Heather, in your “5 Easy Steps for PSLF,” the last balloon says:

“Keep good records! You’ll need to submit income documentation, family size verifications, and employment certification forms annually to the Department of Education. There will also be an application for forgiveness (to be developed).”

I have re-submitted for PSLF every year for the last two years and can get documentation showing how many qualified payments I’ve made from DoE. Should I keep other records over the next ten years? Income Tax records, documentation of my employment? Family size verification (what is that?)?

Or will the proof from DoE that I’ve paid 120 payments (per THEIR records) - be good enough?

Keep submitting annual Employment Certification Forms; keep the responses you receive documenting payments toward forgiveness.  There is no official word about whether you’ll need anything else but borrowers may be asked for additional documentation.  I’d get and keep something indicating what kind of employers you work for (like the IRS letter granting c3 status to the org, for example), just in case. I might save a few loan statements indicating payments made, just in case there is any tech disaster or changeover that confuses the loan servicer.

Borrowers in income-driven plans are certifying family size annually when they provide income information.