PSLF Question

[hermione]

Sorry this is a novel. I don't know if anyone has a suggestion but just in case...

I worked for a qualifying employer form June, 2010-December 2015. For most of that time I was only 20 hours a week so those payments would not count toward loan forgiveness. However, from April 2012-November 2013, I worked 30 hours a week. 30 hours is considered full time for loan forgiveness so I believe those payments should count.

When filling out the employer verification form, the employer did it for my entire time working there and said I worked less than 30 hours a week. I talked to someone at my loan servicing company and they said resubmit the employment verification form but only for the time period I worked 30 hours a week. I did that. It has been rejected as a duplicate submission. I spoke to someone last week and they said they would send it along to someone higher up who would look at it again. Again it has been rejected as a duplicate submission.

I am unsure of whether I am correct that these payments should count? And, if so, where do I go from here? If I am correct, I only have 2 payments left.

[waverly]

A search tells me that you are correct. Is there a way to talk to a supervisor directly when you call?

As frustration abounds and multiple tries etc., I might be tempted to reach out to my elected representative.

[ellipses84]

I think you are correct. I had PSLF and was in the fb group for it, which you can join and search for similar issues/advice on old posts or wait for an ask the moderators post. You can post your specific question separately but they get so many they don’t always allow them or respond.

I think you just need to keep trying, calling and messaging them until someone processes it correctly. I know some people were able to elevate their case to an ombudsman to help resolve when they had issues like this but I don’t know the process for that.

[gretchenindisguise]

You are correct. That time period should count and you submitted it correctly the 2nd time.

Unfortunately you'll need to call Mohela back and talk to a PSLF supervisor. Tell them what you've told us here, it's been resubmitted and rejected again and that it needs to be counted correctly.

If they again reject it (because Mohela struggles with competence), go through studentaid.gov, log in, in the upper right hand corner click on "submit a complaint" and submit a complaint. Provide all documentation and dates of trying to fix it with your servicer and how that has failed to rectify the issue.

[wanderingback]

Yes it counts. You just need to be persistent. Very annoying!

[underwaterrhymes]

Agree with others. It counts. I had to speak directly to one of my employers because she wanted to fill it out for the entire time I worked there, but the last five months I was working FT elsewhere and only giving them 10 hours or so a week to tide them over until they hired someone. I also had another role where I was a FT employee for awhile and then PT for a bit before going to contractor status. I only filled out the form for the time that counted.

[hermione]

Mar 21, 2024 14:18:45 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

You are correct. That time period should count and you submitted it correctly the 2nd time.

Unfortunately you'll need to call Mohela back and talk to a PSLF supervisor. Tell them what you've told us here, it's been resubmitted and rejected again and that it needs to be counted correctly.

If they again reject it (because Mohela struggles with competence), go through studentaid.gov, log in, in the upper right hand corner click on "submit a complaint" and submit a complaint. Provide all documentation and dates of trying to fix it with your servicer and how that has failed to rectify the issue.

Thank you for the specific steps to take.

[hermione]

gretchenindisguise, sorry to bug you on this again but maybe you have a suggestion...

Mohela is now saying that they approved the form in the fall and sent it to FSA. Why did the first 5 people I spoke not know or tell me that? No idea. FSA makes the final determination if payments count. Moehela has no idea why FSA has not approved the form in the last six months and that there is no way for me to contact them. Before I blindly call a number I find on Google, do you have any idea how I should proceed?

I did fill out a complaint on studentaid.gov as you suggested up thread. That was prior to learning this information though.

[gretchenindisguise]

Apr 19, 2024 9:28:53 GMT -5 hermione said:

gretchenindisguise , sorry to bug you on this again but maybe you have a suggestion...

Mohela is now saying that they approved the form in the fall and sent it to FSA. Why did the first 5 people I spoke not know or tell me that? No idea. FSA makes the final determination if payments count. Moehela has no idea why FSA has not approved the form in the last six months and that there is no way for me to contact them. Before I blindly call a number I find on Google, do you have any idea how I should proceed?

I did fill out a complaint on studentaid.gov as you suggested up thread. That was prior to learning this information though.

Mohela approves the employment periods - I would call back and ask if the employment periods have been approved.

As for when those months will actually show up and count - have you consolidated since you worked there? I'm wondering if you're waiting on the IDR adjustment to hit your account. 

[hermione]

Apr 19, 2024 10:43:16 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Apr 19, 2024 9:28:53 GMT -5 hermione said:

gretchenindisguise , sorry to bug you on this again but maybe you have a suggestion...

