PSLF Payment Count Wrong or Missing Months? What to Do (2026)

The short answer: in 2026 most wrong PSLF counts come from one of two problems: payments from July and August that haven’t posted yet, or an August recount that took some payments away. Screenshot your tracker today, keep paying, and follow the steps below in order.^5,4

Two different problems in 2026

What you see	Likely cause	What it means
July and August payments missing, count stuck (for example at 118)	Posting delay after the July 1, 2026 system overhaul	Your servicer received the payments; they haven’t reached your PSLF count yet. Reports suggest updates within 60 to 90 days, and those payments still count.^6,5
Your count went down in August	The Department corrected counting errors traced to system changes from May 2024	Payments that had been marked as qualifying were removed. Some removals may be right; others may be mistakes you can challenge.^4,5

You can have one problem, the other, or both at once.⁵

Other reasons a payment doesn’t count

Check this	The rule
Employment certified	Every month needs qualifying employment on record. Certify every year and whenever you change employers.¹
Full-time	At least 30 hours a week on average, alone or combined across qualifying employers.¹
Full amount paid	Each month counts when you pay at least the full scheduled amount, even if you pay it in several installments.³
Qualifying plan	Income-driven plans and the 10-year Standard count; Tiered Standard generally doesn’t.⁷
Deferment or forbearance	Only some count automatically (for example cancer treatment, economic hardship, military, AmeriCorps). Other months, like the SAVE forbearance, can only be recovered with PSLF Buyback.^3,8
Consolidated loans	Your new consolidation loan gets the weighted average of the qualifying payments on the loans you combined.³
Loan type	Only Direct Loans qualify. FFEL and Perkins loans must be consolidated first.⁷

How to check your count

Open your PSLF tracker on studentaid.gov and note your qualifying payments and qualifying employment months.
Compare month by month with your servicer’s payment history and your bank statements.
Screenshot everything today, with the date: the tracker, your payment history and your employment certifications.⁵

How to get it fixed, in order

Keep paying. Don’t stop while you wait; payments you make now still count.⁵
Submit a PSLF form with the PSLF Help Tool for any job or period not certified. A processed form also refreshes your count.^1,7
If only July and August are missing, give it up to 60 to 90 days before escalating, and check again after each update.⁶
File a PSLF Reconsideration request on studentaid.gov if months are still wrong. Say what your account shows, why it’s wrong, and attach proof: bank statements, servicer statements, pay stubs. It’s free and has no deadline.^2,7
Contact the FSA Ombudsman if the reconsideration stalls or the answer is wrong.⁹
Ask your U.S. Representative’s office for help with a federal agency (casework). They can send a formal inquiry to the Department.⁷

Close to 120? When you certify your final employment, make sure the period is marked “still employed” or signed by your employer in the same month as your end date.¹

Missing months from the SAVE forbearance?

Months in the SAVE forbearance don’t count on their own. Once you have 120 months of qualifying employment, PSLF Buyback may let you pay for them so they count.⁸ See whether buying them back would finish you sooner with our free PSLF Buyback calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my PSLF count go down in August 2026?

The Department of Education corrected counting errors it traced to system changes made in May 2024, and removed some payments that had been marked as qualifying. If you think a month was removed by mistake, file a PSLF Reconsideration request with proof of payment and employment.

Why are my July and August payments missing from my PSLF count?

Many borrowers’ July and August 2026 payments haven’t posted to their PSLF count after the July 1 system overhaul. The payments were received; reports suggest the count updates within 60 to 90 days, and those payments still count.

Do payments made in installments count for PSLF?

Yes. A month counts when you pay at least the full scheduled amount, even if you split it into several payments.

Does consolidating reset my PSLF count?

No. Your Direct Consolidation Loan gets the weighted average of the qualifying payments made on the loans you consolidated.

How do I dispute my PSLF payment count?

Submit a PSLF Reconsideration request on studentaid.gov with what your account shows, why it’s wrong, and proof such as bank and servicer statements. If it stalls, contact the FSA Ombudsman.

PSLF payment count wrong or missing months: what to do