I’m currently using the ICR payment plan with consolidated Stafford loans.

If I switch to IBR will the 25 year forgiveness period start over?

Will I be eligible for the 3 years of government paid accrued interest under IBR?

The Department of Education has indicated that the following types of payments will count towards IBR’s 25-year forgiveness period, as long as you are in IBR at some point during those 25 years:
Payments made in the Income Contingent Repayment plan (ICR) before July 1, 2009.
All payments made on or after July 1, 2009 in the IBR, Income Contingent Repayment (ICR), and Standard (10-year) Repayment plans.
Periods when the borrower has a calculated payment of zero in IBR or ICR (this occurs when your income is at or below 150% of the poverty level for your family size).
Periods on or after July 1, 2009, when the borrower has been granted an economic hardship deferment.

If your reduced payment under IBR does cover the interest on your loans, the government will pay that interest on your Subsidized Stafford Loans for your first three years in IBR.

And thanks for letting us know that our RSS feed was jacked up.  Got that fixed.  Thanks.

Heather, thanks for getting back to me!  May I ask where you got this information from?

My loan servicer, MOHELA, insists that I will NOT receive time served under ICR if I switch to IBR.

I would really like to show them something in writing that says otherwise.

Thanks.

p.s. Added your RSS feed to my blog reader.