PSLF Buyback: How to Buy Back Forbearance Months

If you lost qualifying PSLF months to forbearance, the buyback program lets you pay for those months retroactively and add them to your forgiveness count. Here is how it works, what it costs, and what to expect.

What is the PSLF buyback?

The PSLF buyback program allows borrowers to make retroactive payments for months spent in forbearance that did not count toward the 120 qualifying payments needed for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. By making a payment equal to what your income driven plan payment would have been during those months, you can convert forbearance time into qualifying PSLF time.

This matters most for borrowers who were placed in forbearance involuntarily, especially the millions who were on the SAVE plan when it was blocked by a federal court. Those forbearance months did not count toward forgiveness, and without the buyback, they are simply lost time.

Who qualifies for the PSLF buyback?

You can request a buyback if you meet all of these conditions. You have eligible federal Direct Loans. You were in forbearance during a period when you were also working full time for a qualifying PSLF employer. You were on an income driven repayment plan (or would have been) during the forbearance period. The forbearance months you want to buy back fall after October 2007, when PSLF was created.

The most common situation is borrowers who were on the SAVE plan and placed in administrative forbearance starting in mid 2024 when the court blocked the plan. Those months are the primary target for buyback requests right now.

How much does a PSLF buyback cost?

Each buyback payment equals what your monthly income driven plan payment would have been during the forbearance month. If your IBR payment would have been $200 a month and you want to buy back 8 months of forbearance, the total cost is $1,600. If you were on RAP, the calculation uses your RAP payment amount instead.

For borrowers whose income was low enough to qualify for a $0 payment on their income driven plan, the buyback payment for those months is also $0. You still need to submit the request so the months are counted, but you would not owe anything for them.

The buyback payment goes toward your loan like a regular payment. It reduces your balance and counts as a qualifying PSLF payment for each month you buy back.

How to request a PSLF buyback

Contact your loan servicer directly and request a forbearance buyback for PSLF purposes. You will need to provide your PSLF Employment Certification Form covering the forbearance period, proof that you were working full time for a qualifying employer during those months, and the specific months you want to buy back.

Some servicers have a specific buyback request form. Others handle it through their general customer service process. If your servicer is unsure how to process the request, reference the Department of Education guidance on forbearance buyback for PSLF.

How long does the PSLF buyback take?

Processing times have been slow. The Department of Education is handling buyback requests manually and the backlog is significant. Many borrowers who submitted requests in mid 2025 are still waiting as of July 2026. Typical processing times are running 3 to 6 months from submission, though some requests have taken longer.

While you wait, continue making your regular monthly payments on your current plan. Those payments count toward PSLF independently of the buyback. The buyback months will be added to your count once processed, potentially pushing you closer to the 120 payment mark or even past it.

PSLF buyback for SAVE forbearance specifically

Borrowers who were on the SAVE plan and placed in forbearance face a specific timeline. The SAVE plan was blocked by a federal court in mid 2024, and most SAVE borrowers were placed in administrative forbearance that lasted through early 2026. That is potentially 18 to 20 months of lost PSLF credit.

The buyback for SAVE forbearance months follows the same process as any other buyback. The payment amount is based on what your income driven plan payment would have been, which for many borrowers on SAVE was relatively low. Interest has been accruing on your balance during the forbearance period since August 1, 2025, so the sooner you submit the buyback request, the sooner those months start counting.

What if your buyback pushes you past 120 payments?

If your existing qualifying payments plus the buyback months total 120 or more, your loans should be forgiven once the buyback is processed. You would still need to have a PSLF application on file. If you have not already submitted one, do so at the same time you request the buyback so both can be processed together.

Forgiveness under PSLF is completely tax free. The forgiven amount does not count as taxable income regardless of how large it is.

Should you do the buyback?

Almost always yes, if you are pursuing PSLF. Every month you buy back is a month closer to forgiveness. And since PSLF forgiveness is tax free, every dollar of your remaining balance that gets forgiven is a dollar you never pay. The buyback cost is typically a fraction of what you would save through earlier forgiveness.

The only scenario where a buyback might not make sense is if you are very far from 120 payments and considering paying off your loans aggressively instead of pursuing forgiveness. In that case, the buyback payments are an additional cost on top of your regular payments without the forgiveness payoff. Use the PSLF estimator to see where you stand.

Track your payment count

Before and after the buyback, check your qualifying payment count at studentaid.gov. The PSLF payment tracker shows how many qualifying payments you have, how many you need, and which months are counted. If any months are missing or incorrect after the buyback processes, dispute them with your servicer in writing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the PSLF buyback program?

The PSLF buyback lets you make retroactive payments for months spent in forbearance so those months count toward the 120 qualifying payments needed for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You pay what your income driven plan payment would have been during those months.

How much does a PSLF buyback cost?

Each month costs whatever your income driven payment would have been during the forbearance period. If your payment would have been $0, the buyback is also $0. If it would have been $300, you pay $300 per month you buy back.

How long does the PSLF buyback take to process?

Processing is running 3 to 6 months as of mid 2026. The Department of Education is handling requests manually and the backlog is large. Continue making regular payments while you wait.

Can I buy back SAVE forbearance months for PSLF?

Yes. Months spent in forbearance due to the SAVE plan litigation are eligible for buyback. The payment amount is based on what your income driven plan payment would have been during those months.

Does the PSLF buyback count toward forgiveness?

Yes. Each month you buy back is added to your qualifying payment count. If the buyback pushes your total to 120 or more, your remaining balance is forgiven tax free under PSLF.

Is PSLF buyback worth it?

Almost always yes. PSLF forgiveness is tax free, so every month of buyback that brings you closer to forgiveness saves you far more than the buyback payment costs. The exception is borrowers who are far from 120 payments and plan to pay off their loans without pursuing forgiveness.