A True Fresh Start for Your Student Debt
Connect a Federal Student Aid file, compare repayment programs, and prepare draft bankruptcy worksheets for a lawyer to review.
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Cumulative relief the Department of Education reported across PSLF, the one-time IDR account adjustment, borrower defense and closed-school discharges, and total and permanent disability discharges.
PSLF discharges are federally tax-free under IRC § 108(f)(1). Total and permanent disability discharges are federally tax-free under IRC § 108(f)(5). The American Rescue Plan Act exclusion for most other student-loan discharges (Pub. L. 117-2 § 9675) applied through December 31, 2025. IDR forgiveness after that date may be federally taxable. State rules differ. This is not tax advice.
Forbearance is a temporary suspension or reduction of payments. Most general forbearance months do not count toward the 120 PSLF payments or toward IDR forgiveness. Interest generally continues to accrue.
Deferment is a statutory postponement, including in-school enrollment, economic hardship, cancer treatment, and military service. On subsidized Direct Loans, interest generally does not accrue during deferment. On unsubsidized and PLUS loans, it does.
| Topic | Income-driven forgiveness and PSLF | Forbearance (general or administrative) | Deferment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counts toward PSLF’s 120 qualifying payments? | A qualifying month can count while the borrower has qualifying employment and a qualifying repayment plan. | Most general forbearance months do not count. | Since July 1, 2023, certain deferments can count, including economic hardship, military service, and cancer treatment. Other deferments generally do not. See 34 C.F.R. § 685.219. |
| Counts toward IDR forgiveness? | Months in a qualifying IDR plan can count. The remaining-balance term depends on the plan, including 20 or 25 years for IBR and 30 years for RAP. | Most general forbearance does not count. | Economic hardship deferment can count. Most other deferments do not. |
| Monthly payment | Set from income and the plan’s formula. IBR can be $0 when income is below the plan’s threshold. RAP has a $10 minimum. | $0 during the pause. The pause is temporary. | $0 during the deferment. The deferment is temporary. |
| Interest | Unpaid interest may accrue. RAP waives uncovered interest under its statutory terms. | Interest generally accrues during forbearance. | Subsidized Direct Loan interest generally does not accrue. Unsubsidized and PLUS interest generally does. |
| 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) and the Brunner standard | A bankruptcy court decides undue hardship, including the good-faith prong of Brunner. The Fourth Circuit stated that standard in Educational Credit Management Corp. v. Frushour, 433 F.3d 393 (4th Cir. 2005). Repayment history is one fact among others. This row is not a credibility rating and not a prediction of how a court would rule. See 11 U.S.C. § 523. | ||
| Time limits | IDR plans require periodic income recertification. PSLF is 120 qualifying payments. | General forbearance is temporary and depends on the servicer and the forbearance type. | Economic hardship deferment has a 36-month cumulative cap. In-school deferment continues while the borrower is enrolled at least half time. |
PSLF’s 120-payment rule: StudentAid.gov, Public Service Loan Forgiveness and 34 C.F.R. § 685.219. Deferment interest and the economic-hardship cap: StudentAid.gov, Deferment.
Upload a StudentAid.gov file and compare estimated payments under Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). PAYE and ICR are being phased out: for new Direct Loans made on or after July 1, 2026, RAP is the only income-driven plan, and PAYE and ICR end for remaining borrowers on July 1, 2028 (P.L. 119-21). A PSLF discharge is federally tax-free under IRC § 108(f).
- StudentAid.gov file import
- Side-by-side estimates for IBR and RAP (PAYE and ICR are being phased out)
- PSLF context, including the 120 qualifying-payment rule
- Draft federal application forms for review
- Monthly payment routing and an audit trail
Continuing to the application package uses the $49 one-time paywall.
Enter Borrower Portal →Built for CPAs, Certified Financial Planners (CFP®), and advisory practices managing client student debt portfolios, statutory IBR enrollment, and annual recertification tracking.
- Client intake with secure IBR transcript invites
- Seamless import of prior Nova Satus borrower portfolios
- Automated annual IDR recertification tracking & alert countdowns
- Comparative IBR vs. RAP estimates and household tax optimization
- Practice branding, licensing tiers, and client roster management
Built specifically for bankruptcy attorneys handling 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) Adversary Proceedings and the Department of Justice / Dept of Education Undue Hardship Guidance.
- Multi-client case management and intake
- Draft DOJ/ED bankruptcy attestation for attorney review
- Draft Brunner good-faith payment ledger for attorney review
- Direct consolidation and FFEL restructuring notes
- Draft worksheets and exhibits for an attorney to review before any court filing
Direct Practice & Borrower Support
Have questions about evaluating student loans, custom law firm onboarding, or court exhibits? Reach out to Matt Branson directly by phone or email.