Can I Get Forgiveness on My Student Loans?

This month’s question is one we hear all the time—and for good reason:

What makes a borrower eligible for forgiveness? Do I qualify?

The short answer is Yes, but usually through an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan.

While there are several federal forgiveness programs available, the most common path to forgiveness is through long-term repayment under an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. In fact, over 8 million borrowers are enrolled in IDR plans today, and many of them will reach forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on the plan type and loan history.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Occupation Based Forgiveness

If you work full-time for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer, you might be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). This program offers forgiveness after just 120 qualifying payments (10 years), but requires you to be enrolled in an IDR plan and submit annual employment certification.

Roughly 1 million borrowers are currently working toward PSLF—and SDS helps you track your progress and verify your employment.

New Flexibilities that Make Forgiveness More Accessible

Forgiveness has historically been hard to qualify for—but recent changes have made it easier than ever:

• Consolidation No Longer Resets the Clock

  In the past, consolidating your loans meant losing credit for past repayment time. But under new rules, if you consolidate now while enrolled in an IDR, your prior qualifying time will carry over, allowing you to continue toward forgiveness without starting from scratch.

  
  

• IDR Recount Gives Borrowers a Boost

  A one-time IDR recount initiative is reviewing past periods of repayment, long-term forbearance, and even some deferment time—and counting it toward forgiveness. This has helped many borrowers gain years of credit they didn’t know they had.

  
  

What You Should Do Next

• Enroll (or stay enrolled) in an IDR plan – This is the gateway to forgiveness for most borrowers.

  
  

• Use SDS to see your qualifying time and forgiveness estimate – Our tools help you track progress and identify if consolidation or PSLF could accelerate your path.

  
  

• Don’t wait – If you’ve had loans for years, you may be closer to forgiveness than you realize, especially with the IDR recount in effect.

Still not sure if you qualify? Use the SDS platform or book a session with one of our experts to review your eligibility for PSLF, IDR forgiveness, or other discharge options.