Education Department Reopens IDR Applications

Older income-driven repayment plans are now accessible, but the SAVE plan remains blocked and processing delays persist.

The U.S. Department of Education has reopened applications for older income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, including IBR, PAYE, and ICR, following a month-long pause.
The SAVE plan, which offered more generous repayment terms, remains unavailable due to a court ruling that deemed parts of it likely illegal.
Loan servicers are updating their systems to comply with the court's directives, delaying the processing of new applications.
Borrowers who missed recertification deadlines during the pause may face higher payments and need to reapply to restore income-based payments.
The pause and limited reopening have disrupted borrowers' progress toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, creating financial uncertainty for many.