IDR Forgiveness Is Real
Despite widespread anxiety that 20/25-year IDR forgiveness "won't be there" when borrowers need it, the program is real and actively processing forgiveness. Here's what you need to know.
After litigation and the AFT lawsuit settlement, the Department of Education has resumed processing long-term IDR forgiveness. Borrowers who have completed 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments are receiving forgiveness.
The Fear vs. The Reality
Online forums are filled with borrowers expressing anxiety: "Will the program even exist in 15 years?" "What if they change the rules?" "Has anyone actually gotten it?"
This fear is understandable given the political volatility around student loans. But the facts are clear: 20/25-year IDR forgiveness is statutory—it's written into law—and borrowers are receiving it.
Who Qualifies
20-Year Forgiveness
For borrowers who:
- Borrowed only for undergraduate education
- Are enrolled in IBR (new) or PAYE
- Have made 240 qualifying payments
25-Year Forgiveness
For borrowers who:
- Borrowed for graduate school, OR
- Are on IBR (old), ICR, or had SAVE loans
- Have made 300 qualifying payments
What Counts as a Qualifying Payment
- Payments made while enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan (IBR, PAYE, ICR, SAVE)
- On-time payments of your scheduled amount
- $0 payments when your calculated payment is zero (these count!)
- Certain periods during the COVID payment pause (March 2020 - August 2023)
The IDR Account Adjustment
In 2023-2024, the Department of Education conducted a one-time recount that credited borrowers for past periods that should have counted toward forgiveness. Many borrowers received credit for years of deferment, forbearance, or time on non-qualifying plans that were now recognized. If you benefited from this adjustment, your count may be higher than you thought.
How to Check Your Progress
The official IDR tracker on StudentAid.gov went offline in April 2025. ED said in March 2026 it would restore it, but it was still unavailable in late August 2026. To check your payment count:
- Contact your loan servicer and request a written statement of your qualifying payment count
- Download your payment history from StudentAid.gov
- Build your own tracker by counting qualifying months
See our Payment Counter Disappeared guide for detailed instructions.
If You're Close to Forgiveness
- Don't stop paying. Keep making payments until you receive official confirmation that your loans have been forgiven.
- Contact your servicer. Request written confirmation of your payment count and estimated forgiveness date.
- Document everything. Keep records of all payments, servicer communications, and plan enrollments.
- Be patient but persistent. Processing times can be several months. Follow up regularly if you don't hear back.
If you become eligible for IDR forgiveness on or after January 1, 2026, the forgiven amount is generally federally taxable. If you reached 240 or 300 payments in 2025 but were discharged in 2026, you're treated as a 2025 discharge and stay tax-free. Some states tax it too. Consult a tax professional as you approach forgiveness.
What About the Future?
Yes, programs can change. RAP, the plan for loans made on or after July 1, 2026, sets forgiveness at 30 years instead of 20-25. But for borrowers currently enrolled in legacy IDR plans, your path to forgiveness is based on current law.
The key is to stay enrolled in a qualifying plan, keep making payments, and track your progress. The program is working—don't let fear stop you from pursuing what you've earned.