LumeaFinancial

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

If you work for a government or nonprofit employer, PSLF can forgive your remaining federal balance tax-free after 120 qualifying payments. The rules are strict and easy to get wrong. We help you make sure every month actually counts.

PSLF is one of the most valuable programs in federal student loans, and one of the easiest to lose credit on. Being on the wrong repayment plan, having the wrong loan type, or missing employment certification can mean years of payments that do not count. In 2026 there are added wrinkles: the new default repayment plan for many borrowers does not qualify for PSLF, and a new employer-eligibility rule is in effect and currently being challenged in court.

This may be a fit if…

  • You work for a government agency, public school, or 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • You are unsure whether your past payments have been counted correctly
  • You are on a plan that does not qualify for PSLF and did not realize it
  • You want a clear, tracked path to the 120-payment finish line

How we help

  1. 1Confirm your employer and repayment plan qualify for PSLF
  2. 2Help you certify qualifying employment and prepare PSLF forms
  3. 3Review your qualifying payment count for errors
  4. 4Track your progress and flag milestones and recertification dates

Our honest take

We cannot guarantee forgiveness, and no honest company can. The Department of Education and your servicer make the final decision. What we can do is make sure your plan, loan types, employment certification, and payment count are all lined up so the months you work actually move you toward the finish line.

Common questions

Generally, government organizations at any level and 501(c)(3) nonprofits qualify. Some other nonprofits may qualify based on the services they provide. A new 2026 rule gives the Department of Education more authority over employer eligibility and is being litigated, so we verify current status as part of your review.

Yes. Reviewing your qualifying payment count for errors is one of the most valuable parts of a PSLF review. Servicer counting mistakes are common, and correcting them can move your forgiveness date years earlier.

Time spent in the SAVE forbearance generally does not count toward PSLF. In some cases a PSLF buyback can let you pay for those months so they count. We can review whether that applies to you.

Other ways we help

Lower Your Payment (IDR)

Learn more

Parent PLUS Strategy

Learn more

Getting Out of Default

Learn more

See what you actually qualify for.

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