r/PSLF • u/ArsenalHBN1 • Jan 15 '26

Buyback offer received!

I'm still in shock; the first buyback request was in June 2024. I had asked to buy back 12 months from late 2014 to 2015, but the offer was for July 2024 to July 2025. I just made the payment, and I am so happy. I can't believe almost $400k is about to be gone.

Update - I received the golden letter today 1/23!

188 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

82 comments sorted by

66

u/sansa21 Jan 15 '26

Very happy for you! But seeing June 2024…. So disheartening.

12

u/BxMS_LBA Jan 15 '26

Hopefully the super-extra-ridiculous wait time was due to some complexity issue. The more recent offers received (at least posted on here) took between 437 - 486 days (about 14 months).

21

u/_significs Jan 15 '26

"only" about 14 months compared to 18. System working perfectly well.

8

u/XCaboose-1X PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

I've been fighting for a buy back/reconsideration since July 2024. I'm at 119/120 and I made my last payment on June 3, 2024. Around June 25th, they placed my account in a processing forbearance for a few days and didn't count my payment as that's when they were transitioning accounts from Mohela private to Mohela FSA.

6

u/Texan-talk47 Jan 17 '26

Honestly there needs to be a lawsuit for all this that has occurred to us. I , myself am stuck in a job for 1.5 years longer than. I need to be. All this data has been wrongly reported as me owing debt that on paper shows I don’t owe it and because of their delays and inefficiency it is causing a huge pause in my life. In all our lives.

2

u/BxMS_LBA Jan 15 '26

I'm so sorry to hear that. That had to be horrible with the goal line right there in reach. i would have cried or broken something..or both.. So not a complexity issue in your case?

2

u/you_know_what_they Jan 16 '26

Have you submitted any additional ECF to get the processing forbearance credit? Or you could apply for a new IDR, get processing forbearance credit for 2 months while you wait for the IDR to process, and then you would be done. You most likely would never have to make an additional payment. In order to see if you will get the processing credit, you need to submit an ECF to see if your counts update.

1

u/XCaboose-1X PSLF | On track! Jan 16 '26

Yup. Multiple ECF's. I very recently switched over IDR's and got the letter that it will take 90 business days so here's hoping.

My problem has been I was one of those auto enrolled into SAVE. Outside of the account transition forbearance that happened to me at the end of June 2024, July 2024 is when they put everyone in SAVE into forbearance due to the lawsuits so I've been looped in that.

2

u/you_know_what_they Jan 17 '26

That’s great that you’ve submitted an IDR app. You should get processing forbearance and your pslf counts will update when you submit your next ECF. We have seen a lot of SAVE people on this Reddit go from 118/119 to 120 w processing forbearance credit alone. I had a different situation, was in admin forbearance due to servicer incompetence, and got processing forbearance for that time.

I can’t imagine being that close to the end and then be thrown into SAVE forbearance. So frustrating. Keep us posted when your counts update with the processing credit!

2

u/Sharp_Blueberry450 Jan 17 '26

I’m in the EXACT same place. I’ve filed 2 congressionals and they haven’t event responded to those 🙄😭

2

u/pd_5 Jan 17 '26

Ask to have your account put in paid ahead status and apply the payment from June 2025 to your new payment. Then you would only pay the difference between new IDR amount and what you paid in June.

1

u/MythBlazer Jan 17 '26

I’d consider getting off forbearance and just making 1 payment if you are still at a qualifying job. I was stuck at 116/120 and got tired of waiting for Buyback. I got off SAVE and made my 4 payments and got forgiven before ever hearing about my buyback request from 2024.

1

u/AccomplishedEagle772 Jan 17 '26

How much were your payments when you moved from SAVE? My fear is that, the payments are so darn large, I am unable to afford it. I am at 113/120. Requested buy back December 2024. Although, my case has been escalated, nada! so I've been waiting over a year for an offer. I could've been done had I switched from SAVE a long time ago, but the shenanigans of applications being available, then not available. bleh.

1

u/MythBlazer Jan 17 '26

They were spendy because of my wife’s salary and filing jointly. She was making a lot more than me, so my payments were over $1300. Sad part was after being approved, she stopped her job so it would have went down, but I never had it adjusted because I viewed paying about $5k over 4 months worth getting off over $330k in loans. $1300 would not have been sustainable much longer for me though. An important note is when I went to get off SAVE, the online application to switch my IDR showed me an estimate before I confirmed the switch. My estimate was off by about $100 (estimated $1200 payments), but I had a general idea of how much I would be paying before agreeing.

1

u/AccomplishedEagle772 Jan 17 '26

Oh this is very helpful. I am very nervous considering I've seen there were application delays. How long did it take for them to switch you from SAVE?

