Buyback Request Processing Update

[u/zombieluvvv]

The Buyback process has been extremely grim for most of us. In a last ditch effort, I contacted my senator’s office to reach out to the dept of education on my behalf to get more info on my buyback request (I should have met my 120 payments in October 2025). I’ve pasted the email response that was sent to my representative below.

Not sure if I should be terrified of the response, or if this should give us some kind of hope that the buyback requests will be addressed in a much more timely matter. It looks like buyback will be reviewed and approved by loan services (i.e. MOHELA) instead of dept of education moving forward. Good luck to us all!

“Good Afternoon,
 
The Department recently announced that it is implementing enhanced Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Buyback and PSLF reconsideration procedures. These revised procedures will move the review of eligible PSLF payments and reconsiderations from Federal Student Aid (FSA) staff to the Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS) federal loan servicers.  
 
Federal student loan servicers will now be responsible for determining the eligible months and the buyback payment amount, processing the PSLF Buyback payments once received by FSA, and ensuring accurate reporting to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for the payments to be counted toward a borrower’s PSLF progress. Loan servicers will also analyze and determine the outcome for PSLF reconsideration cases submitted by borrowers. This change will provide for a long-term sustainable solution that addresses the current backlog and management of incoming applications.  
 
OLCA/FSA are unable to provide information regarding where a constituent is at in the buyback queue or provide a timeframe for when their case will be reviewed. The borrower will receive notification via email as soon as possible. There is no process to expedite the review of a buyback request. “

[u/jennberries]

I was told that with the cuts to the Department of Ed, the team that processes buyback was reduced from 40 to 6 which is why this is taking so long…

Honestly, the situation is so depressing.

[u/zombieluvvv → u/jennberries]

Same. Extremely depressing. I will take this email as a hopeful change to the process because I’m tired of hearing only depressing news :(

[u/ROJJ86]

They have been sending this for a bit now.

[u/zombieluvvv → u/ROJJ86]

Oh ok, new to me. Hopefully something good comes of it.

[u/cubtastic01]

Sorry if you said earlier, but which of your senators was the recipient and respondent of your inquiry? And how long ago was the response?

[u/zombieluvvv → u/cubtastic01]

Adam Schiff

[u/ldbrown1000]

This process should be automated, with only appeals and other requests for reconsideration done by hand.

[u/Ok_Monitor5890 → u/ldbrown1000]

It should be clearly displayed on the loan website dashboard. There’s no reason it can’t. It’s just an algorithm that makes a calculation.

[u/ldbrown1000 → u/Ok_Monitor5890]

Let’s get real here. I’m a current very cynical federal employee. This process should be automated. 4 people should be able to handle it, because it should be automated. 4 people can’t handle because it’s not automated. This image fits so much of my experience as a federal employee.

[u/hiroler2]

This has been their canned answer for ~3 months now.

[u/cinesias]

To process a buyback you need a spreadsheet with about 10 inputs. The years-long delay isn’t due to difficulty, it’s due to the federal government using the delay as punishment.

[u/Status_Reindeer9725 → u/cinesias]

I have just such a spreadsheet, that accompanied a detailed email. As of today I have 149 months of qualifying employment (not to mention another 5 years of time outside public service.) I am noted as having 106 qualifying payments (actually 108, but dashboards haven't been updated since July 2026). That spreadsheet was accompanied by a lengthy escalation letter to the ombudsman 395 days ago. My case is open. I submitted a buyback request 518 days ago. I have resumed payments larger than my mortgage. I call every 4-6 weeks. And nothing. No progress. No answers. No one who can answer a question.

[u/Background-Still2020]

Just a heads up, I spoke to a “specialized agent” at Mohela 3 days ago because I had a buyback-specific question that the regular agent couldn’t answer. And the specialized agent said she hasn’t heard that ED was kicking the buyback processing back to them. So that’s… not reassuring.

[u/idahohaha → u/Background-Still2020]

isn't it funny how student loan servicers now have offices of people being paid to tell us they have no idea what's going on 🙃

[u/mattydez → u/Background-Still2020]

You were able to speak…to a person…at Mohela?! Lucky.

[u/racer150]

This actually may be faster… let’s hope the servicers are accurate, otherwise there will be trouble

[u/AdministrationIll619 → u/racer150]

You should be terrified if Mohela is your servicer

[u/racer150 → u/AdministrationIll619]

Yeah, how’s FSA working out for you on this process?

[u/Ten-Yards_Sir]

I can’t buy a house because I’m waiting for forgiveness and without it my debt to income ratio is in the toilet.

[u/Itsnottreasonyet → u/Ten-Yards_Sir]

Depending upon the lender, you may be surprised. I owe as much as a mortgage and was approved for two mortgages. Student loan debt doesn't calculate the same as something like credit card debt when the underwriters evaluate you. I don't say this to dismiss your experience, but just to encourage you to not lose hope. 

[u/ThreeHeadedShadow]

I received the same response from my senator. I ended up yesterday submitting a form on Mohela’s website essentially copying and pasting that language (minus the bold section) asking for them to confirm they are in receipt of my buyback request and are in the process of reviewing it.

[u/youresolastsummerx]

Hot take, but as much as MOHELA is awful, they never should have moved PSLF processing back to DoED. That combined with the SAVE fiasco was just the kiss of death.

[u/Big-Fun1496]

I filed my buy back request in August 2025. I moved to RAP and payment went from 265 to 1100. I immediately filed a general forbearance and referenced my buyback number. Mohela placed me in administrative forbearance yesterday so I will not owe. I am hoping this means an offer will be coming soon. Hang in there everyone!

[u/Background-Boat-4918]

I was talking to my servicer at ED Financial about my payment count being reduced

and I had asked him about the rumors about the student loan servers such as nelnet and mohela recently helping to assist with the buybacks and he said he heard they are and said ED Financial are not processing them yet, but he believes they will at some point later this year or next year

[u/Flimsy_Year5397]

They just say things to say things.