PSLF Reconsideration Request Example: Free Template to Fix Your Payment Count

What Is a PSLF Reconsideration Request?

A PSLF reconsideration request asks the U.S. Department of Education to review a Public Service Loan Forgiveness determination that you believe is incorrect.

Your request may involve:

• An incorrect qualifying payment count
• Missing months in your payment history
• Payments incorrectly marked as ineligible
• A qualifying employment period that was not properly credited
• An employer eligibility determination
• A denial of PSLF or TEPSLF forgiveness
• A PSLF buyback request for eligible deferment or forbearance months

The official reconsideration page states that you should submit a request when you disagree with the qualifying payment count you received or the count displayed in your StudentAid.gov account. You will need to provide information supporting your position.

A reconsideration request is more specific than a general Student Loan Dispute Letter. You are not simply saying that your account is wrong. You are identifying a particular PSLF determination and presenting records that support a different result.

When Should You Submit a PSLF Reconsideration Request?

You should consider submitting a reconsideration request when Federal Student Aid has completed a review and you can identify a specific error.

1. Your Qualifying Payment Count Is Too Low

For example, your account may show 107 qualifying payments even though you believe you completed 120 qualifying payment months while working for an approved public service employer.

Your request should identify the 13 missing months rather than simply stating that the total is incorrect.

2. Certain Months Are Missing Completely

You may find that a period from a former loan servicer does not appear in your PSLF payment history.

For example:

• January 2016 through December 2016 is missing.
• Your employment for that year has already been approved.
• Your prior servicer’s payment history shows 12 payments.
• Your StudentAid.gov account does not list those months as eligible or ineligible.

This is a strong situation for a documented payment-count reconsideration request.

3. Payments Are Marked Ineligible for a Reason You Dispute

A payment may be categorized as ineligible because of:

• The repayment plan
• Payment timing
• Loan status
• Deferment or forbearance
• Missing employment certification
• A payment amount issue
• An incomplete or incorrect record transferred by a former servicer

Your request should quote or summarize the displayed reason and then provide evidence showing why that reason does not apply.

4. Your Qualifying Employment Was Not Properly Credited

You may have worked full-time for a government agency or eligible nonprofit organization, but the employment period was excluded or only partially approved.

Before filing reconsideration, verify:

• The employer’s correct federal Employer Identification Number
• Your employment start and end dates
• Your average weekly hours
• Whether you were a W-2 employee
• Whether the employer signed your PSLF form
• Whether the form was processed
• Whether your account shows the employment period as approved

Federal Student Aid explains that the employer EIN normally appears in Box b of your W-2. If an employer is missing or marked ineligible in the PSLF employer database, you may be asked to upload documentation supporting its eligibility.

5. You Received a PSLF Forgiveness Denial

Current federal regulations generally provide a 90-day period following a formal notice denying forgiveness to request reconsideration of whether an employer or payment should receive PSLF credit. Your denial notice may contain additional instructions or deadlines, so follow the notice you received and submit promptly.

When Reconsideration May Not Be the Right First Step

A PSLF reconsideration request is designed to challenge a determination. It is not always the correct way to fix an incomplete form or a pending review.

Your Employer Has Not Signed the PSLF Form

Check the status under “My Activity” in your StudentAid.gov account. You may need to resend the electronic signature request or obtain a manual signature.

Your Employment Dates or Hours Are Incorrect

When the dates or employment information on your PSLF form are wrong, you may need to correct and resubmit the PSLF form instead of challenging the resulting count.

Your PSLF Form Is Still Being Processed

Reconsideration is not primarily a request to accelerate ordinary processing. Wait until you receive a completed determination unless Federal Student Aid specifically directs you to submit reconsideration.

You Have Not Certified the Affected Employment

A payment generally cannot become a qualifying PSLF payment until the related qualifying employment has been certified and approved. Submit the appropriate PSLF form before arguing that the payment count is wrong.

You Need Temporary Payment Relief

Reconsideration does not lower your current payment or grant financial hardship assistance. For that type of request, review Sample Hardship Letter for Student Loans or Financial Hardship Letter Templates.

Your Dispute Involves a Private Student Loan

PSLF applies to eligible federal Direct Loans. A dispute involving a private student loan must normally be addressed to the private lender or servicer.

