Key Points on 2 Million IDR Applications
- Nearly 2 million income-driven repayment (IDR) applications remain pending, as revealed in the Education Department’s first court-ordered status report. 2 Million IDR Applications
- Over 49,000 Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback requests are still unprocessed, raising concerns for borrowers nearing forgiveness.
- While the Department offered no official timeline, estimates suggest it may take 6–8 weeks to clear the IDR backlog, though no firm commitments were made in court filings. 2 Million IDR Applications
In a federal court filing prompted by a lawsuit from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the U.S. Department of Education disclosed, for the first time, the size of its backlog for processing student loans.
According to the May 15 status report, nearly 2 million borrowers are still waiting for their income-driven repayment (IDR) applications to be reviewed. Another 49,318 requests under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback program remain unresolved.
The disclosures are part of a legal battle over the Department’s removal of income-driven repayment plan applications – which the AFT said was an overreach beyond what the SAVE plan litigation warranted.
The status update offers a rare glimpse into internal operations but lacks any clear timelines for when borrowers can expect answers. Still, a source close to the process estimated that the IDR backlog could take at least 6–8 weeks to clear. 2 Million IDR Applications
Massive Backlog Of IDR Applications
As of April 30, 2025, the Department of Education reported 1,985,726 IDR applications pending. These applications determine monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and family size and can eventually lead to loan cancellation after 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments.
Only 79,349 IDR applications were processed during April. At that pace, clearing the full backlog without scaling operations would take nearly two years. However, a source we spoke with expressed their expectation to clear the bulk of the backlog within 6-8 weeks.
We are processing recently submitted applications using the updated online form quickly, as we know they qualify. Remember, the key issue was that the IDR form had to be updated. 2 Million IDR Applications
There are issues with borrowers who submitted forms via paper, since some of those forms cannot be processed. Borrowers may have selected an ineligible repayment plan (such as SAVE), which will be in limbo until the court cases surrounding those plans are resolved.
If you previously submitted a form and selected “SAVE” or checked the box for “the plan with the lowest monthly payment,” if you still want to change IDR plans, you may want to resubmit an updated request via the online form at StudentAid.gov.
Borrowers awaiting processing face uncertainty, not only about payment adjustments but also about their long-term path to forgiveness. It’s also led some borrowers in PAYE or ICR to consider moving to IBR.
PSLF Buyback Requests on 2 Million IDR Applications
The report also details the backlog in PSLF buyback requests, a program designed to allow borrowers to “purchase” missed months toward forgiveness for periods spent in deferment or forbearance. Only 1,472 requests were processed in April, with 49,318 still pending.
These figures are especially troubling for public service workers nearing the 120-payment threshold for loan forgiveness. Many borrowers find themselves trapped in the SAVE forbearance and are dependent on the buyback process. 2 Million IDR Applications
The buyback program was supposed to address those gaps, but delays now threaten to stall forgiveness for borrowers who thought they were nearly finished.
The difficulty with PSLF buyback is that it is a manual process, and due to the Department of Education layoffs, the team overseeing these requests is small. Each application takes about 20-30 minutes, since payment amounts and payoff letters are drafted manually.
More questions Than Answers on 2 Million IDR Applications
The AFT’s lawsuit alleges that the Department failed to meet legal obligations by stalling critical student loan repayment and loan forgiveness efforts. The court’s April 28 order required the Department to submit regular updates outlining progress.
This first report fulfils the court’s mandate, but it raises more questions than answers. There is no mention of how many employees are assigned to process requests, how applications are prioritised, or what borrowers can expect moving forward. The Department has not committed to any concrete processing timeline in its filing.
An official familiar with internal operations estimated that clearing the IDR backlog could take 6–8 weeks if staffing remains stable and no new disruptions emerge. It will be more telling what the full May processing count looks like, since processing really resumed on May 10.
The PSLF buyback process may take even longer due to the manual review required for each case.
Next Steps on 2 Million IDR Applications
The situation is frustrating for those who are waiting for the processing of IDR applications or the approval of the PSLF buyback. Borrowers are encouraged to monitor their StudentAid.gov accounts and keep records of past employment and payment history in case follow-up documentation is required.
Borrowers close to the 120-payment threshold for PSLF should check their employment counts regularly and consider filing for PSLF buyback if eligible.
The next court-ordered update is expected on June 15, 2025. For now, this initial status report provides a clear message: millions of borrowers find themselves in a state of uncertainty, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Q&A on 2 Million IDR Applications
Could you please let me know the estimated processing time for my IDR application?
While there are no official estimates, we believe that previously submitted applications will take 6–8 weeks to get through the backlog, whereas new applications using the online form will take about a week.
What should I do if I can’t afford my student loan payments while my application is pending?
If your application is pending, you should be in forbearance, and no payment is due.
How do delays in PSLF buyback requests affect my loan forgiveness timeline?
This question is a frustrating one, as PSLF buyback processing is the most delayed, with borrowers reporting upwards of 6 months of delays right now. Your forgiveness isn’t official until the buyback is approved and paid.
What happens if my IDR recertification deadline is approaching?
If there has been any impact in the last 3 months, your IDR recertification deadline should have already shifted to 2026. 2 Million IDR Applications
How can I check the status of my IDR or PSLF application?
You can log in to your loan servicer or StudentAid.gov and see if it’s been processed.
Are paper IDR applications being processed at the same speed as online applications?
No, paper applications are taking much longer. The online form will always be the faster.
What should I do if I applied for the SAVE plan?
The SAVE plan is dead, and if you applied, your application is not being processed. You can opt into another repayment plan by filing a new IDR application.
Will the Department of Education staff layoffs impact processing times?
The Department of Education alone handles the PSLF buyback procedure, so the layoffs have significantly impacted it. Other functions, like IDR processing, are handled by the various loan servicers. 2 Million IDR Applications