PSLF Reconsideration: How to Fix a Denied PSLF Application

• You can appeal a PSLF denial. If your employer or payment count was wrongly rejected, PSLF Reconsideration can fix it.

• PSLF Reconsideration won’t bend the rules. If your job or payments don’t qualify, reconsideration won’t make them count.

• It takes six months or longer. Follow up regularly to avoid delays in your loan forgiveness timeline.

If your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) application was denied, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. You can ask for PSLF Reconsideration to fix mistakes without starting over.

If your employer was wrongly marked ineligible or your payment count is off, PSLF reconsideration can correct it.

But if you were denied because of the wrong repayment plan, you’re better off with the PSLF Buyback program.

Here’s what you need to do next.

If your PSLF application was denied, PSLF Reconsideration lets you challenge the decision. You can appeal to the Department of Education to review mistakes related to employer eligibility, payment counts, or loan servicer errors.

Here’s what it does (and doesn’t do):

• It fixes errors. If your job qualifies but was wrongly rejected, or if your payment count is incorrect, reconsideration can correct it.

• It doesn’t change the PSLF rules. If your job or payments don’t meet the requirements, reconsideration won’t make them count.

• You don’t need a lawyer or third party. You can submit the request yourself for free.

• It takes time. These requests are reviewed manually, so expect delays.

If your PSLF denial was a mistake, reconsideration gives you another shot at getting approved.

PSLF denials happen for many reasons, and some of them are fixable. Here’s what might have gone wrong and what you can do about it:

• Employer Wrongly Marked Ineligible: Some PSLF-qualifying employers get wrongly denied due to system errors. Submit proof of your employer’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or government affiliation with your reconsideration request.

• Payment Count Is Wrong: You made qualifying payments under the right plan while working for a qualifying employer, but they weren’t counted. Request a manual review by submitting payment records, such as bank statements, pay stubs, and loan statements.

• Wrong Repayment Plan: Before the 2021 PSLF Waiver, only Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans counted. If you were on the wrong plan, those payments didn’t qualify. Reconsideration won’t help, but PSLF Buyback might let you recover those payments.

• Loans Were Ineligible: If you had FFEL, Perkins, or other non-Direct loans and consolidated them late, your previous payments didn’t count. If you’re unsure how to consolidate loans for PSLF, this guide will help you. Check with your servicer if PSLF Buyback can restore those payments.

• Servicer Errors: Loan servicers have a history of mishandling PSLF applications, leading to incorrect denials. Gather your PSLF payment records and employer certification forms, then escalate the issue through reconsideration.

Related: How to Apply For Student Loan Forgiveness

If your PSLF application was denied and you think it was a mistake, follow these steps to request reconsideration:

• Gather Your Supporting Documents: Collect everything needed to back up your case. This includes your Employer Certification Forms, pay stubs or tax forms if required, and a copy of your PSLF payment history from your servicer or the PSLF Help Tool.

• Submit Your Request Online: Log into your FSA account and use the PSLF Help Tool. Select the issue you’re challenging—employer eligibility, incorrect payment counts, or servicer errors. Upload your documents and submit your request.

• Check Your Status and Follow-up: PSLF reconsiderations take time, often six months or longer. Monitor your status on the FSA website or your servicer. If there’s no update after six months, call your servicer and escalate your request.

Always keep copies of everything you submit. Some borrowers have waited months only to be asked to resend their documents.

PSLF Reconsideration and PSLF Buyback solve different problems.

• Reconsideration fixes errors on denied applications, like employer eligibility mistakes or missing payment counts.

• Buyback lets you retroactively count past payments that didn’t qualify—usually because you were on the wrong repayment plan or consolidated too late.

Reconsideration is free. Buyback requires you to pay for past missed months to make them count toward forgiveness.

If you qualify for both, start with reconsideration. If that doesn’t fix the issue, then look into Buyback.

Related: Can PSLF Be Retroactive?

A PSLF denial doesn’t mean you’re out of options or you’re back to square one.

If your application was rejected due to servicer mistakes, missing payments, or employer eligibility errors, PSLF Reconsideration can fix it. If you were on the wrong repayment plan or consolidated too late, PSLF Buyback can help.

The key is acting fast. Delays can cost you qualifying payments and push your loan forgiveness further down the line.

If you need an expert hand to guide you through this mess, we can help.

Book a call with our student loan expert today. We help borrowers clear their student loan debt with personalized PSLF support.

Related reading:

• PSLF Refund Overpayment

• Student Loan Forgiveness Lawsuit Updates

• How Long Does PSLF Take to Process?