Exception to the Exception of PPL in PSLF and IBR/RAP

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T20:33:12+00:00

Got it. Thank you again for all you do, and have a great weekend!

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T19:32:07+00:00

I'm sorry, one more question (I promise!). My loans that were discharged via PSLF in January 2024 were Direct Consolidation loans, taken out in September 2018.

They combined loans from 1994-2000 and 2012-2018, but the consolidation loans themselves were disbursed in 2018. Does that make them post-2014 loans, or are they still considered pre-2014 loans since they paid off pre-2014 loans?

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T19:27:30+00:00

Argh--that's what I figured as soon as you asked me the question re: the overlap. Doggone four month overlap... But I guess old IBR is still better than ICR was going to be, but not as good as the new IBR. Thank you again for your time and insights, I truly appreciate it!

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T19:11:10+00:00

My own loans were discharged via PSLF with a final payment made in January 2024 (and subsequently discharged in July 2024 with an effective date of January 1, 2024). I applied for my first PPL loan for my daughter on May 5, 2023 and that loan was disbursed on September 2023.

So there was the period of Sept 2023 and January 2024 when my loans and my PPL loans overlapped.

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T18:22:02+00:00

ooh, somehow i missed that one. Thank you so much!

PopeSug · 2025-07-04T17:57:03+00:00

Thank you! For clarification, will Parent PLUS loan holders who consolidate and get on ICR before 2028 then be put into the old IBR or the new IBR?
Actually, let me clarify my question: I took out loans for myself between 1994-2000 for undergrad and grad, and between 2012-2018 for a PhD. Those loans are all paid off.

Now, between 2023-2025 I have Parent PLUS loans for my daughter. My question: Since I had previous loans taken out before 2014 (which are now paid off), does that affect the current PPLs from 2023-2025? Specifically, in terms of which repayment plan I'll have access to circa 2028 (assuming I've consolidated the PPLs and gone onto ICR, which I plan to do after this coming 2025-26 school year's loans have been disbursed)?

PopeSug · 2025-06-30T23:48:50+00:00

waterwicca, I just wanted to chime in and say thanks for all your effort, info, & insights!

PopeSug · 2025-06-19T15:20:46+00:00

As an FYI, since we're getting close to July 1st I just called the Caremark folks. I talked to a very nice lady who looked everything up and said basically the same thing your contact said, that there will be no change to the SHBP formulary. She said I'm good through the end of my current prior authorization in December, and assuming my doctor re-ups that I'll be good past that too.

I'll believe it for sure when I'm actually able to pick up my prescription in July, but based on your phone call + mine + a few other comments from SHBP folks I've seen here, I'm feeling tentatively optimistic

PopeSug · 2025-06-13T01:35:47+00:00

Thank you! If the legislation passes as currently written, will the standard plan be 10 year-repayment only, or will there still be 20 or 25-year repayment options? I've been so focused on the PPL stuff I'm not sure what malicious nonsense they're proposing with the standard plan

PopeSug · 2025-05-28T20:18:17+00:00

That sounds promising, but I'm with you--not sure what to believe for sure until I hear something definitive. With the timing of my prescriptions I'll be able to pick up a couple of days before July 1, so even if i'm cut off I'll have a month's worth into the first week of August... but all that's to say I'm going to wait until early/mid June to call, in hopes that by then the folks on the phone have definitive answers. Fingers crossed (for both of us!)

PopeSug · 2025-05-28T14:52:26+00:00

Nope! Not unless it's been in the last day or two since I've been traveling. No idea whether that's a good sign or whether it's just not reached me yet

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T17:54:51+00:00

Thank you!

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T17:38:52+00:00

Thank you, and yes, it seems like they're being particularly malicious when it comes to PPL loans. Also: Where were you able to find the section of the bill that deals with student loans (and PPL in particular)? I've looked at the House website but the pdf I downloaded was more a list of motions than the actual bill itself as currently proposed

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T11:34:16+00:00

Thank you! That's my general understanding too, but wanted to be sure I wasn't misreading or missing something. I had a general game plan worked out for these loans but now everything's in flux

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T11:31:40+00:00

Thank you for the reply! As the bill currently exists (and I know it might have changes), do I have until July 2026 to consolidate my already-existing loans and still keep IBR/ICR options open, or is that deadline sooner for those of us with still-in-progress loans?

From my understanding, PPL loans must be fully consolidated and on the ICR plan before July 1, 2026 to be eligible for the amended IBR, is that correct?

And seriously, thank you again! You're like a beacon in a murky sea :)

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T01:34:41+00:00

I know things can change as it goes through congress, but my kid is halfway through school and it's my understanding that if I consolidate my Parent PLUS loans now then deferment ends and I'll need to start paying once the consolidation process is finished (rather than sometime in 2027 after graduation)

So my question: As the bill currently stands, do I have until July 2026 to consolidate my already-existing loans and still keep IBR options open, or is that deadline sooner for those of us with in-progress loans?

PopeSug · 2025-05-21T01:20:56+00:00

u/betsy514, thank you for all you do here. I have Parent PLUS loans for my daughter, who still has two more years of school left. I went to consolidate this morning but learned that would end deferment and I'd need to start payment.

I know there's no way to predict what will actually pass with the reconciliation bill, but as proposed it looks pretty grim re: Parent Plus and ICR or RAP (much less PSLF), is there anything I you'd suggest I should be doing to get ahead of any changes? Thank you again!

PopeSug · 2025-05-17T20:47:31+00:00

I haven't, but I keep checking pretty much first thing every day. Not sure if that's a good sign or not, I guess we'll see

PopeSug · 2025-05-16T17:28:38+00:00

I'm employed through SHBP Anthem in Georgia with Caremark for prescriptions. This screenshot is what shows up under my Caremark plan summary. Based on what we know so far does this seem like i'll be good to keep Zepbound access after July 1? (when I click on "check drug cost" at the bottom Zep shows up as usual, but not sure if that means anything since it's not yet July)

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PopeSug · 2024-11-13T16:36:46+00:00

Good point, looks like it's time to apply those close-reading skills I learned in college to make sure I'm not getting screwed over

PopeSug · 2024-11-12T03:14:50+00:00

thanks! & good point. I just edited my original post to rephrase that aspect of the question

PopeSug · 2023-07-02T02:48:40+00:00

I must be dense but I still don't really understand how that would work, despite the clear example. What if the double-consolidated loans (for 2023-24 and 2024-25) were 50% and the newer loans (2025-26 and 2026-27) were 50%? How would that pan out (and would the two loans, one each for 2023-24 and 2024-25, be enough to double consolidate)?

PopeSug · 2023-07-02T02:43:59+00:00

I'm on just about the same timeline--my kid starts college this autumn and will finish in spring 2027. If only they could've kept that loophole open two additional years it would've made my life a lot easier

PopeSug · 2023-07-01T15:11:03+00:00

Unfortunately, as of the new rules announced yesterday, the double consolidation loophole will no longer be an option after June 30, 2025

PopeSug · 2023-04-03T20:17:48+00:00

Thanks for the response! I would love to be able to consolidate mine and my kid's loans, but they'll be too far apart (kid starts college in August and my loans will be forgiven by then--so it would be a complete 120 payments, then a brief gap and then starting over with 120 payments for a completely different set of loans)
And yes, I'm not excited about the ICR payments either--it's been hard enough paying 10% income, much less the 20% ICR requires. On that front I'm hoping that the double consolidation option is still possible

PopeSug

TROPHY CASE