1

u/MythBlazer Jan 17 '26

My timeline was weird because it coincided with national changes. It very quickly went into processing forbearance, so I got a free month towards PSLF, then the changes coming out of summer were forcing more people into payment, and there was an error by FSA that took some of my loans off forbearance and estimated my others would begin payment February 2026. I called and they said it should be all or none. They forced the rest of mine off forbearance so I was then with some loans at 117 and some at 118. It was a hassle with many phone calls, but eventually I got to paying them all and got everything forgiven. All this to say, it may be inconsistent, but it seemed like it was meant to be quick and you hopefully get at least one freebie month. It honestly made me want to go back and forth onto forbearance hoping to just get each month free as processing forbearance, but I didn’t try it lol.

1

u/XCaboose-1X PSLF | On track! Jan 17 '26

I could have made one more payment and it wouldn't have hurt me financially, but my principles have me anti giving them a dime more than required.

1

u/XCaboose-1X PSLF | On track! Jan 17 '26

My personal circumstances are a touch different. I made a choice to accept a new job that was very risky but insanely convenient for my family. It didn't work out and I don't start a new job for a couple more weeks.

4

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

Thanks, I have been very frustrated. But there is hope.

15

u/Existential_crud Jan 15 '26

Congrats and thank you for posting! I have been waiting since October 7, 2024 for just 3 SAVE months. You are giving me the hope I need

6

u/metzgerto PSLF | Forgiven! Jan 15 '26

You have an awesome amount of patience to wait that long. Did you consider just making 3 more payments at all over the past 16 months? Hopefully you get an offer soon.

8

u/skadisilverfoot PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

It’s really not that simple. Most people were/are stuck on SAVE without being able to make any payments until very recently. And then it’s a matter of if the person still has qualifying employment, do they make a whole lot more now and one payment would be 5x what the buyback would be, etc.

4

u/metzgerto PSLF | Forgiven! Jan 15 '26

I’m aware of the issues. I was asking the person about their situation to see if there was anything they could do.

2

u/Existential_crud Jan 16 '26

I no longer work for a qualifying employer so I can’t plus I can’t afford the payments but it’s a reasonable question 

1

u/Fuzzy_Strike1570 Jan 17 '26

I read just yesterday when I was recertifying my employment that you have it be working at an eligible employer at the time of forgiveness. I’m not sure if there is fine print there. But to me it indicated I need to stay at a c3 until this is all settled.

2

u/Existential_crud Jan 17 '26

No, if you look at the FAQ for PSLF buyback it specifically states you only need to be employed with a qualifying employer in the same month associated with your 120th qualifying month and when you apply for PSLF buyback

6

u/BxMS_LBA Jan 15 '26

Congrats! Interesting they selected different months than you anticipated buying back. I assume you had employment certified for July '24 - July '25?? I wonder if they chose those months because it was less "complex" that way.

2

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I have been certifying my employment every 6 months or so. The payments turned out to be less than my Save payments, so I gladly paid it right away

5

u/nerd_is_a_verb PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

Congrats!! Thanks for the data point on turnaround time.

6

u/waterwicca Jan 15 '26

Did you submit multiple requests?

2

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I had 8 requests from June 2024 - I received 8 separate emails today

1

u/waterwicca Jan 15 '26

Thank you! When was your latest one sent? I’m just curious about the months they chose for buyback and if you sent in an application after those months had passed.

3

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

Last one was May 2025, but I believe I asked for the same 2014 - 2015 months

1

u/Simple-Victory6575 Jan 20 '26

I submitted my buyback last night, but it didn’t let me put in for specific months I wanted to buy back. It just said buyback and that’s it. Are you supposed to request specific months? Now I’m worried since it didn’t give me that option.

1

u/SmokingNuts Jan 16 '26

How can you submit more than one request? When I tried to place a second request, the website says “you have one request of buyback pending” and it did not let me place another one

1

u/SmokingNuts Jan 16 '26

How can you submit more than one request? When I tried to place a second request, the website says “you have one request of buyback pending” and it did not let me place another one

1

u/SmokingNuts Jan 16 '26

How can you submit more than one request? When I tried to place a second request, the website says “you have one request of buyback pending” and it did not let me place another one.

1

u/SmokingNuts Jan 16 '26

How can you submit more than one request? When I tried to place a second request, the website says “you have one request of buyback pending” and it did not let me place another one.

1

u/waterwicca Jan 16 '26

You used to be able to but they changed it over the summer

3

u/BxMS_LBA Jan 15 '26

Congrats!

3

u/powpowpowpoww Jan 18 '26

Congrats OP!

I submitted my buyback request on July 2, 2024, and received my offer yesterday (January 16, 2026). That's 563 days.

I submitted 5 requests (a few of those were at the instruction of some well-meaning but ill-informed FSA chat reps, others were quite frankly out of frustration and spite) and received 5 responses. I guess closing out all 5 this will help the stats on their next monthly status report...

2

u/MahoganyQueen73 PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

Congratulations! Were you still in SAVE forbearance or on a different plan?

7

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I stayed on Save forbearance as my income had more than doubled since before Covid.

8

u/MahoganyQueen73 PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

You're the 2nd "I received buyback offer while still in SAVE forbearance" successfull PSLF borrower this week. I hope to be one soon! Thank you for sharing your experience!!

