How long does it take to get a refund after PSLF is approved?

Asked by: Mr. Stone Morissette  |  Last update: May 17, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (33 votes)

How long will it take for me to receive a refund after getting Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)? Payments are returned as they were received (e.g., electronic payment or check). They are typically processed in one to two weeks after discharge is complete.

How long for a PSLF refund?

If you qualify, you should receive PSLF automatically and get a notification from your student loan servicer. After that, if an overpayment is identified, you can expect a refund within a couple of weeks or up to two months.

How long does it take to get your refund from Mohela?

However, if you're seeking a refund from MOHELA, you can expect the first check to arrive within 90 business days, and the rest within 60 days. Also note that you'll likely receive multiple refund checks rather than a single refund.

How long does it take to get a refund after student loan forgiveness?

Once it's approved, it would typically take 4-6 weeks for the Department of Education to process the refund.

How do I check the status of my PSLF refund?

Log in to your StudentAid.gov account. From your Dashboard, navigate to “My Aid.” Select “View Details” to open your My Aid page, then scroll down to PSLF/TEPSLF Payment Progress. Select “View Details” for further payment information.

Get your student loan payments back! You may be eligible for the PSLF reimbursement!

38 related questions found

What happens after my PSLF is approved?

Don't forget to submit the PSLF form with your employment certification every year. If your PSLF form is approved for forgiveness, then you'll be notified that the entire remaining balance of your eligible Direct Loans will be forgiven, including all outstanding interest and principal.

Are PSLF refunds taxable?

Like loan forgiveness itself, refunds resulting from forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program are not taxable. However, if you owe the federal government another debt such as unpaid child support or unpaid taxes, your refund may be offset.

What happens when I reach 120 PSLF payments?

After you've reached 120 payments and all other PSLF requirements are met, you must request forgiveness of your remaining loan balance using the PSLF form. After this request is made, a final review of your account will be performed to process forgiveness, which will take about 60 business days.

How are student loan refunds disbursed?

Refunds. If there are any funds from the grant or student loan disbursements left over after tuition, fees, and room and board are paid, the remaining balance — often called a “credit balance” — will be paid directly to you in the form of cash or check, or else deposited into your bank account.

Will my credit go up after student loan forgiveness?

The impact of student loan forgiveness depends greatly on a borrower's unique credit profile. Some may see a slight dip, but forgiveness will have a net positive effect for most.

How long does Mohela payment processing take?

Online: 2-4 business days from the payment processing date to post. However, the payment will be effective the date your payment was scheduled. Phone: 2-4 business days from the payment processing date to post. However, the payment will be effective the date your payment was scheduled.

How long does it take to get your refund approved?

If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit. You can have a refund check mailed to you, or you may be able to have your refund deposited directly into your bank account.

Why are student loan refunds taking so long?

Once you request a student loan refund, there will be a wait before you receive your money. The refunds aren't automatic because loan servicers need to process refund requests through the Department of Education.

How long does it take for MOHELA PSLF to process?

Loans serviced by MOHELA? If you faxed or mailed your PSLF form to MOHELA it may take up to 14 days for your mohela.com account to note that the form was received. Please allow at least 90 business days for your form to be processed.

Can I spend my college refund check?

Your Financial Aid refund can be used towards any education-related item listed in the cost of attendance such as such as books, transportation, housing, food, and miscellaneous expenses. This also means you are solely responsible for budgeting this refund throughout the semester.

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.

How long does it take to get a refund from student loan forgiveness?

If you qualify for a refund, expect to receive it within about two months of the loan forgiveness.

How do I check the status of my student loan refund?

You can check online or contact your financial aid office to see the status of your financial aid refund disbursement.

How long do disbursements take?

Financial aid funds will typically start to disburse (meaning post to your tuition and fees account balance) 10-14 days after the “Last day to drop with a refund” for your latest starting classes. Different types of aid (such as Pell Grants, Student Loans, or Scholarships) may post on different days.

Will I get a refund after PSLF?

If you made payments after your 120th qualifying payment, those payments will be treated as overpayments and refunded to you if you have no additional outstanding loans. If your qualifying payment total is at 120 or more, your account is eligible to be placed into forbearance and no payment is due.

What is the average PSLF amount?

PSLF has erased $74 billion worth of student loans for more than one million public servants as of Oct. 17, 2024, according to the Education Department, which boils down to an average of $74,000 in debt forgiveness per borrower.

Does PSLF forgive the entire balance of payments?

The number of qualifying payments you have made will be updated only when you submit another PSLF form that documents a new period of qualifying employment. Once your cumulative total of qualifying payments reaches 120, we will confirm your eligibility and work with your servicer to forgive your remaining balance.

Do I need to report student loan forgiveness on my taxes?

Are loan amounts forgiven under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) considered taxable by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? According to the IRS, student loan amounts forgiven under PSLF are not considered income for tax purposes. Learn more about the PSLF process.

Does PSLF count as income?

No. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), student loan amounts forgiven under PSLF or TEPSLF aren't considered income for tax purposes.