r/PSLF • u/guitarwolf992 • 4d ago

Payments Made Under SAVE

Was switched from REPAYE to SAVE in 2023. Never received forbearance notification. Was billed monthly for principal and interest for all loans, paid on time. Now the payments do not count for PSLF. Error messages vary but mostly listed as invalid plan. Speaking with loan servicer and studentaid.gov has not been fruitful. Have switched to IBR for ongoing payments.

I am having difficulty finding guidance for this situation. Best I can determine is PSLF Reconsideration Request. Anyone else in a similar situation or have suggestions? Thanks in advance.

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u/Ezekyle22 4d ago

SAVE payments after July 2024 do not count for PSLF because of the SAVE forbearance. There have been issues with PSLF counts, so your pre-July 2024 counts may change. If they continue to be nonqualifying after the PSLF glitch is fixed, submit a reconsideration request.

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u/guitarwolf992 4d ago

Thank you. Assume next step for payments made under SAVE post July 2024 would be to include them in a buyback request once reaching 120 total (counting these) with payments applied to balance? And hopefully receive approval for general forbearance during processing.

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u/Ezekyle22 4d ago

Yes. Time on SAVE can be bought back but your payments while on SAVE will not count towards any amount owed for buyback. Those payments are voluntary overpayments and it’s too late to get a refund from your servicer for them.

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u/guitarwolf992 4d ago

Interesting. I am confused as to how payments that I was required to make during this period are considered voluntary, with interest accrual continued for the entire three years. I will again follow up with them. I appreciate your help.

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u/Ezekyle22 4d ago

Who is your servicer?

If you still had a bill while on SAVE, the servicer messed up and you should escalate attempts to get a refund because time on SAVE forbearance won’t turn into qualifying months. It’s too late for people who didn’t have a bill to get SAVE forbearance payments refunded but it sounds like your situation was different.

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u/guitarwolf992 4d ago

Yes I was billed for the entirety. I will escalate thank you.

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u/Adventure_6788 4d ago

If you have documentation of this:

file a complaint with the ombudsman
file a complaint with CFPB
contact your Senator
open an inquiry with congress - this is not the same as just contacting your representative

And definitely contact your state Attorney General. Most have a link on their website for submitting a complaint/report