SAVE Program suspended - killing my PSLF progress while teaching in Title I school

Yes! This is happening to thousands of us right now. The SAVE litigation is creating a HUGE problem for PSLF seekers. Here's what you need to know: the FSA rep was partially right - you CAN switch to a different IDR plan like PAYE or IBR (not SAVE). But you need to be persistent with your servicer because many reps are giving incorrect information. The key is to specifically request to be removed from SAVE and placed on a different IDR plan, not a standard repayment plan. If MOHELA refuses, ask to speak with a supervisor and cite the FSA guidance that confirms your right to switch IDR plans. Also, document EVERYTHING - names, dates, call reference numbers. This political attack on the SAVE program is absolutely hurting real people.

OMG THIS IS EXACTLY what happened to me!!! I'm also a teacher (elementary special ed) and got the SAME letter from MOHELA last week. I've been counting on PSLF for 5 years now and suddenly they're telling me the months won't count?? I called and CRIED on the phone and the rep basically said "sorry nothing we can do" and I'm just supposed to lose months of progress toward forgiveness?? I seriously can't believe this is legal. How can they just change the rules in the middle of the game?? I'm so upset I can barely function knowing all my careful planning is falling apart.

I'm dealing with this too, but I found a solution that worked. When I called my servicer (Great Lakes), the first rep also told me I couldn't switch plans. I called back the next day and specifically asked for a supervisor who knew about PSLF. That person confirmed I could switch from SAVE to PAYE, keeping my payments relatively affordable while continuing to earn PSLF credits. The key is using very specific language: "I want to voluntarily leave the SAVE plan due to the litigation forbearance and enroll in PAYE or IBR to continue making qualifying payments for PSLF." If they still refuse, ask them to document in your account notes that they denied your request to switch IDR plans despite the litigation forbearance.

I've been following this lawsuit closely and it's a complete political stunt by Republican states. They claim the Biden administration overstepped authority, but the Education Dept has broad authority to adjust IDR plans. What makes me FURIOUS is that these states waited until thousands of us were enrolled before challenging it, causing maximum disruption. The forbearance should absolutely count toward PSLF since it's involuntary! I'm writing to my representatives and joining a group that's forming to advocate for those affected. There's also talk of a counter lawsuit by borrowers whose PSLF progress is being damaged. You can find info on r/PSLF if you're interested in joining efforts.

Tbh I don't understand why u bother with all this loan forgiveness stuff. Im just paying minimum until they either forgive it or I die lol. These programs ALWAYS have some catch they don't tell u about until its too late.

For anyone having trouble reaching an actual human at the Federal Student Aid helpline, I discovered this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in under 5 minutes instead of waiting for hours. It literally saved me days of frustration when dealing with my SAVE/PSLF issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and their website is claimyr.com. I was able to get clear answers about my specific situation and they documented everything in my account.

I'm an attorney working with student borrowers, and I've seen multiple cases like yours recently. To be clear: The servicer MUST offer you the option to switch to a different IDR plan - they cannot force you into standard repayment or forbearance as your only options. The litigation only affects SAVE specifically, not all IDR plans. If they refuse to switch you to PAYE, IBR, or ICR, submit a formal complaint through the FSA Feedback Center immediately and state that your servicer is violating your rights by not allowing you to switch to a different IDR plan during the SAVE litigation. In the meantime, if you're forced to make higher payments, keep documentation as you may be eligible for refunds if this is resolved in borrowers' favor.

🚨 UPDATE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS THREAD 🚨 The Department of Education just announced a special consideration for PSLF participants affected by the SAVE litigation! If you were enrolled in SAVE and pursuing PSLF, you can request to have your forbearance period counted toward PSLF through a special waiver process. You need to submit a specific request form through your servicer. This just happened yesterday, so many servicer reps may not know about it yet. I've verified this on the FSA website. This is a HUGE win for those of us caught in this situation!

reading this thread makes me so glad i just paid off my loans in full last year despite everyone telling me to wait for forgiveness. the government always finds a way to screw people over with these programs lol. good luck to everyone dealing with this disaster

UPDATE: I wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps anyone else. I called MOHELA this morning, asked specifically for a PSLF specialist, and requested to be switched from SAVE to PAYE. The first rep tried to tell me it wasn't possible, but I asked for a supervisor and mentioned the FSA guidance. The supervisor confirmed I could switch plans and processed my application! My payment will increase from $45 to about $75 per month - not ideal but MUCH better than the $550 standard plan. Most importantly, I'll continue making qualifying PSLF payments. For those still struggling, be persistent and specifically reference your right to change IDR plans despite the SAVE litigation. Thank you all for your help and support through this nightmare!

This is such a relief to read! I'm a social worker at a nonprofit and got hit with the same SAVE suspension nightmare last month. My servicer (FedLoan) initially told me I had to go into forbearance and lose my PSLF progress, but after reading this thread I called back three times until I got someone who understood the situation. I'm now on IBR and my payments only went up about $20/month from what I was paying under SAVE. The key was being super specific about wanting to switch IDR plans due to the litigation, not just asking for "options." I also want to mention that if anyone is having trouble with their servicer, filing a complaint through the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) can sometimes get faster results than the FSA feedback system. They take student loan complaints seriously and servicers have to respond within 15 days. Hang in there everyone - this political mess isn't our fault and we shouldn't have to suffer for it!