I’m an undergraduate-only borrower who started repayment in 1998. My recent StudentAid.gov API data (nslds/payment-counter/summary) confirms I have 312 qualifying payments and an "Earliest Forgiveness Date" of June 9, 2025. Despite being well past the finish line, my account is currently in "limbo" with Aidvantage. I was told I must switch from my sunsetting ICR plan to IBR, and that application has been pending for over a month. While the API shows I have 0 payments remaining for most plans, the IBR row is currently "reset" to 0/300 while it processes, essentially stalling my discharge.
The core of my issue is the refund for excess payments. Aidvantage’s system defaults to the "Old IBR" rule of 300 payments (25 years) because my loans pre-date 2014, which would only trigger a refund for the 12 months paid since June 2025. However, the IDR Account Adjustment policy explicitly grants undergraduate-only borrowers forgiveness at the 240-payment (20-year) mark. If the 240-payment rule is applied, I hit the milestone in 2018 and am entitled to a refund for roughly 72 months of payments made on my Direct Loans. Has anyone successfully forced a servicer to honor the 240-month Account Adjustment threshold for a refund when the underlying IBR contract technically says 300?
Undergraduate Borrower (1998 Start) – 312 Payments in API – The 240 vs. 300 Refund Battle
byu/cercle_rouge inStudentLoans
Posted by cercle_rouge
5 Comments
bruh this is pain
The IDR adjustment just made payments eligible that were previously ineligible. You aren’t eligible for PAYE and REPAYE/SAVE no longer exists.
You aren’t eligible for any current plan that offers forgiveness at 240 qualifying payments. You are currently only eligible for Old IBR and ICR.
The undergrad loan forgiveness at 240 payments during the adjustment period was based on SAVE/REPAYE and those no longer exist.
I did contact aid advantage. Once you switch to your plan…and aid advantage gets the count from gvt (which they told me is VERY delayed) then hopefully you will get credit that is due to you.
They have me at 0 qualifying payments which I have 268 or 266 so I am in limbo until the gvt gets their act together. Im sorry this is happening to you.
I was on old repaye (loans from 1992!) but i was graduate so needed 300 payments. I went on an IBR plan in 2024 after my second consolidation… and started making payments. Then went into forbearance until 2025 and began making $1409/mo
Payments….. just reached forgiveness.
So if you are on SAVE still, switch to an IBR- once approved go into forbearance until you get notice you qualify for forgiveness.
Also, call and call daily- ask for supervisor- ask why you’re not getting forgiveness- maybe it will make FSA look into it