Straight answers

The questions borrowers actually type when the letter is in their hand. No preamble — the answer is at the top of every page.

• I haven't got my SAVE notice yet. Am I late?

  No. SAVE notices go out in waves into 2027, and your 90 days start from your own letter. But waiting quietly is expensive if you're chasing PSLF — here's what to do meanwhile.

• What happens if I don't pick a plan before my deadline?

  Miss your 90-day SAVE window and your servicer picks for you. Here's exactly which plan you land on, what it costs, and what it does to PSLF.

• Does Tiered Standard count toward PSLF?

  No. Time in Tiered Standard earns zero PSLF credit — and it is a common auto-enrollment fallback, which makes it a trap for public service workers.

• Will consolidating remove my IBR eligibility?

  Yes, if you consolidate on or after July 1, 2026. It is permanent, it is not reversible, and it can be the most expensive click a borrower makes this year.

• Is student loan forgiveness taxable now?

  PSLF forgiveness is still tax-free. Income-driven forgiveness became taxable again on January 1, 2026 — and the bill can run into six figures.

• Why is my RAP payment higher than IBR?

  RAP charges a percentage of your full AGI. IBR charges a percentage of your discretionary income. For lower earners that difference is large — and it is not a mistake.

• I got a SAVE notice. What do I actually do?

  A step-by-step walkthrough of the 90-day SAVE notice: what the letter means, what your real deadline is, and the order to do things in.

• Do I have to enrol in auto pay by September 30, 2026?

  The auto pay interest reduction went from 0.25% to 1% on July 1, 2026 — but you have to be enrolled by September 30. If you are leaving SAVE, that date probably falls before your own deadline.