Student loan forgiveness IBR now on hold due to system updates, borrowing blueprint still valid
The student loan forgiveness IBR program is on pause while the Education Department updates its systems, officials confirmed. This comes even though the IBR plan remains the only income-based forgiveness option that isn’t blocked by court.
Unlike SAVE, PAYE, and ICR, the student loan forgiveness IBR plan was written into law by Congress, so it’s still allowed. But borrowers who’ve hit the 20- or 25-year mark are seeing actual forgiveness delayed, as the system waits for updates to count months correctly.
Former ED officials say this student loan forgiveness pause has been ongoing since mid-2024. One even noted it seems like “possible legal overreach” since no court directed a halt on IBR discharges.
The department says it will restart student loan forgiveness after finishing updates tied to the SAVE injunction. That’s left many borrowers stuck: some have hit their forgiveness target, others are now reaching the 25-year mark and wondering when relief will come.
