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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.

Basic Instructions for Managing Student Loans

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.
  • Why This Matters: Loan types determine your eligibility for PSLF, IDR, and other forgiveness programs. For example, only Direct Loans qualify for PSLF.

Check Loan Servicer Information

  • Your loan servicer is the company that manages your loans. Their website provides.
    • Loan repayment details.
    • Deferment and forbearance options.
    • Payment history and current status.
  • Common servicers include MOHELA (for PSLF) and Nelnet.

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.