Made 120 PSLF qualifying payments but FAFSA still requires payment #121 - is this legal?

Omg this is EXACTLY what happened to my cousin!! They made all 120 payments and Mohela still took 2 more payments before the forgiveness went through. They did get the money back eventually but it took like 4 months. The whole system is designed to squeeze every last penny out of us 🤬

Unfortunately, this is standard procedure with PSLF. I went through this last year. The law requires 120 qualifying payments, but it doesn't say they have to STOP taking payments while they process your application. It's completely unfair, but technically legal. My advice: 1. Make the payment to avoid going into deferment (which could reset your eligibility) 2. Call your servicer weekly for status updates 3. Document EVERYTHING - record call reference numbers, rep names, dates 4. Submit a complaint to the CFPB if processing takes longer than 90 days They will eventually approve it and refund those extra payments, but you have to stay on top of them.

This is a classic example of the bureaucratic nightmare that is PSLF. While it's frustrating, making payment #121 is the right move to protect your spouse's forgiveness eligibility. Going into deferment now could cause even bigger problems. One thing that might help - have you tried contacting your congressional representative's office? They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal program issues, and a congressional inquiry can sometimes speed up processing.

Same thing happen to me!!! Had to make 3 extra payments after my 120th one!! And dont believe that "3-6 month" stuff - took them 11 months to refund my money!! The whole systems a scam if u ask me

I work with federal student loan borrowers every day, and unfortunately this is standard practice. The PSLF law requires 120 qualifying payments, but forgiveness isn't automatic - it must be processed and approved. Here's what many borrowers don't realize: your payment history must be manually reviewed, employment certification verified, and final eligibility determined. This process typically takes 60-120 days from receipt of your final PSLF form. During this review period, you must continue making payments to maintain your account in good standing. The good news is that 99% of borrowers who truly meet all requirements do eventually receive forgiveness and get refunded for any payments beyond #120. But the waiting period is incredibly stressful. For fastest processing, ensure all your employment certification forms are accurate and your payment history is well-documented. If you've had multiple loan servicers over the years, this becomes even more important.

After fighting with Mohela for THREE MONTHS trying to get someone to help me with my PSLF application status, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an actual FSA agent. Their service connects you directly to a real person at Federal Student Aid instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with was able to escalate my PSLF review and I got approved within 2 weeks after that call. Might be worth trying if you're stuck in limbo like I was.

I know this doesn't help your current situation, but for anyone else reading this who's approaching their 120th payment - submit your final PSLF application about 30-45 days BEFORE making payment #120. That way the processing can start while you're making your final regular payment. Also, make sure you're on the PSLF payment plan that gives you the lowest monthly payment. Some people make the mistake of paying more than required, which doesn't help you reach forgiveness any faster and just gives the government extra money.

UPDATE: I called FSA using the Claimyr service that someone recommended below and actually got through to a human being! They confirmed our application is in the queue and gave me a case number to reference in future calls. They couldn't give an exact timeline but said it's currently taking about 60-90 days for PSLF processing. Still frustrated we have to keep making payments, but at least I know our application is in the system and being reviewed. Will update when we get a final decision.

This whole situation is infuriating but unfortunately all too common with PSLF! I'm currently at payment 89 and already dreading this exact scenario. A few thoughts based on what I've learned from this community: - Document every single interaction with your servicer (dates, times, rep names, reference numbers) - Set up automatic payments if you haven't already to avoid any missed payment issues during processing - Consider setting aside money for 3-4 extra payments just in case, since it seems like most people end up making 2-3 payments beyond #120 The fact that they can legally force continued payments after you've met the requirement is absolutely ridiculous. It's like they're designed to extract every possible dollar while dragging their feet on forgiveness. Hang in there - from everything I've read, people do eventually get their forgiveness and refunds, but the waiting period is brutal. Really hoping your case gets processed quickly! 🤞

