PSLF Payment Counts Drop as Education Department Corrects IDR Adjustment Errors

PSLF Payment Counts Drop as Education Department Corrects IDR Adjustment Errors

Author: The College Investor September 1, 2026 Duration: 11:42

Borrowers chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness have spent the past two weeks watching their qualifying payment counts move in the wrong direction. Some lost six months. Some lost more.

The fear running through borrower forums is that the Trump administration is quietly unwinding PSLF, or reversing the one-time income-driven repayment account adjustment that brought millions of borrowers years closer to forgiveness. Based on the accounts we’ve reviewed and what the Department has confirmed on the record, that is not what’s happening.

What is happening is narrower, more technical, and because the Department has explained almost none of it publicly, considerably more damaging to borrower trust than it needed to be. A banner on StudentAid.gov has told borrowers only that their counts are wrong and that a fix is coming. And here’s what were seeing analyzing dozens of reports and borrower accounts.


Hosted by Robert Farrington, founder of The College Investor and a recognized Millennial Money Expert, The College Investor Audio Show transforms the website's most valuable insights into a daily, conversational format. This podcast directly tackles the financial hurdles unique to a generation, moving beyond theory into practical, actionable strategies. Each episode focuses on the core pillars of modern financial health: systematically eliminating student loan debt, demystifying the fundamentals of investing, and creating actionable paths to increase your income. The goal is clear: to guide you from a place of debt management to one of confident wealth building. You'll hear straightforward advice on navigating repayment plans, understanding where and how to start investing even with limited capital, and exploring side hustles or career moves that make a real difference. It’s a resource for anyone feeling stalled by their loans and eager to lay a solid foundation for their future. Tune in for a no-nonsense take on millennial money, where complex topics are broken down into manageable steps you can apply immediately.
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