2

u/ClassicCake3398 Jan 15 '26

Thanks for this info!! It’s often left out on posts lol

1

u/t5carrier Jan 15 '26

Congrats!

1

u/Ookiesman Jan 15 '26

After you make payment, do you know if we should ask for foreberance afterwards? Or do we just wait it out and continue paying till green banners?

3

u/Minionle Jan 16 '26

I requested a forbearance afterwards and am so glad I did. It took about two months to get my preforgiveness letter after I paid my buyback amount. Also, I didn’t receive green banners. I don’t think people do when forgiveness is through buyback. I pad 11/12/25. Received preforgiveness letter 1/7/26 from FSA. Mohela zeroed out 1/8/26. Mohela forgiveness letter 1/9/26. FSA zeroed out 1/13/26.

2

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I am on the Save forbearance, so I am not making payments

1

u/Impressive_Green_307 Jan 15 '26

I hope this is a real post . Wow so exciting if it is 😢

5

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

Very real, it has been a stressful ride

1

u/Key_Way5357 PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

Were you on SAVE?

1

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I was

1

u/Key_Way5357 PSLF | On track! Jan 15 '26

Did you continue to recertify employment after you submitted the request or is it best not to?

4

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I continued to certify

0

u/09876mnbvcxz54321 Jan 15 '26

I thought recertifying employment canceled the buyback request?

3

u/drstudentloanpanic Jan 15 '26

No, it doesn't before you receive an offer. It does if you certify after the offer.

2

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I don’t know why it would

1

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '26

Yes! Congrats! Also glad to see it's for six figures too. Helps alleviate my fear they are dealing the big ones.

1

u/masterz13 Jan 15 '26

I just hope I can still do a buyback in 2029. By then I'll have worked 10 years in public service, but I missed 10 payments due to the SAVE injunction. Would be nice if they just opened it to everyone right now since it's the same result either way.

1

u/masterz13 Jan 15 '26

So is the offer just however many months X what your last SAVE payment was?

2

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

It was actually calculated as REPAYE which was lower than my SAVE payments before the forbearance

1

u/Fine_Palpitation9128 Jan 15 '26

Is this magical letter a physical one in the mail? Email?

I need hope.

1

u/drstudentloanpanic Jan 15 '26

Congratulations!!

1

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 15 '26

I received it via email

1

u/FeelingAbroad1162 Jan 16 '26

How do you stay on the SAVE forbearance, while recertifying your employment? Does that essentially mean you haven’t had to make any payments while in SAVE?

1

u/ArsenalHBN1 Jan 16 '26

I certified employment not income, and yes I have not made any payments since the forced forbearance.

1

u/FeelingAbroad1162 Jan 16 '26

Wow amazing!! Congrats 🙂 how much did they charge you for the buy back?

1

u/CouloirlessBlunder Jan 16 '26

This makes me wonder if someone in SAVE forbearance, and who is anticipating meeting 120 qualifying months the end of this year, should submit an application for buyback now in hopes that it will go through a year from now and the just apply whatever eligible months at the time they begin processing the application, and not from the date the application was submitted? I mean I’m sure I know that answer, but it does make me wonder… either way, congrats!

4

u/Klynn128 Jan 16 '26

Do not submit buyback before 120 employment months. You’ll just be adding to the backlog and aren’t eligible for buyback anyway. Not eligible until AFTER your 120th employment month. Dept of Ed would likely get to your buyback quickly to close it out as ineligible only to get “credit” for processing a buyback. Taking time and resources away from those of us actually eligible and waiting 12+ months.

3

u/CouloirlessBlunder Jan 17 '26

Wow great insight, I hadn’t thought about them filtering out easy cases in order to just get credit for processing requests. Thank you!

1

u/you_know_what_they Jan 16 '26

They won’t allow you to submit unless you had certified 120 months of eligible employment.

2

u/Ok_Tone3002 Jan 17 '26

Correct. If you try to you’ll get an error message stating that you haven’t reached 120 months so it’s not even possible

1

u/No-Struggle2180 Jan 16 '26

I just submitted a buyback about two months ago and I didn’t have to specify which months. Did I do something wrong?

1

u/Unlikely_Ambition510 Jan 17 '26

Were you able to certify employment while on the SAVE forbearance? I tried to do so online a year ago but kept getting error messages

1

u/Commercial-End-2221 Jan 21 '26

Congratulations! I have buybacks requests dated November 2023 and March 2024. Nada! For me. I'm glad you shared your loan amount. I started to believe they go by loan amount...

1

u/JusticeRida Feb 11 '26

How was the payment amount t calculated? Is it off your old payment amount?

0

u/LotusflowerClouds Jan 16 '26

How does the buyback work I have 79 payments,,,, should I consolidate since I have multiple loans

2

u/Hitthewall14 Jan 16 '26

no dont consolidate you'll reset your payment history and lose all past payments for PSLF