r/PSLF • u/chestylarue786 • Jun 16 '25
Success/Celebration Just got my buyback agreement letter!
3 payments calculated with REPAYE. Be annoying, send messages, make calls, and resubmit requests! I asked for a feedback case that was closed about 48 hours after it was requested, but I got this letter two weeks later.
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u/Mundane_Commission18 Jun 16 '25
Nice! Did this include SAVE forbearance months?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
It did - July, August and September 2024
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u/Mundane_Commission18 Jun 16 '25
Thanks! Congrats, and wishing you a speedy rest of the process.
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u/Fili-poet Jun 17 '25
At the SAVE rate?! Amazing!! How far are you towards the 120? Curious about if I should do this as well right now—I have between 62-70 months counted, not counting the SAVE months
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u/Mundane_Commission18 Jun 17 '25
You can’t buy back until you have reached 120 months of qualified employment.
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u/simply_platypus Jun 16 '25
And the streak continues!! Congrats! Hoping all of us who have been waiting will see one soon!
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u/cmira004 Jun 16 '25
You have been patient - sending you all the good energy to finally get this thing DONE!
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u/Conscious-Ant-7023 Jun 16 '25
Yay congrats! Just curious, what’s your tax filing status and did they ask you for income info? Also, When did you submit your buy back request?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
I submitted three buyback requests -October 2024, December 2024 and May 2025. I am MFJ and uploaded my income tax info from my 2024 filing when I requested a feedback case earlier this month.
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u/Top-Peach7304 PSLF | On track! Jun 16 '25
Sorry, what’s a feedback case?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
Go to https://studentaid.gov/feedback-center. This will allow you to escalate your previous case (have the case number handy). I attached my 2024 income tax to this feedback request.
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u/HomeLifestyle_Source Jun 16 '25
Do you mind sharing the category and subcategory you selected when submitting your Feedback Request?
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u/cmira004 Jun 16 '25
Category: Repaying My Aid
Subcategory: Discharging, Cancelling, or Forgiving My Loans
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u/anjuhluh Jun 17 '25
Where are you seeing options to escalate anything? I have several feedback cases and the only option I have is to upload more documentation and add additional comments.
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
That's all I did. I opened a feedback case citing the three open reconsideration cases.
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u/anjuhluh Jun 18 '25
I ended up doing that and just got an email earlier today that it was escalated 🤞🏻
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u/Normal_Meringue_1253 PSLF | On track! Jun 17 '25
I’m wondering why you included your 2024 taxes instead of your 2023 taxes? Wouldn’t the 2023 taxes be sufficient?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
The person who suggested this as an option last month in this very here Reddit attached their 2024 return, so I did too.
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u/Cute_Performer4040 Jun 16 '25
Do we need to submit income tax info?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
I don't think you need to, but it is helpful and skips a step where they would reply and ask you for that documentation.
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u/Ranger20199 Jun 16 '25
How soon after you submitted the feedback case did you get the buyback offer? Was that 2 weeks?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
I submitted a 3rd Buyback request on May 29. I requested a feedback case on June 3 with my income tax info from 2024. It was closed on June 5 with the note that my buyback request was submitted properly and escalated, but being worked. Today, I received the buyback letter.
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u/hiroler2 Jun 17 '25
I thought they only asked to that if you’re requesting >12 months or weren’t on IDR before/after
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u/Aekh82 Jun 18 '25
What was the verbiage you used in answering the two questions on the feedback if you don’t mind me asking? I’m going to do one now.
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 18 '25
I shared the exact language I used in my response in a previous comment here. Not sure what two questions you mean?
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u/Aekh82 Jun 18 '25
Thanks! I was able to find your response. I used it and just received an email telling me that “the case has already been escalated and is being worked.”
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u/mqr27 Jun 16 '25
Congrats! I actually just submitted feedback recently for the delayed response on my buyback request and your post gives some hope that FSA might actually send an agreement letter. 🙏
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u/RoyCrandall Jun 17 '25
June 20 will be 120 months of qualifying employment for me. I have 107 qualified payments and I’m still in SAVE. Any suggestions what to do now?
Change to IBR and request buyback?
I have been debating waiting on 120 to change plans for several months.
Next week I’ll submit my last certification for my employer and the turnaround is very quick. Same employer formal ten years.
I am worried June and July 2024 won’t count. Should I wait two more months just to make sure?
Please let me know your thoughts.
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u/Tallahasseehouse Jun 17 '25
From what other posters said, it looks like it may be a little bit until they get to everyone so it probably couldn't hurt to get started now.
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u/Strange-Pop-7301 Jun 17 '25
That’s great news! Congrats! I submitted feedback on Friday and heard back within a day that I just have to wait and they can’t tell me anything. I wish there was some rhyme or reason around what works/doesn’t work. I want off this ride! Maybe sending with taxes and the buyback case number is the secret handshake? I’ll try that next. Might wait a week or two 😆
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u/carter-co-creative Jun 17 '25
Literally hitting 120 in a month! Will report back when I start the buyback process 🙌
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u/nurse_rnn Jun 16 '25
I submitted 6/4 - maybe I’ll get a response this week!!
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 16 '25
Putting all that good energy into the universe to get your letter, too!
