PSLF buyback explained: how to recover months that did not count

What PSLF buyback is

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives your federal loans tax-free after 120 qualifying monthly payments while you work for a qualifying employer. “Buyback” is a federal option that lets you retroactively make a payment for past months that didn’t count — typically months in certain deferments or forbearances — as long as you were working full-time for a qualifying employer during those months. You pay an amount equal to what your income-driven payment would have been, and those months convert to qualifying credit.

Who is eligible

• You worked full-time for a qualifying employer during the months in question.
• Those months are not already counted toward PSLF.
• Paying for them would bring you to 120 total qualifying payments (buyback is processed at the point it would complete forgiveness).

How it is priced

Each bought-back month costs roughly the monthly payment you would have owed under an income-driven plan that month, based on your income and family size at the time. Low-income years (residency, fellowship) are therefore cheap to buy back; high-income years cost more. The Department calculates the exact figure when it processes your request.

The timeline and process

You request buyback through StudentAid.gov; your employment for those months must be certified first. Processing has historically been slow — often many months — so request it as soon as you’re eligible. You receive an offer with the amount, you pay it, the months are credited, and if you reach 120 your loans are forgiven.

When buyback is worth it

Buyback is most valuable for borrowers at or near 120 payments who have qualifying-employer months that didn’t count — for example, time spent in the SAVE forbearance. It’s generally not worth buying back months early in your timeline, because you may reach 120 through normal payments anyway.

Frequently asked questions

What months can I buy back for PSLF?

Months when you worked full-time for a qualifying employer but didn't make a qualifying payment, typically certain deferments and forbearances. Months where you weren't working for a qualifying employer can't be bought back.

How much does PSLF buyback cost?

Roughly what your income-driven monthly payment would have been in each month, based on your income and family size at the time. Residency-era months are usually inexpensive; attending-income months cost more.

Does buyback work if I'm not yet at 120 payments?

Buyback is processed when paying for the months would complete your 120. If you're far from 120, you generally can't buy back months yet and instead reach forgiveness through ongoing qualifying payments.

Can I buy back time spent in SAVE forbearance?

If you were working full-time for a qualifying employer during that forbearance, those months are a common buyback candidate. Certify the employment, then request buyback through StudentAid.gov.