How long do I have to request PSLF reconsideration?

For letters dated July 1, 2023 or later, file within 90 days of the date on the letter. Federal Student Aid states no deadline when a count changed without a letter.

Does consolidating reset my PSLF count to zero?

No. The new consolidation loan gets a weighted average of the qualifying payments made on the Direct Loans you consolidated. A consolidation made on or after July 1, 2026 limits you to RAP or Tiered Standard, and only RAP payments count toward PSLF after that.

Should I contact my servicer or the Education Department about my PSLF count?

Your PSLF count is kept by the Education Department on StudentAid.gov, so dispute it there with a PSLF Reconsideration Request. Payment-record problems such as amounts, dates, or repayment plan go to your loan servicer.

PSLF help · Last checked November 4, 2026

PSLF count dropped or looks wrong? What to do now.

Q: Why did my PSLF count go down?

In August 2026 the Education Department said it found PSLF counter errors tied to changes made in May 2024, and it is reversing some earlier credit. Other common causes: payments not yet matched to certified employment, late payments, months in forbearance, and consolidation averaging.

In August 2026 many borrowers watched their Public Service Loan Forgiveness count fall on StudentAid.gov, often with no word on which months changed. Here's what the Education Department has said, how to check the number that counts, and the official way to dispute it.

Before you file anything: PSLF Reconsideration is for a count you disagree with. If a PSLF form you sent simply isn't showing yet, upload the form again in your StudentAid.gov account instead. Duplicate reconsideration requests slow everything down.

What happened in 2026

In August, the Education Department (ED) said it had found "multiple PSLF counter code errors" tied to changes made in May 2024, and that some displayed counts were inaccurate.
ED is also reversing some credit granted earlier, according to news reports, including some months credited for time spent in forbearance.
Some borrowers received "qualifying payment reduction" notices. Others saw a lower total with no notice and no list of the months that changed.
Separately, borrowers and advocates report that payments made since June 2026 haven't been credited yet.
A proposed class action, Weingarten v. McMahon (D.D.C., filed October 30, 2026), challenges the reversals and delays. Nothing has been decided.

ED hasn't said how many borrowers are affected or whether reversed credit will come back. That's why your own record matters.

Step 1: check the number that counts

ED now manages PSLF directly, so your official count lives on StudentAid.gov, not with your servicer. Log in, find your PSLF progress, and:

Take a dated screenshot of the count.
Download your servicer's payment history as a PDF.
Compare month by month against your own records: billing month, amount, date paid, repayment plan, and whether your employer had certified that period.

Step 2: rule out the common causes

Employment not certified yet

A payment only counts once it's matched to certified full-time employment. Submit a PSLF form every year and whenever you change jobs, using the PSLF Help Tool at StudentAid.gov/pslf. If an employer can't certify, ED accepts a W-2 for each year or a paystub for each month instead.

Late payments

The current PSLF form counts a payment only if it's made in full and on time. Recent reports say ED is applying this strictly to payments made since July 1, 2026, with no grace window, so pay a few days before the due date.

Forbearance and deferment months

Most months in deferment or forbearance don't count, and that includes the SAVE forbearance. If you have 120 months of qualifying employment, PSLF Buyback may let you pay for some of those months. Buyback can't cover months on RAP.

Consolidation

Consolidating doesn't reset you to zero. The new loan gets a weighted average of the qualifying payments on the Direct Loans you consolidated. FSA's example: 60 payments on a $30,000 loan plus 0 on another $30,000 loan gives the new loan 30. One caution: a consolidation made on or after July 1, 2026 limits you to RAP or Tiered Standard, and only RAP payments count toward PSLF after that.

Step 3: dispute it with PSLF Reconsideration

When to use it. You disagree with a count shown on StudentAid.gov or in a letter from ED or a former PSLF servicer.
Deadline. For letters dated July 1, 2023 or later, file within 90 days of the date on the letter. FSA states no deadline when a count changed without a letter, but don't wait.
File online at StudentAid.gov (log in, then PSLF Reconsideration). Pick one type per request: Ineligible Employer, Incorrect Qualifying Payment Count, or PSLF Buyback. Enter the start and end dates of the disputed period and explain why those months should count, in up to 2,000 characters. Uploads are optional but help.
After you submit. ED gives no status updates until it decides, then emails the decision. You can't add information once the case is in review, so include everything up front. The decision is final unless you bring new evidence.

Not sure what to write? See how to dispute your PSLF count: what to include, with a checklist and a sample explanation.

If that doesn't fix it

FSA Ombudsman: the final step after other channels, at StudentAid.gov. Come ready with the problem, the outcome you want, what you've tried, and your documents.
CFPB complaint: best for servicer errors such as wrong payment amounts, dates, or plan placement, at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Your PSLF count itself is set by ED, not your servicer.
Your state: some states have a student loan ombudsman or borrower advocate office that can help.

Documents that make your case

Your servicer payment history (PDF) and bank statements showing each payment.
Every letter from ED or a former PSLF servicer, especially a "qualifying payment reduction" notice.
Your PSLF forms and ED's responses to them.
W-2s or paystubs for any period your employer couldn't certify.
Dated screenshots of your count over time.

Keep a record you control

LoanPilot logs every qualifying payment on your iPhone: billing month, date paid, amount, and a photo of the receipt. Enter the official count when you check it, and the app flags the moment the two disagree. Then it exports a dispute summary listing every payment, ready to attach to a reconsideration request.

Get LoanPilot for iPhone

No account, and your data stays on your iPhone. The PSLF audit tracker is $49.99/year after a 7-day free trial, or $9.99/month. The plan comparison is free.

Quick answers

Why did my PSLF count go down?

In August 2026 ED said it found counter errors dating to 2024 changes, and it is reversing some earlier credit. Other common causes: payments not yet matched to certified employment, late payments, forbearance months, and consolidation averaging.

How long do I have to request reconsideration?

90 days from the date on the letter, for letters dated July 1, 2023 or later. FSA states no deadline when a count changed without a letter.

Does consolidating reset my count to zero?

No. The new loan gets a weighted average of the qualifying payments on the Direct Loans you consolidated.

Should I call my servicer or ED?

Your count is kept by ED on StudentAid.gov; dispute it there with PSLF Reconsideration. Payment-record problems such as amounts, dates, or plan go to your servicer.

Sources

34 CFR 685.219, the PSLF regulation (reconsideration, buyback, consolidation credit)
PSLF Reconsideration Request, page text filed with OMB, July 2026
PSLF form and FSA: 4 tips for PSLF success
FSA: SAVE plan changes (consolidation example)
CNBC, August 20, 2026 and October 30, 2026

More guides

General information for education, not legal or financial advice. LoanPilot is an independent app, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or any loan servicer. Rules and processes change; confirm with StudentAid.gov and your servicer. LoanPilot home · Privacy · Support · Terms