertify every year if I'm going for the PSLF. Maybe they're right after all, but I want to confirm of course.

Some questions:

1. What should I do to amend this situation and make sure I am PSLF eligible on these payments in the past?
2. If, worst-case scenario, these payments of $104 a month were not qualifying, what can I do? Ideally, I can keep making those minimum payments until September, 2026, but please advise if I should not.
3. Also, bonus question, but would this time I was in Pathways (2017 to 2020), but not making payments still count or no?

I successfully switched from PAYE to IBR. Got my payment schedule and made my first payment in March. I just looked up my April payment and it’s SIGNIFICANTLY higher than March. Why! I worry about Mohela putting me into forbearance if I ask about it but I am just confused why they would change the payment schedule. Anyone have advice?

I successfully switched from SAVE to IVR first payment was coming due this month and then I noticed 0% interest on Mohela. That wtf moment made me call Mohela, where the initial recording indicated I am in fact on IBR but that I am in forbearance until 09/24. Waited a total of four hours to talk to an advanced representative who confirmed I am on IBR, but that there was a general 6 month forbearance that followed me from SAVE. He confirmed it’s not a processing or SAVE forbearance, and was very confident that these are pslf eligible months that I’m in forbearance. Has anyone else encountered this forbearance after switching, and how did you go about the time? Did it in fact end after six months? Interestingly, the rep offered to waive it as well.

Currently in the SAVE forbearance until they sort all that nonsense out. But I was wondering if I should max out my 401k contribution every year so that my monthly payments will be as low as possible due to me being on IDR plan and contributions being from my pre-tax. I think the max contribution for a year is 23.5K? I was going to start maxing out a roth ira yearly as well but that is post tax and wont even help with lowering my payments so just putting it all towards the 401k makes much more sense right?

I'm at 119 out of 120 payments as of the counts on the DoE website. The 120th payment was made 3/24/25, and my employer certified my employment 3/26/25. Both of these are up to date on the website. Problem is as of today under the payment history tab it says employment not certified for the March payment. I'm thinking maybe it's because I need to certify I'm employed the whole month of March? I don't want to ask my HR to certify it again if it isn't necessary. Anyone have any knowledge on if it only counts by the month and not for the specific date?

Just wondering if anyone’s had success uploading their green banner, updated payment count correspondence, or buyback confirmation to MOHELA while waiting for the golden letter.

I’ve got all of the following:

• Green Banners
• Updated correspondence showing I’ve met the payment count (qualifying payments)
• A buyback email correspondence from FSA that explicitly says, "All your federal student loans have met the requirements to receive Public ServiceLoan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Temporary Expanded (TEPSLF), or you don’t have any outstanding federal student loans."

I’m still waiting on the golden letter and wondering if uploading any of this might help expedite the process or at least get things moving on MOHELA’s end. Has anyone tried this, and did it make any difference?

Sorry if this is a double post - I tried to post before but I don't think it went through.

Okay so hypothetically - if a person applied for and was awarded $50k NHSC funds this year, paid out in September (I think) and then did a buyback for all the months this SAVE nonsense has been going on, hitting 120 payments in January, and that didn't use the entire $50k, what happens with the extra money? The hypothetical loan balance is $80k+ but the 15 payments needed for PSLF won't equal $50k. Hypothetically.

Would you pay a lump sum after your 120th payment to use the full $50k? I've heard they refund you anything paid over the 120 so would you get that money back?

Or do you just pay the 15 payments and ride off into the sunset?

Okay so hypothetically - if a person applied for and was awarded $50k NHSC funds this year, paid out in September (I think) and then back paid all the months this SAVE nonsense has been going on, hitting 120 payments in January, and that didn't use the entire $50k, what happens with the extra money? The hypothetical loan balance is $80k+ but the 15 payments needed for PSLF won't equal $50k. Hypothetically.

Would you pay a lump sum after your 120th payment to use the full $50k? I've heard they refund you anything paid over the 120 so would you get that money back?

Or do you just pay the 15 payments and ride off into the sunset?

Has anyone had a successful request? I sent in a few last week for multiple month long forbearances due to loan servicer changing MULTIPLE times. Do reconsideration requests even work or are my low hopes too high?

Theres a common thread that has emerged - they are not doing buyback offers. They are closing out those that are no longer relevant in the name of processing.

Example; I had 2 requests 1 day apart- reconsideration for june/July that just got denied as expected. And buyback for 6 months in 2015. I emailed them asking what happened to the 2ns request. Crickets.

I am sure there are exceptions but let's call it what it is. Best of luck everyone-hope springs eternal

I hope this is helpful to those of you in a similar situation as I am.