Build Your Evidence Packet With Student Finance Evidence Cover Letters

Your reconsideration request is only as strong as the records supporting it.

Create a separate folder containing your PSLF correspondence, payment histories, employment records, and screenshots. Label every attachment so the reviewer can match it to your explanation.

Documents That May Strengthen Your Request

Depending on your situation, consider including:

• The PSLF determination or denial letter
• A screenshot of your current qualifying payment count
• A screenshot showing the affected months and status
• Your complete payment history from the applicable servicer
• Bank statements showing the payments cleared
• Payment confirmation emails
• Prior servicer correspondence
• Previously submitted PSLF forms
• Employer-signed certification forms
• W-2 forms for the affected years
• Pay stubs covering the disputed employment period
• A letter from your employer confirming dates and weekly hours
• Loan consolidation documents
• Repayment-plan approval notices
• Deferment or forbearance notices
• A one-page timeline of relevant events

Do not upload unrelated records simply to make your submission look larger. Every attachment should prove a fact mentioned in your reconsideration statement.

How to Write Your PSLF Reconsideration Explanation

Your explanation should be organized in five parts.

Part 1: Identify the Determination

State what your account currently shows.

Example:

My StudentAid.gov account currently shows 108 qualifying PSLF payments as of July 15, 2026.

Part 2: State the Correction You Believe Is Required

Explain what the count should be.

Example:

Based on my certified employment and payment records, I believe my qualifying payment count should be 120.

Part 3: Identify the Exact Months in Dispute

List the affected payment periods.

Example:

The 12 disputed months are January 2018 through December 2018.

Part 4: Explain Why Those Months Qualify

Connect your employment, loan, payment, and supporting records.

Example:

During all 12 months, I worked full-time for an approved county government employer. My employment for this period was certified on March 10, 2026. My former servicer’s payment history shows that a scheduled payment was received for each disputed month.

Part 5: Request a Specific Resolution

Do not end with “Please help me.”

Request an exact action.

Example:

I respectfully request that Federal Student Aid review the attached records, update the 12 disputed months to qualifying payments, and revise my total PSLF count from 108 to 120.

This factual format follows the same approval-focused structure used in How to Write an Appeal Letter That Gets Approved.

PSLF Reconsideration Request Example for Missing Payments

The following hypothetical example is written for the explanation or narrative portion of the online PSLF reconsideration request. Replace every bracketed section with your information.

Subject: PSLF Reconsideration Request for Incorrect Qualifying Payment Count

I am requesting reconsideration of the qualifying payment count currently displayed for my federal Direct Loans.

As of [date you reviewed your account], my StudentAid.gov account shows [current number] qualifying PSLF payments. Based on my approved qualifying employment and the attached payment records, I believe the correct count is [expected number].

The following payment periods appear to be missing or incorrectly classified:

• [Month and year]
• [Month and year]
• [Month and year]
• [Add additional months as needed]

During each of these months, I was employed full-time by [employer’s legal name], EIN [employer EIN], from [employment start date] through [employment end date]. I worked an average of [number] hours per week.

My employment for this period was certified through a PSLF form submitted on [submission date]. The form was signed by [name or title of authorized official] on [signature date]. My StudentAid.gov account shows the employment period as [approved, processed, partially approved, or other status].

I believe these months should receive qualifying payment credit for the following reasons:

1. My employment during the disputed period was with a qualifying public service employer.
2. The attached payment history from [servicer name] shows payments for the disputed months.
3. The attached [bank statements, account statements, or payment confirmations] show that the payments were processed.
4. The affected loans were [identify the Direct Loan type or types].
5. The payment periods fall within the qualifying employment dates already provided to Federal Student Aid.

The current account record appears to classify these months as [quote the displayed status or reason, such as “employment not certified,” “payment not qualifying,” or “month missing from history”]. I believe that classification is incorrect because [brief explanation tied directly to your evidence].

I respectfully request that Federal Student Aid:

1. Review the disputed payment periods listed above;
2. Review the attached payment and employment documentation;
3. Update all months that satisfy PSLF requirements;
4. Correct my qualifying payment count from [current count] to [expected count]; and
5. Provide a written explanation identifying which months were approved or denied and the reason for each determination.

