Looking for some general feedback and advice if anyone has any… my husband and I got married in 2016 so this past tax season was our first year filing married and jointly. We knew that with my next IBR re-certification that I would no longer qualify for the financial hardship due to our combined income being too high. So we have been fully preparing to pay the increased loan payment. However, I’m wondering if anyone knows how they calculate what that new payment amount is? I was playing around with the payment calculator online and the numbers the calculator provide are totally different then what fed loan is telling me. Also, does anyone know if there are any cons with not re-certifying our income vs submitting the income verification and us getting denied for the financial hardship? My understanding is that it won’t make a difference one way or another? Our plan is to continue to make payments under the IBR plan even though we won’t qualify for the financial hardship because I am working towards the PSLF program. I currently have 5 years remaining… so even with making the higher payments I will still have a ton of loan left in 5 years. Thoughts? 

Thanks for any feedback.