How to Check Your PSLF Progress (and Fix Mistakes Fast)

• Check your PSLF tracker on StudentAid.gov. Log in, go to “My Aid,” and find your qualifying payment count.

• Not every payment counts. Only on-time payments under an IDR plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer will qualify.

• If your tracker is wrong, fix it fast. Check StudentAid.gov against your pay stubs, loan history, and past ECFs. Dispute missing payments immediately.

How do you check for PSLF progress? Simple. Just log in to StudentAid.gov, go to your PSLF tracker, and review your qualifying payment count.

But checking your status isn’t enough—you also need to make sure your payments are counted correctly.

As of late 2024, the U.S. Department of Education now manages PSLF directly, so MOHELA is no longer involved. Your payment count only updates when your Employment Certification Form (ECF) is processed, so if you haven’t submitted one recently, your tracker may be outdated.

If you don’t check your progress regularly, you could be years into repayment before realizing something went wrong. This guide will help you stay on top of your payments and inch closer to student loan forgiveness.

Related: Public Service Loan Forgiveness

You can track your Public Service Loan Forgiveness progress on the official Federal Student Aid website. The only place that now manages PSLF servicing.

If you want to see how many qualifying payments you’ve made, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your StudentAid.gov account.

2. From your Dashboard, select “View Details” in the My Aid section.

3. Scroll down to the PSLF/TEPSLF Payment Progress section and select “View Details.”

If your payment count seems off or you haven’t submitted an ECF recently, update your records using the PSLF Help Tool:

• Search for your employer to confirm they qualify.

• Fill out and submit an ECF to make sure your payments are being tracked correctly.

It can take several weeks for updates to show up after submitting an ECF. If payments are missing, check your own records—pay stubs, payment history, and past ECFs—and dispute errors through Federal Student Aid if needed.

Related: Why Your PSLF Qualifying Payments Aren’t Counting

Not every payment counts toward PSLF. To qualify, each payment must meet three strict requirements:

• You must be on an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. Standard 10-year plan payments only count if you make all 120 payments under it, which defeats the purpose of the PSLF program. If you have multiple loans, a Direct Consolidation Loan may be required to ensure all your direct loans qualify. Visit this article for more information: How to Consolidate Student Loans for PSLF.

• You must work full-time for a PSLF-eligible employer. This includes government agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and certain public service organizations.

• Your monthly payments must be on time. They need to be made within 15 days of the due date.

If your payment count looks off, don’t assume it’s correct. Dispute right away. Keep your proof and send your form.

Your ECF is the key to keeping your PSLF progress accurate. Access your forms here: Student Loan Forgiveness Applications and Forms.
You should submit one at least once a year, and anytime you switch jobs. If you don’t, your payment count could be off—and you might not realize it until it’s too late.
To check if your employer qualifies:

• Use the PSLF Help Tool. Search by employer name or EIN (Employer Identification Number).

• If your employer isn’t listed, ask HR for proof—a letter confirming their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or government affiliation.

To confirm your ECF has been processed:

• Log into StudentAid.gov and check your PSLF tracker for updates.

• If your employer isn’t approved or your form is missing, resubmit it through the PSLF Help Tool.

Checking and submitting your ECF regularly is the best way to avoid errors that could delay forgiveness. If you don’t stay on top of it, you could be years into repayment before realizing something went wrong.

If your PSLF tracker is wrong, that’s lost time. Don’t assume the system is right—fix it now before it costs you years. Here’s how to handle the most common problems borrowers face.

Mismatched Payment Counts

If your PSLF tracker shows fewer qualifying payments than you expected, it’s likely due to outdated employment certification, servicer errors, or missing payment records. Here’s how to fix it:

• Check your own records. Compare your pay stubs, loan payment history, and past Employer Certification Forms with what’s listed on the Federal Student Aid website.

• Look for missing payments. Perkins Loans don’t qualify for PSLF unless consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Only qualifying payments made under a valid repayment plan while working for a PSLF-eligible employer count. Check this out: Consolidate an FFELP Loan to a Direct Loan.

• Submit a dispute. If your records show qualifying payments that aren’t counted, dispute it through Federal Student Aid with supporting documentation.

• Keep copies of everything. PSLF tracking mistakes happen, and having proof will make it easier to fix errors.

Delayed Updates to Payment Count

If your payment count hasn’t changed months after submitting an ECF, here’s what to do:

• Wait at least 60-90 days. That’s the standard processing time for PSLF updates.

• Log into StudentAid.gov to confirm your form was received and is being processed.

• Follow up with Federal Student Aid if your form is still pending after 90 days.

• Double-check your ECF for errors. Missing or incorrect information can cause delays.

Employer Certification Issues

If your employer was rejected but should qualify, take these steps:

• Verify their status. Your employer must be a government agency, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or a qualifying public service organization.

• Search for your employer using the PSLF Help Tool with their Employer Identification Number.

• Request documentation from HR. Ask for a letter confirming their tax-exempt or government status.

• Resubmit your ECF with supporting documents. This may include an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or a government employer verification letter.

• Escalate through Federal Student Aid if your employer meets PSLF criteria but was still denied. Submit additional proof and request a reconsideration.

Mistakes in PSLF tracking are common, but staying proactive and keeping records can help you receive forgiveness as soon as you qualify without unnecessary delays.

If you don’t stay on top of your PSLF payment, you could lose progress toward forgiveness without realizing it. Here’s how to avoid that:

• Submit an Employer Certification Form every year. This keeps your payment count accurate and prevents surprises. If you switch jobs, submit a new ECF immediately.

• Keep records of everything. Save copies of your pay stubs, loan payments, and approved ECFs. If your payment count is wrong, proof is your best defense.

• Check your PSLF tracker after any job or servicer change. If your employer changes or your loans get transferred, log into StudentAid.gov to make sure your payment history is still correct.

• Missed a payment? Fix it fast. A late or skipped payment could set you back. Recertify your IDR plan to keep payments low and avoid losing PSLF eligibility. Need help switching to a qualifying repayment plan? Check this: How Do I Change My Student Loan Repayment Plan?

A little effort now saves you a lot of stress later. Check your PSLF status regularly and keep records. It’s the only way to make sure you stay on track for forgiveness.

PSLF isn’t automatic, and tracking mistakes happen all the time. If you’re not checking your status, submitting your ECF regularly, and keeping records, you could be losing out on qualifying payments without realizing it.

The sooner you catch errors, the easier they are to fix, but navigating PSLF rules, disputes, and paperwork isn’t always straightforward. That’s where we come in.

Schedule a consultation with one of our student loan experts today.

We help frustrated borrowers like you maximize their PSLF progress and clear their student loan debt faster. If you want expert guidance to make sure you’re on track, hit our lines.

Related reading:

• PSLF Employer Won’t Sign Your Form?

• Which Jobs Qualify for PSLF?

• What is a Public Service Job?

• Does PSLF Have to be Consecutive?

• PSLF Full-time vs. Part-time