Washington Post: Enrolled in this student loan repayment plan? It’s time to consider an exit.

July 30, 2025 — Featured News

Appearing in the Washington Post on July 30, 2025, Danielle Douglas-Gabriel interviews Kyra Taylor, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center for coverage of how the Education Department will resume applying interest on loans being repaid through the Biden-era SAVE program. And in less than three years, the program will cease to exist, which could happen sooner if Republicans succeed in abolishing the plan through the courts.

Yes, the remaining three IDR plans — Income-Based Repayment, Pay As You Earn and the Income-Contingent Repayment — are still open to borrowers, at least for now. After July 1, 2028, only the IBR plan will remain an option for current borrowers because of changes in the tax bill. For now, borrowers can enroll in the three plans and accrue qualifying payments toward loan forgiveness, said Kyra Taylor, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. Borrowers in Save can make payments on their loans, but they will not count toward debt cancellation.

The other IDR plans have different terms depending on when you borrowed and whether you have loans for undergraduate or graduate school. The loan simulator on studentaid.gov can help borrowers determine which plan is most affordable for them, but Taylor said that some borrowers have complained of not getting accurate calculations. Education Department officials said they are not aware of any problems with the simulator and noted borrowers can also contact their loan servicer — the companies that manage the federal portfolio — for help.