PSLF Borrowers: What to Do Now After the Employer Rule Was Struck Down
Quick answer
With the PSLF employer rule struck down and the government's appeals dropped, borrowers don't need to change anything because of it. Keep certifying employment, stay on a qualifying repayment plan and track your payment count. Other PSLF problems, such as processing delays and repayment plan changes, still need watching.
Key takeaways
- The court win means your employer's PSLF status is judged under the existing rules.
- Certify your employment at least yearly and whenever you change jobs.
- Stay on a qualifying plan, such as RAP, IBR, PAYE or ICR, according to The College Investor.
- Check your qualifying payment count and keep your own records.
- Processing delays, credit corrections and repayment plan changes remain ongoing issues.
In this article
The legal fight over the PSLF employer rule is over, and borrowers came out ahead. A June 2026 ruling threw out the employer disqualification rule, and every government appeal has since been withdrawn. But a court win doesn't manage your loans for you. Here's what to do now.
1. Know what the ruling means for you
Because the rule never took effect, nothing about your employer's eligibility changed. Government and nonprofit employers are judged under the same PSLF standards as before. If your job qualified last year, the court fight hasn't changed that.
2. Certify your employment regularly
Submit an employment certification at least once a year and every time you change jobs, The College Investor advises. Regular certification keeps your qualifying payment count updated and catches problems early, while they're easier to fix.
3. Stay on a qualifying repayment plan
Payments only count toward PSLF if you're on an eligible plan. According to The College Investor, qualifying options include the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). Repayment options have been changing, so confirm your plan on studentaid.gov.
4. Check your count and keep records
Log in to your account and review your qualifying payment count. Save copies of certifications, payment confirmations and any notices from your servicer or the department. Some borrowers have reported that previously counted payments were removed after the department cited coding errors from the prior administration, so your own records can matter.
5. Watch the problems that remain
The court win settled only the employer question. Other issues are still affecting borrowers, according to Forbes:
- Income-driven repayment shifts touching more than 13 million borrowers
- Delays in processing employment certifications and counting payments
- Reports of PSLF credit being rescinded
- Long waits for PSLF Buyback requests
The bottom line
The program's promise hasn't changed: a decade of qualifying payments while working in public service still leads to forgiveness of the remaining federal loan balance. Keep certifying, stay on an eligible plan and keep good records. Those steps protect your progress no matter what happens next in Washington.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to do anything because the PSLF rule was struck down?
No action is required because of the ruling itself. The rule never took effect, so your employer is still judged under the existing PSLF rules. Keep following the normal steps: certify employment and stay on a qualifying plan.
Which repayment plans count for PSLF?
The College Investor lists the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) as qualifying options. Check studentaid.gov for the plans available to your loans.
Why should I keep my own PSLF records?
Borrowers have reported delays in having payments counted, and some say previously granted credit was removed after the department cited coding errors. Saving employment certifications, payment confirmations and notices helps if you need to dispute your count.
Could the PSLF employer rule come back?
Not in its current form: the courts vacated it, and the government dropped every appeal. A future administration action would require new rulemaking, and none has been announced.
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