When Will IDR Adjustments Be Made? It’s Happening Now
Updated on January 18, 2025
Quick Facts
The long-awaited Income-Driven Repayment account adjustments are now live. Borrowers can view their updated payment counts and progress toward forgiveness using the new IDR payment count tracker on StudentAid.gov.
The tracker shows total payments made, how many remain, and includes a projected forgiveness date for each borrower.
Borrowers who missed the June 30, 2024, consolidation deadline can still see past IDR credit but must enroll in an eligible IDR plan to continue progressing toward forgiveness.
Legal challenges have affected the SAVE plan, but other IDR plans like PAYE, ICR, and IBR remain options for borrowers to stay on track.
Overview
If you’re wondering when will IDR adjustments be made, the answer is: they’re live now.
On January 14, 2025, the Education Department launched a detailed IDR Tracker for the payment count adjustment. This change gives borrowers clear visibility into their loan forgiveness progress for the first time in the program’s 30-year history.
Most borrowers won’t see major changes to their payment counts until early 2025, the tracker allows you to see exactly where you stand today.
We’ll break down everything you need to know about how to check your tracker, save your records, and navigate any legal or eligibility issues affecting your repayment plan.
Related: Who Can You Talk to About Student Loan Forgiveness?
IDR Account Adjustment Update
The IDR account adjustment is finally happening, and borrowers can now see their updated progress toward IDR forgiveness. Using the new IDR tracker on StudentAid.gov, you can:
Check how many qualifying payments you’ve made so far.
View how many payments are left before forgiveness.
See a projected forgiveness date based on your repayment plan.
What You Need to Do Now
Log in to your StudentAid.gov account to view your tracker. You’ll need your FSA ID to access your dashboard.
Save your records: Take screenshots or PDFs of your tracker, including the progress bar, payment counts, and projected forgiveness date.
Take action if necessary: If you missed the June 30, 2024, consolidation deadline, you must enroll in an IDR plan to continue earning forgiveness credit.
This tracker gives you a clear picture of your forgiveness progress directly from the U.S. Department of Education.
For the past year, we provided tens of thousands of student loan borrowers with our IDR Forgiveness Calculator free of charge. At the time, it was the best tool available for estimating forgiveness credit before these updates.
Our tool helped people figure out whether to consolidate, pay off their loans, or wait for loan forgiveness. But this new tracker from Federal Student Aid offers official, detailed information to ensure you’re fully informed about your status.
What Happens If Something’s Wrong With Your Account?
If something doesn’t look right in your IDR tracker, don’t panic—here’s what you can do:
Review your tracker carefully. Log in to your StudentAid.gov account and go through your tracker. Look for issues like missing or incorrect payment counts, gaps in your payment history, or a forgiveness date that doesn’t match what you expected.
Save a record of what you see. Take screenshots or download PDFs of your tracker. Be sure to save details like your progress bar, payment counts, and projected forgiveness date. These records can help if you need to dispute anything later.
Reach out to your loan servicer. If something seems off, contact your student loan servicer. They’re your first point of contact for fixing errors or clarifying any confusion about your tracker.
Escalate to the FSA Ombudsman if necessary. If your servicer can’t resolve the issue, take it up with the FSA Ombudsman. This is especially important if you’re dealing with older loans that may have gaps in their payment history. For example, we’ve seen cases where borrowers consolidated their loans in the 1990s, but payment records were missing for years.
Be prepared for a wait. Working with the Ombudsman can take several months, but it’s worth it. Under the Biden administration, we had 100% success resolving these issues. It’s unclear how this process will work under the new Trump administration and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, but we’re still using it to help borrowers get the relief they need.
What to Do If You’re Not in an IDR Plan Yet
If you want to get your loans forgiven because you work in public service or have had your loans for over 20 years, you must be enrolled in an Income-Driven Repayment plan. But with the ongoing SAVE plan litigation, deciding which plan to choose can feel complicated.
Here’s what you should do based on your current situation:
If You’re Already Enrolled in the SAVE Plan
The SAVE plan is currently blocked by a court order, which means any months you spend in this plan won’t count toward loan forgiveness. That’s a big problem if forgiveness is your goal.
To stay on track, consider switching to another IDR plan, like Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), or Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
These plans remain unaffected by the litigation and still allow you to earn forgiveness credit as long as you meet the requirements. Before you switch, make sure you’re eligible for the plan you choose. If you’re unsure, contact your loan servicer, the Federal Student Aid Information Center, or one of our experts.
