Hi Heather:

I am currently signed up for IBR with the hope that I’ll eventually qualify for the 10 yr public interest loan forgiveness. I truly appreciate all that you do because I lost a couple years that could have counted towards loan forgiveness until I heard you speak last year.

PROBLEM: I recalculated the terms of my IBR twice in the past year.  The first time, I was not billed for the month after the recalculation so I just made an extra payment on my own.  Apparently this put me on “paid ahead status” which I was later informed I can’t be on with an IBR plan; I think Fedloan just resolved this internally.  However, when I recalculated again last April, Fedloan assured me that I would be billed for the following month of May 2012.  Unfortunately, a payment was not taken from my direct debit on the usual date in May.  When I called, a Fedloan supervisor explained that any payment I make on my own in May would not count towards loan forgiveness since I was not billed, but he would “research it” because he wasn’t sure.  I haven’t heard back yet.

My concern is that every time I may have to request IBR recalculation on my own I’m going to lose a month of payment.  I’ve already lost a couple years that could have counted, so I’d like to make sure each possible month counts.

QUESTION: If I make a payment for this month (May) even though 1. I wasn’t billed for it and 2. It’s now a week after the usual due date - can I argue that this should be counted towards loan forgiveness since I work FT in public interest and am on IBR (just in between two different calculations)?  I plan to pay the previous (higher) IBR payment amount as opposed to the new (lower) amount that goes into effect next month just to be on the safe side.

Thank you SO much for your work and any possible insight.  I’ve heard you speak twice now and you always provide a great deal of clarity and reassurance on this issue to individuals who face low paychecks and large looming loan balances.  It’s much appreciated!

Jennifer,

Thanks for the kind words and you are most welcome!

This is SO frustrating and you are not alone in dealing with these issues.  Here’s what I recommend: contact your servicer in writing specifically requesting that you get credit for this and other payments you believe should have been credited.  Follow up by contacting the student loan ombudsman and ask them to help you get those payments credited.  Keep us informed about what happens, please!

Heather