The U.S. Department of Education has suspended the online tracker for how many qualifying payments borrowers have made toward student loan forgiveness. The tracker was on StudentAid.gov for programs like Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) payments and would show the progress for borrowers toward having their loans forgiven.
The announcement caught many borrowers off guard, including loan servicer MOHELA, which services PSLF accounts. The company told Missouri borrowers it had temporarily taken the tracker offline. When borrowers call the company’s helpline, the message is automated and says that the Department of Education has taken the payment count data offline.
No clear explanation has been provided for the suspension or when the data tracking will return to the website. The sudden loss of visibility has left many borrowers confused about where they are in their repayment journey.
For borrowers who are approaching forgiveness milestones, this type of ambiguity can be particularly concerning. Advocates and experts have urged the Education Department to clarify this choice and make payment data accessible to borrowers again as quickly as possible.
“Federal Student Aid has temporarily removed the forgiveness payment counts from StudentAid. gov for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment,” says an automated announcement on MOHELA’s main customer service phone line for Department of Education accounts.… pic.twitter.com/SVY3scgVJ0
— Eugene (@BreakingNews4X) July 8, 2025
Tracker Pause Comes Amid Broader Student Loan Program Changes
The removal of the forgiveness tracker comes during a time of ongoing change in federal student loan programs. The Biden administration has been working to expand and revise forgiveness options, including the launch of the new SAVE plan and the scheduled phase-out of older IDR plans like PAYE and ICR. However, many of these efforts have faced legal challenges and delays.
Borrowers already dealing with a complex system now face more confusion. With no access to their payment history through official tools, it becomes harder to track progress or plan for the future. Some worry that this temporary change could lead to longer delays or mistakes in processing forgiveness.
The Department of Education has said little publicly about the pause, leaving many borrowers in the dark. Meanwhile, loan servicers like MOHELA continue to refer users to StudentAid.gov for updates.
As policy changes move forward, both transparency and clear communication will be key in helping borrowers understand their rights and options. Many are now waiting for the Department to clarify next steps and bring the tracking feature back online.