Related: Income-Based Repayment Calculator
If You Have a Pending IDR Application
If you applied for the SAVE plan or any other IDR plan and your application is still pending, take action now to avoid delays:
Reach out to your loan servicer and ask about your application status. If you selected the SAVE plan, ask if switching to IBR, ICR, or PAYE might speed things up.
Some borrowers with pending applications may need to resubmit or update their application to ensure it’s processed correctly. Servicers have different timelines, so don’t wait. Call them ASAP to find out your next steps.
If You Haven’t Applied for an IDR Plan Yet
If you’re currently on a graduated or extended repayment plan—or any plan that doesn’t qualify for forgiveness—now is the time to make a decision. Ask yourself:
Do you want to pursue loan forgiveness? Check the IDR tracker on StudentAid.gov to see your progress. If you’re close to forgiveness, switching to an IDR plan could save you years of payments.
Need help deciding? If you’re not sure what makes sense for your situation, book a call with one of our student loan experts. Our team can help you evaluate your proximity to forgiveness and guide you through choosing the right plan.
PSLF vs. IDR: Which Tracker Should You Focus On?
If you’re in public service, you’ve got two trackers to think about:
The PSLF tracker counts qualifying payments for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
The IDR waiver tracker shows your progress toward forgiveness through income-driven repayment.
Now that the IDR account adjustment has been applied, it’s time to figure out which tracker will get you to forgiveness faster.
Check Both Trackers: Log in to StudentAid.gov and compare your PSLF and IDR waiver trackers. Look at your PSLF tracker to see how many qualifying payments you’ve made toward the 120 required for forgiveness. Then, check your IDR Forgiveness tracker to see how many payments are left to hit forgiveness through income-driven repayment.
Focus on Your Faster Path: Whichever tracker has you closer to forgiveness is the one to prioritize. If it’s PSLF, ensure your employment certification is current and your loans are in the right repayment plan. If it’s IDR, confirm you’re enrolled in an eligible plan and your tracker reflects all qualifying payments, including adjustments.
Plan for the Long Game if Both Are Close: If both trackers show you’re within striking distance of forgiveness, you have options. You could continue making payments and let the first tracker hit the finish line. Or, if one tracker has errors or you’re not seeing expected credits, focus on resolving those issues first.
Stay Flexible: Sometimes it’s not just about the numbers. Factors like your monthly payment, timeline, and personal financial goals also matter. If you’re stuck, reach out to an expert for advice—we can help you figure out the best plan to get to forgiveness as soon as possible.
Related: Limited PSLF Waiver Ended
What to Expect Next
Right now, we’re in a period of uncertainty. The U.S. Department of Education had promised that the one-time payment count adjustment would be completed by September 1, 2024, but as of September 7, there have been no new updates. The Department has not provided any clear communication about what happens next or why the deadline was missed.
While the ongoing student loan litigation doesn’t directly affect the one-time adjustment, it’s possible that other factors are causing delays. Some believe the Department may be aiming to complete the adjustments before the next presidential election to solidify the benefits for borrowers, but this is only speculation.
At this point, what we know for sure is that the IDR adjustment is still happening, even if the timeline is unclear. Borrowers should continue checking their accounts regularly and staying informed about any new announcements from the Department of Education or their loan servicer.
It would be helpful if the Department provided a roadmap, like a software company would, showing us where they are in the process and what to expect next. Unfortunately, that kind of transparency hasn’t been offered yet. Until then, the best advice we can offer is to remain patient and proactive—use the tools available to track your progress and be prepared for when the adjustment is finally applied.
Who Qualifies for the One-Time IDR Adjustment?
We’ve covered the questions you’ve been asking and broken down what you need to know about PSLF, payment counts, and IDR plans. But before we wrap up, let’s take a moment to make sure we’re all on the same page about how the IDR adjustment works—and what it means for your loans.
If you have federally held loans, you qualify for the one-time IDR adjustment—no matter what repayment plan you’ve been on. That means it doesn’t matter if you’ve never enrolled in an IDR plan. The only requirement is that your loans are held directly by the U.S. Department of Education.
For most borrowers, this includes loans serviced by companies like Mohela, Nelnet, or Aidvantage. But if your loans are commercially held FFEL loans, HEAL loans, or Perkins loans, you’ll need to consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify.
