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How to Access Student Loan Information

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Managing student loans can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to track your progress toward forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) forgiveness. This guide provides basic instructions and detailed steps to understand your loans, determine your status toward forgiveness, and maximize your repayment options.

Identify Your Loan Types

  • Log in to studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and password.
  • Navigate to the “View My Aid” section to see:
    • Loan types (e.g., Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, PLUS, Perkins, FFEL).
    • Loan balances and interest rates.
    • Servicer information.
  • Select “Download My Aid Data” on the My Aid page. 

Guide: How can I download my aid data? | Federal Student Aid

Check Loan Servicer Information

Your loan servicer is the company that manages your loans. Common servicers include MOHELA (for PSLF) and Nelnet.

Their website provides:

  • Loan repayment details.
  • Deferment and forbearance options.
  • Payment history and current status.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Confirm Eligibility
  • Employer: Verify your employer qualifies as a public service organization (e.g., government, nonprofit) using the PSLF Help Tool.
  • Loan Type: Only Direct Loans are eligible. If you have FFEL or Perkins Loans, you must consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify.
  • Repayment Plan: Use an eligible repayment plan such as:
    • Income-Driven Repayment (e.g., IBR, PAYE, REPAYE, ICR).
    • 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.
Track Progress Toward Forgiveness
  • Log in to MOHELA’s portal to see:
    • Number of qualifying payments made.
    • Remaining payments required.
  • If discrepancies arise, contact MOHELA to request a payment audit and provide documentation

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness

Track Progress Toward Forgiveness
  • Log in to your loan servicer’s portal to see how many payments have been counted toward the 20- or 25-year requirement.
  • Periodically request an updated payment count from your servicer.
Steven Gilbert

Steven Gilbert CFP® is the owner and founder of Gilbert Wealth LLC, a financial planning firm located in Fort Wayne, Indiana serving clients locally and nationally. A fixed fee financial planning firm, Gilbert Wealth helps clients optimize their financial strategies to achieve their most important goals through comprehensive advice and unbiased structure.