The State of Student Loan Forgiveness as 2025 Ends: Who Got Relief and Who Didn't

Core Insights - Many federal student loan borrowers are experiencing challenges in accessing forgiveness due to ongoing court cases and changes in the student loan system, but the Department of Education has resumed several delayed forgiveness programs as the new year approaches [1][4] Group 1: Forgiveness Programs - The Biden administration approved billions in forgiveness for borrowers through various programs, including income-based repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and borrower defense, before leaving office in January 2025 [2] - The Department of Education paused processing forgiveness for income-driven repayment plans in mid-2025 due to a court ruling, but has since announced the resumption of forgiveness under Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, and Pay As You Earn plans [6][7] - Between November 1 and November 30, the Department approved 170 loan discharges through the Income-Based Repayment Plan, with thousands of applications being processed by loan servicers [8] Group 2: Public Service Loan Forgiveness - The PSLF program allows public service workers to receive forgiveness after 10 years of payments, and a "buy-back" option is available for those who have reached this milestone but skipped months due to deferment or forbearance [11] - Applications for PSLF buyback have surged, with 280 loan discharges granted in November, while 80,210 applications remain pending [12] - A new rule from the Trump Administration will restrict PSLF access for workers if their organization is deemed to engage in illegal activities, set to take effect in July 2026 [13]