This is absolutely maddening! I'm so sorry you're going through this - the PSLF system seems intentionally designed to make borrowers suffer even after they've fulfilled their obligations. I'm currently at payment 95 and your post is giving me serious anxiety about what's coming. The fact that they can legally force you to keep paying after 120 qualifying payments while they "get around to processing" is such a scam. And of course they benefit from holding onto your money for months while earning interest on it! Have you tried escalating through the Federal Student Aid ombudsman? I've heard they can sometimes help when servicers are being particularly unreasonable. The ombudsman contact is on the FSA website under "Contact Us" - might be worth filing a complaint there in addition to the CFPB one others mentioned. Also documenting everything is so important. I've been screenshotting my payment confirmations and keeping a spreadsheet of every single payment just in case they try to claim something doesn't count later. Really hoping you get your forgiveness processed soon and can put this nightmare behind you! Please keep us updated on how it goes. 💪

This is absolutely infuriating and unfortunately way too common with PSLF! I went through something similar last year - made my 120th payment in June and didn't get forgiveness until October, having to make 3 additional payments in the meantime. A few things that helped me navigate this mess: - I called my servicer every 2 weeks for status updates and kept detailed notes - Filed complaints with both CFPB and the FSA ombudsman (the ombudsman was actually more responsive) - Contacted my senator's office - they have a constituent services team that can sometimes light a fire under federal agencies The legal reality is frustrating but true - the 120 payment requirement doesn't automatically stop collections while they process forgiveness. They're technically within their rights to continue demanding payments until approval comes through. One silver lining: when forgiveness finally came through, I got all 3 extra payments refunded within about 6 weeks. So while the process is broken and stressful, you WILL get that money back eventually. Stay strong and keep advocating for yourself! The squeaky wheel really does get the grease with these servicers. Document everything and don't let them push you around! 💪

This is such a broken system and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I'm currently at payment 102 and already starting to panic about this exact scenario playing out for me in a few months. What really gets me is how they profit from this delay - they're literally earning interest on money they shouldn't even be collecting anymore while borrowers who've already fulfilled their obligation have to stress about making extra payments they can't afford. One thing I've learned from lurking in PSLF Facebook groups is to start preparing for this NOW rather than waiting until it happens. I'm already setting aside money for 3-4 extra payments and gathering all my documentation so I'm ready to file complaints everywhere if needed. Have you considered reaching out to any student loan advocacy organizations? I know the Student Borrower Protection Center sometimes helps with cases like this, especially when servicers are being particularly egregious. They might be able to provide additional leverage or at least guidance on the best approach. The whole "3-6 months" promise is clearly nonsense based on everyone's experiences here. It seems like 6-12 months is more realistic, which is just unconscionable for people who've already done everything required. Sending you strength to get through this final stretch! You're so close to the finish line, even though they're making you jump through ridiculous hoops to get there. 🤞

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! As someone who just started working in higher education financial aid, I've been learning about PSLF and it's shocking how broken this system is. The fact that they can legally force you to keep making payments after you've met the 120-payment requirement is absolutely outrageous. From what I've seen in our office, the processing delays seem to be getting worse, not better. We have borrowers calling us constantly asking if there's anything we can do to help speed things up, but unfortunately the servicers hold all the cards here. One thing I'd suggest is keeping meticulous records of every single interaction - dates, times, rep names, what was promised, etc. I've seen cases where borrowers had to prove what they were told by customer service reps, and having detailed documentation made all the difference. Also, definitely make that payment tomorrow to avoid any complications with your account status. As unfair as it is, going into default or forbearance now could potentially reset your progress or create new eligibility issues. The silver lining is that everyone I've worked with who truly qualified for PSLF has eventually gotten their forgiveness, even if it took way longer than it should have. You've already made it through 10+ years of this program - you can get through a few more months of bureaucratic nonsense! Stay strong and keep fighting! The system is designed to wear you down, but you've got this! 💪