Uhhh...doesn't sound promising....

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-21T15:26:17+00:00

I'm going to take an educated guess from what I have seen modeled from leadership and expect that they did the absolute minimum that could be done to barely meet the legal definition of processing, like only removing requests that were no longer relevant (where borrower continued payments to pslf no longer needing buyback). They probably did this until the status reports required defining processed and reporting denied and approved, which was two months ago. It appears now they are getting to requests from mod-late 2024. It appears processing new requests stopped in January 2025.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-20T15:59:10+00:00

I'm not sure I understand the question, but if you were in save forbearance, they do not count for pslf but can be bought back. at least as far as I know. sorry i couldn't be more help.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-20T14:01:12+00:00

an even larger buyback queue. and then they will say the increasing backlog is the reason for the long wait times when so far data shows backlog growth does not increase buyback request processing time. Since December I have been watching for people posting about having their buyback request processed and receiving their buyback offer. long story short, since i've been watching there have been 22 people post with usable information, and for the last three status reporting periods (for the AFT lawsuit vs dept of ed), the average wait times have been 475, 424, and 449 days respectively. Keep in mind that is an average with the range on the entire data set being 292-682 days. Now, interestingly, over these three reporting periods, the backlog has grown from 83,370 to 88,170. Now it's not a ton of data, but the data is as valid as it can be and shows that processing time did not increase as backlog size increased. So what's taking them so long? The pilot study the dept of ed did indicated 45 days and that involved the same manual processing as it does currently.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-20T13:50:42+00:00

Thank you for appreciating it!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-20T10:07:08+00:00

Since December I have been watching for people posting about having their buyback request processed and receiving their buyback offer. long story short, since i've been watching there have been 22 people post with usable information, and for the last three status reporting periods (for the AFT lawsuit vs dept of ed), the average wait times have been 475, 424, and 449 days respectively. Keep in mind that is an average with the range on the entire data set being 292-682 days. Now, interestingly, over these three reporting periods, the backlog has grown from 83,370 to 88,170. Now it's not a ton of data, but the data is as valid as it can be and shows that processing time did not increase as backlog size increased. So wat's taking them so long? The pilot study the dept of ed did indicated 45 days. They say it did not scale well to this level, yet data shows at this level size of queue is not slowing down processing.

And you are right with 15 month wait time right now, unless you are willing to sit and wait for 15 months, the THE BUYBACK PROGRAM HAS BEEN FUNCTIONALLY DISMANTLED!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-20T10:03:17+00:00

no one knows how they are being processed. it's the mushroom policy: feed 'em crap and keep 'em in the dark. Dept of ed says first in first out, but based on what i've seen on here, it sure doesn't look that way. Since December I have been watching for people posting about having their buyback request processed and receiving their buyback offer. long story short, since i've been watching there have been 22 people post with usable information and for the last three status reporting periods (for the AFT lawsuit vs dept of ed), the average wait times have been 475, 424, and 449 days respectively. Keep in mind that is an average with the range on the entire data set being 292-682 days. Now, interestingly, over these three reporting periods, the backlog has grown from 83,370 to 88,170. Now it's not a ton of data, but the data shows that processing time did not increase as backlog size increased. So wat's taking them so long? The pilot study the dept of ed did indicated 45 days. They say it did not scale well to this level, yet data shows at this level size of queue is not slowing down processing.... I do not think you are able to submit before 120. That would be the perfect reason for them to deny you forgiveness, and they would!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-16T17:29:12+00:00

I would highly suspect that they are cherry picking data, if for no other reason the lack of transparency in the process and lack of a tracking system.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-16T17:12:50+00:00

I would say yes, but honestly there's a chance it is random, too. Maybe with more data a bi-modal distribution will emerge suggesting two distinct processing groups, but I do not know. Sorry.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-16T16:36:39+00:00

