Hi Heather,

I have been making PSLF qualifying payments since Oct 2007. The loans are from a direct consolidation loan for my undergraduate studies and I have 4 more years left on those loans to be repaid. Since 2007 I have been working in a federal agency and just recently been enrolled in a part-time graduate program while still working full time. My undergraduate loans are in deferment right now.

For my graduate studies, I have taken new direct loans and Gradplus loans. My question is, does the 10 year repayment start all over for these new loans once i start repayment on them? Or do the new loans accrue with the old loans and the repayment that begins will contribute to the qualifying payments I have already made?

Thanks!

You have to make 120 payments on a loan to qualify for the forgiveness - so when you start repayment on your new loans you will have to make 120 payments on those.  For your old loans, you will pick up where you left off prior to the deferment.

You mention that you consolidated your old loans, please be aware that for payments to count towards PSLF you have to be making payments in either the IBR, ICR, or pay as you earn programs.  If you were just making regular consolidation payments and not in one of those programs - your payments are not counting towards the 120.