Borrower Defense, PSLF Buyback, and IDR Recertification Chaos

Borrower Defense, PSLF Buyback, and IDR Recertification Chaos

From Student Loan Planner by Travis Hornsby

April 21, 2026 · 23 min · Episode 423

About this episode

This episode covers important updates on borrower defense letters, PSLF buyback, and IDR recertification issues affecting student loan borrowers.

We're bringing you a grab-bag of student loan updates you need to know about. Borrower defense letters are finally going out, long-term forgiveness is being processed (sometimes for borrowers who technically shouldn't qualify yet), and the Department of Education is quietly breaking its own IDR recertification timelines. We walk through what's actually happening, what to do if you're affected, and how to stay in control of your payment when the system isn't cooperating. Key moments: (03:16) PSLF buyback and why SAVE calculations are off the table (06:02) Long-term forgiveness is processing, including some surprising cases three years early (13:14) How to revoke tax return consent and take back control of your recertification date (16:52) What to expect when your payment changes after leaving SAVE (20:29) When your loans are incorrectly coded as Parent PLUS and the workaround to get the right payment plan Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to the newsletter Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community Feeling helpless when it comes to…

Topics covered

  • Borrower Defense
  • PSLF Buyback
  • IDR Recertification
  • Student Loan Updates

Keywords

  • forgiveness
  • Department of Education
  • payment control
  • SAVE calculations

Mentioned in this episode

Products: PSLF, IDR

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