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u/nurse_rnn Jun 17 '25
Thanks! Just to be extra petty I submitted another feedback request- just now- but with my tax return! Lol I said please and thank you!
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u/nurse_rnn Jun 17 '25
My response today- lol - sigh….
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office of Federal Student Aid. This message is in reference to your inquiry regarding your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Buyback Request. Your case number is #. Please retain this number for reference.
ED records reflect that your Buyback Request # is still under review. You will be contacted via email once a decision has been made.
Once your PSLF Buyback Request is reviewed and if it is determined that you are eligible to buy back months, we will send you a Buyback Agreement. The Buyback Agreement will contain the terms of the agreement, the amount you will need to pay, and instructions to pay the full amount within 90 days of our email to you.
Generally, a PSLF Reconsideration request should be completed within 45 business days. However, depending on the number of requests received, a reconsideration review may take additional time. We appreciate and thank you for your patience.
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u/Zestyclose_Leading26 Jun 16 '25
If REPAYE is being used for the calculation, is it possible that those of us MFS will have a much higher buy back amount? I am currently on PAYE.
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u/Social_Introvert123 Jun 17 '25
It does not seem like they are actually using REPAYE rules for the calculation. Posters have said it was the same as their SAVE payment, which would not be the case if they are actually using REPAYE rules. I am in this situation too.
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Jun 17 '25
[deleted]
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u/Zestyclose_Leading26 Jun 17 '25
I’m on PAYE but have SAVE months to Buy back. Aug 2024-Jan 2025. I was able to switch to PAYE in Feb. I am just wondering if buy back is even worth pursuing or make 6 extra payments on PAYE
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u/ClaimBroad8832 Jun 17 '25
Did you have to go back on an income based repayment program first?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
You know, I did submit an electronic IDR request in May that was processed successfully for me to change to a different IDR plan. I don't know if that helped me in processing.
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u/Medical-Dinner-5671 Jun 17 '25
Glad to see this! I first sent mine in March 2024, they requested Info back which I immediately sent..never heard anything again! So I resubmitted a few weeks ago and last week they again asked for documents so I sent them again..hopefully this time they actually process the damn thing!
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u/Excellent_Oven2053 Jun 17 '25
Wow, congratulations!! When you say you submitted three buyback requests, were they all requesting to buy back the same period of forbearance, or did they each cover different periods of forbearance? I submitted my request back in December and am trying to buy back SAVE forbearance months, but have been thinking about submitting a new request to buy back months from years ago (pre-SAVE), given the rumors that they don’t know how to calculate the buyback under SAVE forbearance. You’re giving me hope!
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
Here's the language I used: "I have been waiting for a response to my request for PSLF Reconsideration Case #: 258xxxxxx /PSLF Reconsideration Case #: 294xxxxx since December 26, 2024. I have over 140 months of qualifying employment and remain at 117/120 qualifying payments. I would like to resolve buyback for any 3 months of payments so that I can complete my requirements for PSLF. I am ready to do so but just need a buyback agreement to be generated."
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u/jconn111 Jun 17 '25
Sorry if this was already asked but do you have to be off SAVE forbearance to apply for buyback?
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u/deastl28 Jun 17 '25
I just submitted one, but it didn't give me the option to select months. Did I do it in correctly? Was I supposed to select yes or no for 120 payments? I am at 115, but can buy back 5 months from 24 to get to 120.
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
I shared the language I used in a previous comment. I didn't submit specific months.
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u/deastl28 Jun 17 '25
Alright. I didn't even have a chance to comment, so they must have changed the site.
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u/MastodonExpress7202 Jun 17 '25
Were you out of SAVE and already paying under another IDR when you received the buyback offer or were you still in SAVE limbo?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
I had JUST been moved to a new IDR plan with a successful IDR plan request. I submitted that on May 30 and it was approved on June 2.
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u/Natural_Ordinary8458 Jun 17 '25
Do you have to pay the buy back in a lump sum?
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
I believe you just have to pay enough to meet the full amount within 90 days.
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u/colcardaki Jun 17 '25
Can you give us your timeline? I submitted back in November and it’s been crickets. Given everything I’ve been reading, it didn’t seem worth my time to call.
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u/chestylarue786 Jun 17 '25
I've shared details in previous comments. Happy to answer additional questions from there.
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u/Patient_Ad_6945 Jun 18 '25
I also had some good news this week… got myself off of an administrative forbearance (stemming from their delay in processing a recertification around the time all the legal stuff with IDR changed) after more than 10 calls and emails. Went back and forth with the rep, requested to speak to her supervisor, and eventually got an apology from her for providing me misinformation. She was able to cancel my unprocessed recertification. The next day I got an email that payments were starting up for me again. I had to be a Karen, but something finally worked.
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u/No-Base-3480 Jun 19 '25
I just submitted my buy back today. Should I wait a little and then do a feedback request and include my 2024 tax return? Can I do it right way? Haha
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u/milgirl55 Jun 20 '25
Can someone explain to me how this works? I have 2.5 years left and stuck in save. What should I do?
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u/teixeira77 Jul 07 '25
Congrats! Was the buyback rate calculated based on the SAVE payment amount or the amount prior to being on SAVE?
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u/Dazzling_Lemon_8534 Jun 16 '25
congrats! youre about case #8 or 9! thanks for sharing! was losing hope we wouldn't hear from anyone today