We're bringing you a grab-bag of student loan updates you need to know about. Borrower defense letters are finally going out, long-term forgiveness is being processed (sometimes for borrowers who technically shouldn't qualify yet), and the Department of Education is quietly breaking its own IDR recertification timelines. We walk through what's actually happening, what to do if you're affected, and how to stay in control of your payment when the system isn't cooperating.

Key moments:

(03:16) PSLF buyback and why SAVE calculations are off the table

(06:02) Long-term forgiveness is processing, including some surprising cases three years early

(13:14) How to revoke tax return consent and take back control of your recertification date

(16:52) What to expect when your payment changes after leaving SAVE

(20:29) When your loans are incorrectly coded as Parent PLUS and the workaround to get the right payment plan

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts
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• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

• Try our free student loan calculator
• Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated
• Book your custom student loan plan
• Get profession-specific financial planning

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

The SAVE plan lawsuit settlement just kicked off a seismic shift in federal student loan repayment, and it's not just about picking a new plan. Find out exactly how the forbearance clock is running out for millions, what you need to know about the new RAP repayment plan, and why 2024 and 2025 tax returns are going to hit especially hard for anyone recertifying with higher income.

We also look at strategies to avoid payment shock, the latest on Parent PLUS consolidation, and ripple effects for people banking on loan forgiveness or stuck in limbo with borrower defense claims.

Chaos is coming, but you don't have to figure it out alone.

Key moments:

(01:56) Why some borrowers have 90 days to switch to a new repayment plan

(06:21) How recertifying with 2024 or 2025 tax info could shock your monthly payments

(08:24) When refinancing might make sense again (and why more borrowers are considering it)

(12:04) Urgent deadlines and steps for Parent PLUS loan borrowers

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

• Try our free student loan calculator
• Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated
• Book your custom student loan plan
• Get profession-specific financial planning

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

The next recession isn't a question of "if," it's a question of "when." Whether you're holding federal loans, private refinanced debt, or a mix of both, your strategy needs to account for what happens when the economy turns. We break down how credit markets actually affect your ability to refinance, why your required payment matters more than your interest rate, and the moves you can make right now to protect yourself before it's too late.

Key moments:

(01:40) Why slowing down payments in a recession can be a smart move

(03:27) The problem with private student loans when the economy turns

(05:36) How borrowing conditions in the broader economy set your refinancing rates

(08:15) What happened to the refinancing market during COVID and 2008

(11:14) Restructuring your loans now to prepare for a downturn

Resources mentioned:

• Studentaid.gov/idr for recalculating income-driven repayment
• One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes to federal student aid programs

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community

Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

• Try our free student loan calculator
• Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated
• Book your custom student loan plan
• Get profession-specific financial planning

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!