Mohela is now saying that they approved the form in the fall and sent it to FSA. Why did the first 5 people I spoke not know or tell me that? No idea. FSA makes the final determination if payments count. Moehela has no idea why FSA has not approved the form in the last six months and that there is no way for me to contact them. Before I blindly call a number I find on Google, do you have any idea how I should proceed?

I did fill out a complaint on studentaid.gov as you suggested up thread. That was prior to learning this information though.

Mohela approves the employment periods - I would call back and ask if the employment periods have been approved.

As for when those months will actually show up and count - have you consolidated since you worked there? I'm wondering if you're waiting on the IDR adjustment to hit your account. 

Mohela told me they approve the employment periods and that they have done that. Then the FSA has to sign off on it for it to appear on my account as qualifying. They say that is where the hold up is and they have no idea why and agree that 6 months is an oddly long time.

I did consolidate my loans after I left this place of employment.

[gretchenindisguise]

Apr 19, 2024 11:20:40 GMT -5 hermione said:

Apr 19, 2024 10:43:16 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Mohela approves the employment periods - I would call back and ask if the employment periods have been approved.

As for when those months will actually show up and count - have you consolidated since you worked there? I'm wondering if you're waiting on the IDR adjustment to hit your account. 

Mohela told me they approve the employment periods and that they have done that. Then the FSA has to sign off on it for it to appear on my account as qualifying. They say that is where the hold up is and they have no idea why and agree that 6 months is an oddly long time.

I did consolidate my loans after I left this place of employment.

Ah ok - then yes, that is correct. You're waiting for the pre-consolidation time to be credited - that is the IDR adjustment and unfortunately it is taking forever and a day to be credited. There is unfortunately not much to do but wait - they keep pushing back when it'll be completed. Hopefully this summer!

[hermione]

Apr 19, 2024 11:28:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Apr 19, 2024 11:20:40 GMT -5 hermione said:

Mohela told me they approve the employment periods and that they have done that. Then the FSA has to sign off on it for it to appear on my account as qualifying. They say that is where the hold up is and they have no idea why and agree that 6 months is an oddly long time.

I did consolidate my loans after I left this place of employment.

Ah ok - then yes, that is correct. You're waiting for the pre-consolidation time to be credited - that is the IDR adjustment and unfortunately it is taking forever and a day to be credited. There is unfortunately not much to do but wait - they keep pushing back when it'll be completed. Hopefully this summer!

Thank you so much! I'm sorry to keep bugging you - you are simply the most knowledgeable person I know on this subject. I appreciate it.

[hermione]

Apr 19, 2024 11:28:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Apr 19, 2024 11:20:40 GMT -5 hermione said:

Mohela told me they approve the employment periods and that they have done that. Then the FSA has to sign off on it for it to appear on my account as qualifying. They say that is where the hold up is and they have no idea why and agree that 6 months is an oddly long time.

I did consolidate my loans after I left this place of employment.

Ah ok - then yes, that is correct. You're waiting for the pre-consolidation time to be credited - that is the IDR adjustment and unfortunately it is taking forever and a day to be credited. There is unfortunately not much to do but wait - they keep pushing back when it'll be completed. Hopefully this summer!

Can I ask one more question - I have one more payment assuming they eventually count these 20 months. If I continue to pay and they do eventually go through, will I be refunded those payements?

[gretchenindisguise]

Apr 19, 2024 11:34:38 GMT -5 hermione said:

Apr 19, 2024 11:28:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Ah ok - then yes, that is correct. You're waiting for the pre-consolidation time to be credited - that is the IDR adjustment and unfortunately it is taking forever and a day to be credited. There is unfortunately not much to do but wait - they keep pushing back when it'll be completed. Hopefully this summer!

Can I ask one more question - I have one more payment assuming they eventually count these 20 months. If I continue to pay and they do eventually go through, will I be refunded those payements?

Yes you will be refunded any payment over the 120.

[gretchenindisguise]

Apr 19, 2024 11:32:34 GMT -5 hermione said:

Apr 19, 2024 11:28:05 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Ah ok - then yes, that is correct. You're waiting for the pre-consolidation time to be credited - that is the IDR adjustment and unfortunately it is taking forever and a day to be credited. There is unfortunately not much to do but wait - they keep pushing back when it'll be completed. Hopefully this summer!

Thank you so much! I'm sorry to keep bugging you - you are simply the most knowledgeable person I know on this subject. I appreciate it.

No problem at all! I'm happy to share the knowledge