As of 09/04/2026, roughly nearly 100,000 borrowers are in line for the PSLF buyback, a process that can restore previously ineligible payments toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Many of these applications stem from time spent in the SAVE forbearance. With the SAVE forbearance scheduled to end within the next six months, borrowers face decisions about whether to remain in their current arrangement or switch to a different repayment plan.
Choosing to change plans while your PSLF buyback application is pending is a delicate move. The right choice depends on whether a new plan preserves qualifying payments for PSLF and how it affects monthly affordability. This article walks through the key considerations, practical steps, and timing so you can weigh options without jeopardizing eligibility for forgiveness under the program.
Table of Contents:
Why many borrowers are waiting for the PSLF buyback
The backlog of applications for the PSLF buyback is largely the result of prior forbearances and misapplied payments that prevented borrowers from earning qualifying months toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The buyback process corrects certain periods of non-qualifying status by treating those months as qualifying under defined conditions, which is why nearly 100,000 people are awaiting decisions. For a substantial portion of these applicants, the affected months occurred during the SAVE forbearance, a policy that temporarily paused payments or altered payment counting. As that forbearance draws to a close, many borrowers must decide how to proceed to continue making qualifying payments.
Can you switch repayment plans while an application is pending?
Yes — technically you can change your repayment plan while your PSLF buyback application is being processed. However, the consequences depend on the type of plan you move to and which months the buyback would retroactively credit. If you switch to a plan that meets the PSLF requirements (for example, an income-driven plan that counts toward PSLF), the new payments may preserve or restart qualifying status. Conversely, choosing a nonqualifying option could interrupt the chain of qualifying payments and complicate future forgiveness. It is essential to confirm how a new plan aligns with PSLF rules before finalizing the change.
Factors to consider before changing plans
When evaluating options, review whether the new plan: preserves qualifying payments for PSLF, offers reasonable monthly payments, and affects interest accrual or capitalization in ways that matter to you. The SAVE forbearance ending within the next six months adds urgency because many borrowers will need an active repayment schedule that counts toward forgiveness once the break ends. Speak with your loan servicer or a trusted financial advisor to verify the plan’s compatibility with your pending PSLF buyback application.
Practical steps and timing to minimize risk
First, contact your loan servicer to ask how a plan change will affect your pending PSLF buyback review and whether the servicer recommends a specific path. Keep records of all communications and confirmations in writing. If affordability is a concern, consider enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan that typically qualifies for PSLF, but verify specific plan rules because not all plans or payment types qualify. Timing matters: if the SAVE forbearance ends and you do not enroll in a qualifying plan, you may lose months toward forgiveness while the buyback is being decided.
When to seek professional help
If your situation involves complex loan histories, multiple servicers, or uncertainty about which prior months are eligible for buyback, professional guidance can be helpful. Certified student loan counselors, attorneys with experience in federal student aid, or established nonprofit advice organizations can explain how a plan change will affect your path to PSLF. Their support can reduce the risk of making a choice that unintentionally delays or disqualifies forgiveness benefits.
In short, changing repayment plans while waiting for a PSLF buyback decision is possible and sometimes advisable, but it requires careful review. With the SAVE forbearance ending in the next six months and nearly 100,000 borrowers awaiting buyback outcomes as of 09/04/2026, take deliberate steps: confirm plan qualifications, maintain documentation, and consult your servicer or a qualified advisor to protect your route to forgiveness.
