Do you have to have made 120 payments for student loan forgiveness?

Asked by: Raul Rolfson  |  Last update: January 11, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (35 votes)

PSLF Process Because you have to make 120 qualifying monthly payments, it will take at least 10 years before you can qualify for PSLF. Important: You must still be working for a qualifying employer at the time you submit your form for forgiveness.

Do you have to make 120 payments for student loan forgiveness?

To get PSLF, you have to get a total count of 120 qualifying payments. So you'll want to make sure that you're getting closer to your goal with each payment you make. Keep in mind, your payments don't have to be consecutive.

What if Mohela says I have 120 qualifying payments?

If you work in certain public service jobs and have made 120 payments on your Direct Loans, you may be eligible to have your loans forgiven.

Can you get loan forgiveness if you haven't made payments?

Defaulted Direct Loans are not eligible for PSLF. However, a defaulted loan may become eligible for PSLF if you resolve the default.

Do $0 payments count toward loan forgiveness?

Yes. Any month when your scheduled payment under an income-driven repayment plan is $0 will count toward PSLF if you also are employed full-time by a qualifying employer during that month.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

37 related questions found

Why do my student loans say no payment due in 2024?

You don't get reported when you're in forbearance. During the on-ramp period (through Sept. 30, 2024), we automatically put your loan in a forbearance for the payments you missed. Here's what this means: Your account was no longer considered delinquent and was made current.

How do I know if my student loans are forgiven?

Your student loan servicer(s) will notify you directly after your forgiveness is processed. Make sure to keep your contact information up to date on StudentAid.gov and with your servicer(s). If you haven't yet qualified for forgiveness, you'll be able to see your exact payment counts in the future.

What do I do after I make 120 payments?

After you make your 120th qualifying monthly payment, submit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) form to receive loan forgiveness. You must be working for a qualifying employer at the time you submit the form.

What are the requirements for loan forgiveness?

The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you've made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full time for a qualifying employer.

How do I know if I have made 120 qualifying payments for PSLF?

We will process your PSLF form and determine how many qualifying payments you made during the employment period on your form and you'll receive a letter telling you the number of qualifying payments you have made. Log in to StudentAid.gov and go to My Aid in your Dashboard to see your PSLF progress.

Will MOHELA automatically forgive student loans?

Income-Driven Repayment Account Adjustment

Borrowers with federal Direct Loans that have accumulated eligible time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if they are not currently on an IDR plan.

Will I be notified if my student loans are forgiven?

You'll be notified or see a $0 balance

From this point on, your days of making monthly student loan payments are over. That is, unless, only a portion of your debt is canceled. If you still owe a remaining balance, you will still continue to owe monthly payments. » MORE: Student loan forgiveness: What's getting fixed?

What is the 120 day loan cancellation?

After Your Loan Is Disbursed

You won't be charged interest or fees on any portion of a loan that's cancelled within 120 days of the disbursement date.

Do I have to wait 10 years for PSLF?

Because it will take at least 10 years for you to make the 120 qualifying payments necessary to receive PSLF, we have created a form that you should submit to us and a process that you should follow so that we can assist you in tracking your periods of qualifying employment and your qualifying payments.

What is the deadline for student loan forgiveness?

Many student loan borrowers have an opportunity to receive full student loan cancellation or more credit towards cancellation. The U.S. Department of Education will conduct a one-time adjustment this summer , but you may need to take steps to qualify. The deadline to act is June 30, 2024. Here's what you need to know.

Why am I not eligible for loan forgiveness?

Only borrowers who have entered repayment on at least one of their loans when the debt relief is applied would be eligible for forgiveness on the loan(s) in repayment.

Are student loans forgiven after 120 payments?

In fact, if you make all of the required 120 monthly payments under the 10-Year Standard Repayment Plan, there will be no balance left on your loans to be forgiven.

What are the requirements for forgiveness?

Acknowledge your emotions about the harm done to you, recognize how those emotions affect your behavior, and work to release them. Choose to forgive the person who's offended you. Release the control and power that the offending person and situation have had in your life.

What if I haven't made 120 payments?

Yes! Even if you do not have 120 qualifying payments at the end of the waiver period, you should submit the PSLF Certification and Application form to learn from FedLoan Servicing the number of qualifying payments you have already made. After the required 120 payments are made, you can apply for loan forgiveness.

What is the 120 loan term?

The loan term is 120 months (10 years). Because the full balance is still paid in 10 years, this plan is often used only as short-term relief.

What are qualifying payments for loan forgiveness?

The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans* after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. The PSLF servicer (currently PHEAA/FedLoan Servicing) administers PSLF for all Direct Loan* borrowers.

Is student loan forgiveness automatic?

Any borrower with ED-held loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if the loans are not currently on an IDR plan. Borrowers with FFELP loans held by commercial lenders or Perkins loans not held by ED can benefit if they consolidate into Direct Loans.

How can I make sure my student loans are forgiven?

If you work full time for a government or nonprofit organization, you may qualify for forgiveness of the entire remaining balance of your Direct Loans after you've made 120 qualifying payments—i.e., at least 10 years of payments. To benefit from PSLF, you need to repay your federal student loans under an IDR plan.

Is it too late for student loan forgiveness?

You can still apply for Student Loan Forgiveness in 2024. Despite the Supreme Court striking down Biden's initial plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loans, the president has introduced other programs that have provided $167.3 billion in student loan forgiveness to over 4 million borrowers.