While SAVE was tied up in court, its borrowers were held in a forbearance, and those months do not count toward PSLF.
Standard and Tiered Standard have fixed payments that don't follow income, and Tiered Standard payments don't count toward PSLF.
Payments count toward PSLF again once the borrower is in a qualifying plan, such as RAP, IBR or, for loans made before July 1, 2026, the 10-year Standard plan.
Actions that follow from the numbers
- Compare each plan on your numbers before the notice's deadline. RAP, IBR and Standard
- Read your servicer's notice for its deadline and the plan it names if you do not choose.
- Count the qualifying payments your servicer has certified. PSLF progress
When the numbers aren't enough
- Your servicer's notice gives a deadline or plan that differs from what you expected.
- You have loans made both before and after July 1, 2026.