Deadlines and Guidance for 2025-2026

IDR Recertification Update 2025: What Borrowers Need to Know

If you're on an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan and wondering when (or if) you need to recertify your income, you're not alone. After weeks of confusion, the Department of Education has started to offer some guidance—but it still depends on your loan plan, your recertification date, and whether you were placed in a temporary SAVE forbearance.

Let’s break down the latest IDR recertification updates so you can understand what’s going on—and what you may need to do next.

Quick Overview: What Changed?

If You’re on the SAVE Forbearance

Borrowers placed into SAVE forbearance will have their IDR recertification dates pushed out by one year. That means you likely don’t need to do anything right now.

However, this isn't a permanent fix.

• If the SAVE plan is struck down in court, the Department of Education may accelerate your recertification date. You could be required to switch to a different IDR plan and resubmit your income quickly.
• You can opt out of SAVE forbearance and apply for a different plan online (like IBR, PAYE, or ICR)—but keep in mind that application processing is still paused for many plans.

A court hearing scheduled for next week may force the Department to resume IDR application processing. We’re closely monitoring this and will keep you updated.

If You’re NOT on SAVE Forbearance

(PAYE, IBR, or ICR borrowers)

Here’s how IDR recertification is being handled for other plans like PAYE, IBR, and ICR, depending on your anniversary (recertification) date:

If your recert date was on or before March 17, 2025:

• Submitted & Processed?
  You’re good. Your new payment is set.
• Submitted but NOT Processed?
  Your recertification date will be extended by 1 year. No need to resubmit right now.
• Did NOT Submit and Payment Increased?
  You’ll need to recertify now to bring your payment back down to an amount based on income.

If your recert date is after March 17, 2025:

Your recertification deadline will be pushed back by one year.
No action needed at this time—but keep an eye on communications from your loan servicer.

Why You May Still See Higher Payments

Some borrowers have seen their monthly payments increase—even though they’re still on an IDR plan. This usually happens when:

• The recertification deadline passed
• You couldn’t submit your income due to the system outage
• Payments defaulted to the 10-year Standard Plan amount

If this happened to you, you might need to:

• Resubmit your income certification through StudentAid.gov
• Or ask your loan servicer about a temporary forbearance until processing resumes

What You Can Do Right Now

While the Department of Education works to get everything back online, here are a few smart moves you can make:

• Double-check your recertification date via your loan servicer or StudentAid.gov
• Submit a new IDR application if your payment increased and you missed your chance to recertify
• Contact your loan servicer if you need help requesting forbearance
• Book a call with LoanSense to get a clear plan for your unique situation

Need Help Navigating Student Loan Changes?

At LoanSense, we help borrowers:

• Lower monthly payments based on actual income
• Stay on track for student loan forgiveness programs
• Qualify for a mortgage while managing student debt

Need guidance with IDR recertification or managing increased payments? Book a call with us