More than 576,000 federal student loan borrowers were still waiting for approval of income-driven repayment (IDR) plans as of the end of February, according to a court filing, while an additional 88,170 applicants remained in limbo for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) buyback decisions. Although the Education Department has reduced the IDR backlog from nearly 1.4m in July to around 576,000, no debt was forgiven under these plans in February, and experts warn it could take years to clear the remaining queue. The delays come as over 42 million Americans hold more than $1.6tn in student debt, with around 9m borrowers already in default and many struggling to meet basic living costs. The situation may worsen as millions exit a paused repayment program and apply for new plans, while ongoing policy changes and legal challenges continue to limit access to relief options.