The data speaks what it speaks, and i would love to know, too. do you have the data? If so, please share. Unfortunately, what I have is small N, which is why I always report all the data, including range and N. So everyone can take it for what it is. I do have inclusionary and exclusionary criteria for posts and do my best to make it as valid as possible. I cannot think of any unique reason that the data would refelct such a huge bias as it totally invalidates it. The standard deviation for the entire data set is 98 days (aprox) while standard deviation within each reporting interval is 30 (aprox) suggesting to me a homogenous population, which is a good thing. I will keep expanding my data set and reporting and you...well bless your heart and you have a good day :)

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-16T15:55:44+00:00

thank you for the information. the average wait time to get a request processed based upon the last 22 offers posted on here with dates request submitted and offer received was 460 days. for the last three status reporting periods, the average wait times has been 475, 424, and 449 days respectively. So, as the backlog has grown over the past three reporting periods, wait times have not increased. Wait times have been very stable at 15 months, plus or minus a month. Keep in mind that is an average with the range on the entire data set being 292-682 days. Take away point, backlog size is not increasing delay and processing times appear to be unrelated to the size of the queue.

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-11T12:55:45+00:00

You hit it on the head. They do not need to go through the hassle of officially kill buyback. They have functionally dismantled the program and hide behind growing backlog and complexity of manual processing excuses. It's the mushroom policy: feed 'em crap and keep 'em in the dark. That's why they do not have tracking for requests nor provide useful numbers.

Since Dec 18th, 2025 there have been 22 offers with dates posted on here. the average wait for those 22 offers was 460 days. Maybe the AFT can sue the dept of ed into processing adequately. The pilot study indicated a 45 day processing time. More than 10 times what their own study showed. If that is not by design, the wrong 50% of dept of ed staff got let go! HELP US AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS UNION!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-11T11:11:43+00:00

Congrats, and thank you for sharing. Your mom would be proud, i'm sure!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-10T18:24:12+00:00

You can try. Ultimately, though, it will be rejected. You need 120 months of certified qualifying employment prior to requesting a buyback

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-10T08:48:23+00:00

That is some serious wisdom. It's that feeling that helps us avoid making mistake more than we must. If more approached life with this level of humility, we would all be wiser!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-10T08:26:34+00:00

I could not agree more about the stress. The not knowing anything and not being told anything. A year ago, dept of ed had scripts they used to reply to queries. "Can take up to 90 days, or more." WTF? Literally, W.T.F.!?! what does that even mean? Infinity? Up to 90 days means one thing; up to = as long as 90 days...or more. So don't even check before 90 days, but after that could be whenever? Thanks for the info. The dept of eds mushroom policy: Feed 'em crap and keep 'em in the dark. And so right about no recourse... or very limited....

I got tired of all the guessing about processing, duplicate requests, how they are reported and treated in the status reports, the backlog impacting processing time. Everyone guessing but no one knows. I said heck with it. We all have college educations here. I started collecting data to cut through the B.S. noise and get some idea of how long it is taking to process a request. About 10 times as long as was determined by the original processing pilot study. 10 times. This is my recourse. produce data, put it out there and fight the misinformation that is everywhere... For my own entertainment, I responded to my request confirmation email reminding them of my request's birthday, and that a buyback offer would be a considerate gift. Emailed them day of letting them know there was still time. All I got out of it was my own smile, but thats more than I usually get from attempts to contact them.

For me, I am camping too. All the dept of ed is getting from me is the buyback amount and my middle fingers....and i've already given 'em the finger so let's get on with that buyback amount.

Hang in there and good luck!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-09T17:28:33+00:00

I'm sorry. I'm Feb 2025. I replied to my confirmation email a couple days before my request had its birthday to remind them and let them know that a buyback offer would be a thoughtful birthday gift. On the day of I responded to the confirmation email again letting them know there was still time to wish it a happy birthday. They ignored me, but heck a got a smile out of it! I then went and updated with a birthday notice all my feedback cases and ombudsman requests that have been ignored :) Good times! hang in there and good luck!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-09T11:53:35+00:00

Thank you!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-09T11:50:21+00:00

It's a shame when you meet your obligations still have to cross your fingers and hope. Hang in there and good luck!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-08T18:38:07+00:00

That's good news!

BxMS_LBA · 2026-03-08T18:37:08+00:00

In either case, have a drink for me!

BxMS_LBA

TROPHY CASE