I have attached the following documents:

• Attachment A: PSLF determination or payment-count notice dated [date]
• Attachment B: StudentAid.gov qualifying payment summary
• Attachment C: Payment history from [servicer]
• Attachment D: Bank or payment confirmation records
• Attachment E: Approved PSLF employment certification
• Attachment F: W-2 or pay records for [year]
• Attachment G: Relevant correspondence from [servicer or Federal Student Aid]

Thank you for reviewing my PSLF eligibility and qualifying payment count. Please contact me through the information associated with my StudentAid.gov account if additional documentation is required.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[StudentAid.gov Case Number, if available]
[Loan identification information requested by the form]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

Completed PSLF Reconsideration Request Example

This completed example shows how a concise request might look. The names, numbers, employer, and dates are fictional.

Subject: Reconsideration of 12 Missing PSLF Qualifying Payments

I am requesting reconsideration of the qualifying payment count displayed for my Direct Unsubsidized Consolidation Loan.

On July 15, 2026, my StudentAid.gov account showed 108 qualifying PSLF payments. I believe the correct total is 120 because payments made from January 2018 through December 2018 are not included in my qualifying payment count.

During the entire disputed period, I worked full-time for the Brookfield County Department of Health. I worked 40 hours per week from August 7, 2014, through the present. My employer’s EIN is XX-XXXXXXX.

My employment for January 2018 through December 2018 was included in the PSLF form I submitted on March 10, 2026. The form was signed electronically by the county’s authorized human resources representative on March 12, 2026. My StudentAid.gov account now shows that employment period as approved.

The 12 payment months do not appear in my current payment history. My former servicer’s payment history, included as Attachment C, shows that monthly payments of $325 were received during each of the affected months. The corresponding bank records are included as Attachment D.

Because my employment has been approved and the payment records show payments for all 12 months, I respectfully request that Federal Student Aid review January 2018 through December 2018 and add all qualifying months to my PSLF payment count.

I further request that my qualifying payment count be corrected from 108 to 120 and that I receive a written determination identifying the result for each disputed month.

Attachments:

• Attachment A: PSLF payment-count notice
• Attachment B: StudentAid.gov payment summary
• Attachment C: Former servicer payment history
• Attachment D: Bank payment records
• Attachment E: Approved PSLF employment certification
• Attachment F: 2018 W-2

Thank you for your review.

Sincerely,

Jordan Ellis
PSLF Case Number: 00000000
Email: jordan.ellis@example.com
Phone: 555-555-0100

PSLF Employer Eligibility Reconsideration Example

Use this version only after checking the employer’s EIN, employment dates, PSLF Help Tool status, and supporting documentation.

Subject: Request for Reconsideration of PSLF Employer Eligibility Determination

I am requesting reconsideration of the determination that my employer, [employer’s legal name], did not qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness during my employment from [start date] through [end date].

My employer’s federal EIN is [EIN]. I obtained this number from [Box b of my W-2 or another verified employer record].

I believe the employer determination should be reviewed because [explain the organization’s government or nonprofit status and the specific reason you believe it qualifies].

I was a W-2 employee of this organization and worked an average of [number] hours per week. I was not an independent contractor.

The attached documents include:

• My W-2 forms for [years]
• Pay stubs from the affected period
• A letter from the employer confirming my employment
• Documentation showing the employer’s organizational status
• The PSLF employer determination
• Previously submitted PSLF forms
• Additional records supporting employer eligibility

I respectfully request that Federal Student Aid reconsider the employer determination, approve my qualifying employment from [start date] through [end date], and update the payment counts associated with that employment period.

Please provide a written explanation of the final determination and identify any additional documentation needed.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Case Number]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

How to Submit Your PSLF Reconsideration Request

The reconsideration request is submitted through StudentAid.gov.

Step 1: Review Your PSLF Account

Log in and examine:

• Your total qualifying payment count
• Individual payment months
• The reason assigned to each ineligible month
• Employment certification periods
• PSLF form status
• Correspondence and determination letters

StudentAid.gov allows you to view your qualifying payment progress, individual payment history, employer certifications, PSLF form activity, and correspondence in one location.

Step 2: Make a List of the Disputed Months

Do not rely only on the total.