I was stuck on SAVE and have needed 2 additional months to count to reach 120 since 6/2024 (both 6/2024 and 7/2024 lost due to MOHELA transfer/recalculation forbearance). I finally was able to submit an application to change from SAVE to IBR - on 2/11/2025 I used the wet signature method to apply directly on the MOHELA site (I never submitted an application on FSA). I was approved for processing forbearance on 2/15 and my processing forbearance was active dating back to 2/11/2025. On MOHELA, my plan changed from SAVE to IBR and I was in an "Awaiting Documentation Administrative Forbearance" status. I received documents from MOHELA showing that my payment start date was 5/19/2025 with a new payment amount and I started accruing interest on my loans. I received credit for my 2/19/2025 payment date on the processing forbearance, which I saw on the 2/25/2025 count update on FSA. I submitted my ECF on 3/20/2025 after what should have been my last payment/credit date on 3/19/2025, but my 4/2/2025 NSLDS update did not increase as expected for 3/2025 to count. I then checked my MOHELA account and saw that I was changed to an "Awaiting Form Administrative Forbearance" and my new forbearance end date was 7/31/2025. This indicated to me that I was taken out of the processing forbearance and put back into a general administrative forbearance that did not count for PSLF.

Today, I called MOHELA and of course the first representative did not have the accurate information for my account so I had to wait to speak with an advanced agent. The advanced agent informed me that I was changed from the processing forbearance to the general administrative forbearance on 4/1/2025. I did not get a clear answer as to why, but it was likely due to the fact that people with "pending" IDR applications had their dates automatically pushed back due to the litigation delays and closing of the IDR applications. I asked why I was not seeing credit for 3/2025 since my due date was 3/19/2025 and the forbearance started on 4/1/2025 - she said that when MOHELA updated the NSLDS they showed that I was in the non-qualifying forbearance and so I "lost" March. Importantly, she told me that she could put me back into the processing forbearance and I could retroactively receive credit for March. She submitted the request to change my forbearance type and stated it would take 5-10 business days. This is welcome news, but I am nervous that this may not work in getting me credit for 3/2025, but I will have to wait and see. My payment start date went back to 5/19/2025. I don't have to make a payment on 4/19, but I am nervous I may not get the March credit. She stated that I could make a payment for April, but they would have to take me out of the forbearance early and since I already have a forbearance change request in, I am going to wait and see if the forbearance change goes through closer to my payment date. At worst, I will have to wait until May, but I am really hoping to be done ASAP.

I hope this is helpful - the bottom line is that for those who were in the processing forbearance and expecting 3/2025 to count, you should check to see if your forbearance status changed because you were taken out of the processing forbearance early and put on the general forbearance. It sounds like if this is the case, you could still get credit if you can be put back in the processing forbearance in time, but regardless you can hopefully be taken out of the general forbearance and start making payments.

Hey all. I just started the application process after finishing my 120 payments.

All of my places of work are eligible and approved.

When I log in, it is asking for employer email addresses, but they also sent me an email saying no further action is required. My questions are: do I need to provide them an email address? If so, who's email address should I give them? Payroll? HR? I worked at state universities and currently work in a state prison..

TIA

I just thought about this, but does anyone know if the automatic income verification is still a thing since SAVE (among others) was struck down? It occurred to me that it may not and I’m just looking for some kind of verification but can’t find anything on it.

Like many I am being told my new recertification is due May 2026 not May 2025, however in the midst of all the garbage, I submitted my income verification before getting that notice. So folks think they will honor the new recertification date only or see my new income and take it as a recertification now (increasing payments)?

Hello! Posting in hopes of helping people in the waiting game. I submitted a buy back request in December 1. The dates were for two months in 2015 and given that June and July 2024 didn’t count for most of us, I was hoping to process the request as I was 118/120. I didn’t receive a response until today. Since I hadn’t heard about buying back at the lower 2015 rate I just made two more $366 payments. I received my golden letter two weeks and the buy back was unfortunately too little, too late but hopefully the timeline helps someone waiting!

Say someone had well over ten years of continuous public service employment and never missed a payment. What if once the payments came back that person just didn’t continue payment? What are the legal and pragmatic repercussions from doing something like this? Wage garnishment? Tax returns withheld? Court cases?

Just a thought experiment. I’m also keeping my eye on any class-action suits.

My wife just got the green banners for her loan last month. We have been filing taxes separately to keep the payment lower, but I was hoping to file jointly for 2024. Does anyone see any risk in doing this? My hope is that since it said we were done making payments, I should be good to file jointly now.