December is always a prime month for financial housekeeping, and December 2024 saw record numbers of borrowers taking stock of their PSLF journeys. The DOE’s December 4, 2024 announcement urged borrowers to pull annual payment summaries from both their servicers and studentaid.gov, checking that SAVE enrollments and IDR adjustments were properly reflected.
HR offices at schools and hospitals reported a surge in last-minute ECF submissions, as workers sought to document a full year of qualifying employment before new tax forms changed household income pictures. This also helped lock in counts ahead of anticipated rule shifts still under DOE review for mid-2025.
Financial outlets like CNBC (December 10, 2024) published guides walking borrowers through step-by-step year-end PSLF audits: downloading IRS letters for employer status, comparing servicer statements to National Student Loan Data System histories, and filing complaints early if mismatches appeared.
December also brought reminders that SAVE’s recalculation windows typically start in spring based on taxes. Borrowers hoping to keep ultra-low payments into 2025 were advised to gather W-2s and plan IDR recertifications carefully, minimizing surprises that could throw off PSLF timelines.
By month’s end, thousands were closing the year feeling more secure. The combination of retroactive IDR credits and strict personal recordkeeping left many positioned to hit 120 payments much faster than they’d once believed possible.