To qualify for PSLF, you must be enrolled in a qualifying repayment plan and making payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
The following repayment plans qualify for PSLF:
- Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) — available to Direct Loan borrowers with loans made before July 1, 2026, and new borrowers on or after July 1, 2026
- Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR)
- Standard Repayment Plan
- Graduated Repayment Plan
- Extended Repayment Plan
- PAYE and ICR — qualify only for loans made before July 1, 2026, and only for payments made through June 30, 2028
Please note: The SAVE Plan (formerly REPAYE) is no longer an eligible repayment plan. PAYE and ICR will be eliminated on July 1, 2028. The new Tiered Standard Repayment Plan does not qualify for PSLF.
If your calculated monthly payment on a qualifying income-driven repayment plan is $0, that month still counts toward PSLF — as long as you are employed full-time by a qualifying employer during that month.
Under the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), your payment is calculated on a sliding scale of 1%–10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), with a $50 reduction per dependent. If your income is low enough, your payment may be as little as $10 per month (the minimum under RAP) or even $0 on other qualifying plans. Any month with a scheduled $0 payment on a qualifying plan counts toward your 120 required PSLF payments.
Important: Under RAP specifically, only on-time payments count toward PSLF. Months spent in deferment or forbearance while enrolled in RAP do not count toward PSLF.
For more information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness, please see: What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and how do I know if I'm eligible?