THE MOHELA PSLF CHAOS MACHINE

 

Mohela is the primary servicer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — but right now, it is at the center of a nationwide breakdown affecting thousands of borrowers. After multiple account transfers, system migrations, and backlog problems, Mohela is producing PSLF errors that directly threaten forgiveness timelines for teachers, nurses, first responders, government employees, and nonprofit workers.

 

As a federal-court attorney with 35 years of experience, I’m seeing the same pattern across the country:

 

     •PSLF counts suddenly drop, freeze, or disappear

     •Employer Certification Forms never been processed

     •10–18 years of IDR years missing or incomplete

     •Payment histories out of sync with bank records

     •Consolidations recorded incorrectly

     •Old service histories never imported

     •Mohela’s system is showing fewer months than the borrower actually paid

 

These errors are not minor — and they are not your fault.

They are structural failures caused by years of system transfers and Mohela’s inability to integrate borrower payment histories accurately.

 

 

Why This PSLF Chaos Is Happening

 

Between 2021 and 2025, millions of borrower accounts moved through several servicers:

 

     •FedLoan → Mohela

     •Mohela → Aidvantage

     •Aidvantage → Nelnet

     •Nelnet → Central Servicing System

 

During these migrations, many borrowers lost:

 

     •Payment records•Consolidation history

     •Past IDR enrollment•Forbearance/deferral data

     •Employer certification approvals•Months of qualifying PSLF progress

 

These missing records directly determine whether you receive forgiveness — or are told you “don’t qualify” even when you do.

 

Top Mohela PSLF Problems Right Now

 

1. PSLF Count Suddenly Dropped

 

Borrowers who had 90–110 qualifying months now see 40–70.

 

2. Employer Certifications Lost

 

ECFs submitted between 2021 and 2024 often never appear in Mohela’s system.

 

3. IDR Years Missing

 

Years of repayment under IBR, PAYE, or REPAYE are not credited toward PSLF.

 

4. Consolidation Errors

 

Some consolidations were recorded as “brand new loans,” resetting progress.

 

5. Payment History Doesn’t Match Reality

 

Mohela’s records often show fewer payments than borrowers actually made.

 

6. PSLF Counts Frozen for Months

 

Some borrowers haven’t had an updated PSLF count since early 2024.

 

Why This Matters

 

Incorrect PSLF tracking means:

 

     •Delayed forgiveness

     •Being told you’re “not eligible” when you are

     •Paying thousands more than required

     •Missing out on expiring credit-adjustment rules

     •Losing years of progress that should count toward forgiveness

 

And critically — the IDR and PSLF one-time adjustment rules that can fix many of these errors expire 12/31/2025.

 

If your Mohela account is inaccurate, the clock is now running.

 

How I Analyze Mohela PSLF Errors and Help You Fix Them

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Instead of relying on whatever number Mohela shows, we step back and reconstruct your PSLF and IDR history together. The goal is to give you a clear, legally-informed roadmap you can use to challenge errors and protect your forgiveness timeline.

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Step 1 — Rebuild Your Payment History (Collaborative Review)

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During your session, we review:

• Mohela account transcripts

• Prior servicer histories

• Consolidation records

• Employer certification history

• Bank and payroll evidence (where available)

The purpose is to help you maintain your own accurate lifetime PSLF timeline, independent of whatever Mohela’s screen currently shows.

 

Step 2 — Identify Your True PSLF and IDR Credits

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Together, we walk through:

• Months that should qualify as PSLF payments

• Employer-eligible months

• Periods you were enrolled in IDR (IBR, PAYE, REPAYE, etc.)

• Forbearance and deferment periods that may be misclassified

• Misapplied or reversed payments

• Years that should count but weren’t credited

You leave with a working understanding of where Mohela is off, and why, so you can decide how to proceed.

 

Step 3 — Guidance on Making an Administrative Challenge

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I do not contact Mohela or the Department of Education for you as part of a consultation. Instead, I:

• Explain the federal regulations and guidance that apply

• Point out where your facts don’t match what Mohela is showing

• Outline the kinds of documents and timelines that typically matter

• Discuss options for disputing errors through servicer channels, FSA, or escalation routes

You can then use this information to pursue an administrative challenge yourself, with local counsel, or — if appropriate and we both agree — under a separate, formal engagement.

 

By the End of Your Analysis, You’ll Understand:

• Your best estimate of your true PSLF count

• How far Mohela’s record appears to be off — and the likely reasons

• Which credits may be restorable under current IDR/PSLF adjustment rules

• Whether forgiveness may be available now or in the near future

• Whether consolidation is necessary or would reset progress

• Whether you’re better served by continued IDR, administrative challenge, or exploring discharge options

• Whether bankruptcy discharge may be realistic under current DOJ guidelines

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My role in this setting is to cut through the chaos so you can see your situation clearly and make informed decisions about next steps — not to replace your servicer, your loan servicer’s duties, or your local counsel.

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