Essential Updates on Federal Student Loans: Consolidation Risks, Deadlines, and Forgiveness Insights

Reddit IDR Payment Count Hack

Login to studentaid.gov and type https://studentaid.gov/app/api/nslds/payment-counter/summary as the URL

In this episode, several critical updates on federal student loans are discussed. These include the dangers of consolidating loans post-July 1, 2026, the necessity for consolidating specific types of loans like Perkins and Stafford loans, and how Parent PLUS loan borrowers need to act before this deadline. It further details a Reddit hack for checking forgiveness credits, and highlights the ongoing backlog in Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan applications. The episode also touches on the Trump administration's challenges to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the current pause on IDR forgiveness due to legal issues, and potential benefits from dropping interest rates for those considering private student loan refinancing. Despite the lack of a consistent theme, several random but significant updates are provided to help manage, reorganize, or expedite student loan processes.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:16 Consolidation Warnings and Deadlines
04:06 Parent PLUS Loans and Income-Driven Repayment
06:11 Reddit Hack for Tracking Forgiveness Credits
09:06 Public Service Loan Forgiveness Updates
11:37 Income-Driven Repayment Plan Backlog
13:21 Positive News and Final Thoughts