Here’s how to check and what to do:
Find Out Who Holds Your Loans: Log in to StudentAid.gov and review your loan details. If your loans were previously with servicers like Navient, Granite State, or others but haven’t transferred to a federal servicer like Mohela, they’re likely commercially held Federal Family Education Loans and need consolidation.
Act Now if Consolidation is Required: Consolidate your loans into a Direct Loan as soon as possible. If you didn’t consolidate by the June 30, 2024, deadline, you won’t qualify for the adjustment, but you can still benefit from future IDR credits.
Eligible Loan Types
The following loans qualify for the adjustment, either automatically or after consolidation:
Direct Loans: Automatically qualify.
FFEL Loans: Must be consolidated if they’re commercially held.
Perkins Loans: Must be consolidated into a Direct Loan.
Parent PLUS Loans: Qualify but are only eligible for specific IDR plans like ICR.
Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL): Must be consolidated.
What Counts Toward the Adjustment?
The adjustment applies to:
Months in long-term forbearance (12 consecutive or 36 months of cumulative forbearance).
Periods of economic hardship deferment before 2013.
Payments made on any plan, even if late, partial, or on an ineligible plan.
Months spent in default during the payment pause if you used the Fresh Start Program.
Time spent in in-school deferment and grace period does not count toward PSLF Credit or IDR Forgiveness Credit. Read the Education Department’s Payment Count Adjustments article for the official guidance.
If you’re unsure about your loan type or whether consolidation is required, reach out to a loan expert or contact your servicer for clarification. This adjustment is a unique opportunity to gain forgiveness credit, so make sure your loans are in the right place.
FAQs
Why are different payment counts showing on different pages of StudentAid.gov?
The Department’s systems aren’t fully synced yet, so it’s common for payment counts to vary. Use the tracker’s month-by-month breakdown to verify your totals. If discrepancies persist, save screenshots and contact your servicer. They may need to update or escalate your account for accuracy.
Why did payment counts change after consolidation?
Consolidation resets your payment count to zero for the new loan. However, the one-time IDR adjustment should credit qualifying payments from your old loans to your consolidation loan. If something looks off, check your tracker and contact your servicer to verify how payments were transferred.
What happens to payment counts with new consolidations after the one-time adjustment period?
Payments from your old loans won’t carry over to new consolidations after the adjustment period. If you’re consolidating now, you’re starting fresh. Consider whether consolidation helps you reach forgiveness faster or if sticking with your current loans is better. Talk to your servicer for personalized advice.
Should I switch from the SAVE plan to another IDR plan?
If your goal is forgiveness, switch to IBR, ICR, or PAYE. The SAVE plan doesn’t count toward forgiveness right now due to legal challenges. Contact your servicer to confirm eligibility and ensure payments on a new plan will count toward your forgiveness timeline.
Do I need to be in an IDR plan to get the account adjustment?
No, the adjustment applies to past payments automatically, even if you weren’t in an IDR plan. But to keep earning forgiveness credit, you must enroll in an eligible IDR plan now. Use the tracker to see your progress and decide your next steps.
When will adjustments be fully processed?
Most adjustments should be complete by January 2025, but some borrowers—like those with multi-consolidated loans—may face longer delays. Check your tracker regularly for updates and save your records to track progress. The Department of Education has not provided a firm final deadline.
What should I do while waiting for updates?
Use this time to prepare. Review your tracker, save records, and make sure your consolidation and IDR enrollment are finalized. If you’re close to forgiveness, focus on staying on track. Need help? Reach out to a loan expert to ensure you’re ready when updates hit.
Should I switch to IDR with higher payments or stay on my current plan?
If forgiveness is your goal, switch to an IDR plan that counts toward it—even if payments are higher. Use the tracker to weigh your proximity to forgiveness. Staying on a non-IDR plan delays progress. Not sure? Speak with an expert to make the best decision.
What’s next if I’m close to forgiveness?
If you’re close, stay in an eligible IDR plan and make sure your payments are on time. Check your tracker to confirm progress and save proof of your qualifying payments. Reach out to your servicer for updates and consult an expert to ensure there are no delays.
Bottom Line
The one-time account adjustment is a game-changer for federal student loans, bringing you closer to student loan forgiveness and clearing up years of confusion about payment counts and repayment status. But figuring out your next step—whether it’s enrolling in the right payment plan, addressing student loan debt, or getting the most out of forgiveness programs—isn’t always easy.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Book a consultation with one of our student loan experts today.
We’ll cut through the noise, explain what your tracker really means, and help you take the fastest route to loan forgiveness.
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