Create a list such as:

• January 2018 — Missing
• February 2018 — Missing
• March 2018 — Marked “employment not certified”
• April 2018 — Marked “payment not qualifying”

This helps you write a targeted request.

Step 3: Match Evidence to Each Month

For every disputed month, determine whether you can prove:

• Qualifying employment
• A qualifying loan
• The relevant loan status
• The payment or applicable payment period
• Any special deferment or forbearance circumstances

Step 4: Prepare Your Explanation

Use the example above, but remove anything that does not apply to your case.

Keep your explanation:

• Factual
• Chronological
• Specific
• Professional
• Focused on the disputed determination

Step 5: Upload Your Supporting Documents

Use clear filenames, such as:

• Attachment-A-PSLF-Determination.pdf
• Attachment-B-Payment-Count.pdf
• Attachment-C-2018-Payment-History.pdf
• Attachment-D-2018-W2.pdf
• Attachment-E-Employer-Letter.pdf

Step 6: Save Your Confirmation

After submitting, save:

• The confirmation page
• Submission date
• Case number
• A copy of your written explanation
• A copy of every attachment
• Any confirmation email

PSLF Buyback and Reconsideration Requests

PSLF buyback may allow certain months spent in deferment or forbearance to receive PSLF credit when you had qualifying employment, subject to the program’s requirements.

Federal Student Aid currently directs eligible borrowers to submit a request through PSLF Reconsideration, select the PSLF buyback request type, and confirm that they have at least 120 months of qualifying employment.

Do not use the standard missing-payment example without reviewing the specific PSLF buyback instructions. A buyback request may require different language, income information, and payment calculations.

Before submitting a buyback request, confirm that:

• You have at least 120 months of approved qualifying employment.
• The disputed months involve an eligible deferment or forbearance period.
• Adding those months would result in forgiveness.
• You have reviewed the current instructions on StudentAid.gov.
• You use the precise statement required by the official buyback process.

Common PSLF Reconsideration Mistakes

Mistake 1: Disputing Only the Total

Saying “My count should be higher” does not tell the reviewer which months require investigation.

Better approach: List every disputed month.

Mistake 2: Sending a Long Personal Story

Your public service may be meaningful, but reconsideration is decided through program records and supporting evidence.

Better approach: Use a short timeline and attach proof.

Mistake 3: Failing to Address the Displayed Reason

When your account says a month is ineligible because employment was not certified, explain when and how the employment was certified.

Mistake 4: Uploading Unlabeled Documents

A 70-page payment history without an explanation forces the reviewer to find the disputed entries.

Better approach: Highlight the relevant entries and identify them in your request.

Mistake 5: Combining Unrelated Problems

Do not combine a payment-count dispute, credit-reporting complaint, hardship request, and repayment-plan complaint into one reconsideration submission.

A separate Student Loan Appeal Letter may be more appropriate for unrelated servicing issues.

Mistake 6: Leaving Out New Evidence

Federal regulations state that reconsideration may consider relevant evidence and additional supporting documentation not previously provided. After a reconsideration decision, another review generally requires additional evidence.

Mistake 7: Missing the Deadline in Your Notice

When you receive a formal forgiveness denial, review the date immediately. Current regulations generally provide 90 days to request reconsideration after the denial notice is sent.

Mistake 8: Including Sensitive Information Unnecessarily

Do not place your full Social Security number, full bank account number, or account password in an attachment unless an official form specifically requires the information.

Redact unrelated financial transactions from bank statements while leaving the relevant payment entries visible.

What Happens After You Submit?

Federal Student Aid reviews the information available in its records along with the supporting documentation submitted by you or your employer.

Under the current PSLF regulation:

• The Department considers relevant evidence.
• It may consider additional documentation not previously supplied.
• You should receive notice of the reconsideration decision and the reason for it.
• If the Department determines that you qualify, it may adjust your qualifying payment count or grant forgiveness, as appropriate.
• A reconsideration decision is generally final unless you later present additional evidence.

Continue monitoring:

• Your email
• Your StudentAid.gov “My Activity” section
• Your PSLF payment count
• Your account correspondence
• Requests for additional documentation

Do not assume that a closed case means every requested correction was made. Compare the final determination against the exact months listed in your request