The Department of Education's income-driven repayment (IDR) application backlog dropped to 530,295 at the end of April 2026, down from 553,966 a month earlier, the agency reported in its court-ordered status filing (PDF File) on May 13, 2026.
The Department's loan servicers decided 456,594 IDR applications in April — a new monthly high, surpassing the 424,583 it processed in March. The roughly 24,000-application drop in pending cases came even though the agency processed zero IDR plan discharges last month (though that's due to administrative issues).
It's important to note that roughly 7 million borrowers in the SAVE forbearance need to change repayment plans in the next few months. It's likely that application volume will dramatically increase, and so processing volume will be a key indicator to watch.
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By The Numbers (April 1-30, 2026)
- 444,692 IDR applications received (vs. 321,481 in March)
- 456,594 IDR applications decided with 401,561 approved, 55,033 denied
- 530,295 IDR applications still pending
- 0 IDR plan discharges processed (vs. 21,200 in March)
- 11,500 PSLF discharges (vs. 10,050 in March)
- 88,000 PSLF Buyback applications pending (vs. 89,720 in March)
Why it matters: Income-driven repayment plans tie monthly student loan payments to a borrower's income and family size. The pending applications are for borrowers who are enrolling for the first time, switching plans, and recertifying income annually. Application volume is increasing largely because borrowers pushed off SAVE need to change plans and recertification season is back on the annual calendar for others.
The discharge holdup: After processing 21,200 IDR plan discharges in March (10,500 IBR, 9,900 Original ICR, 800 PAYE), ED logged zero discharges in April. The agency's March eligibility check identified another batch (3,600 IBR, 1,400 Original ICR, and 300 PAYE borrowers) but data validation problems pushed the file delivery to loan servicers into mid-April. ED says servicers should begin processing those discharges in May. We've seen a general trend of every-other-month for IDR loan forgiveness.
The PSLF Buyback wrinkle: ED disclosed for the first time that 18,000 to 19,000 of the 88,000 pending PSLF Buyback applications are duplicates. Borrowers can only receive one Buyback offer per loan, but many submitted multiple requests. ED plans to identify and remove duplicates upfront rather than administratively denying them after a Buyback offer is made.
ED also did not break out approvals and denials for the 6,870 PSLF Buyback decisions made in April, citing a data delay. An updated report is expected next week.
It's nice to note that the PSLF Buyback Backlog declined for the first time. Removing the duplicates and accounting for the larger amount processed, the PSLF buyback backlog is down to taking just 10 months to clear.
However, this month's processing numbers are an outlier. It will be interesting to see the updated data next week. If we rely on the normal 2,000 - 3,000 applications processed we've seen, the backlog may still take up to 2 years.
How this connects: This update follows our prior coverage of the March report, when 553,966 borrowers were stuck in the backlog despite record processing. April's 444,692 incoming applications was the highest monthly application volume since the court began requiring monthly disclosures, meaning ED is now processing fast enough to outpace a much heavier inflow than what it faced earlier this year. However, will it be up to the challenge of migrating 7 million borrowers in SAVE forbearance?
What's next: May's report should show the first IDR discharges from the March eligibility batch, the missing PSLF Buyback approval and denial breakout from April, and the next round of eligibility identification. The next monthly status report is due in mid-June.
Common Questions:
What should SAVE plan borrowers do right now before forbearance ends?
SAVE borrowers should proactively choose a new repayment plan rather than wait, since forbearance is ending and inaction risks being auto-enrolled in the higher-cost Standard Plan.
Why were zero IDR plan discharges processed in April 2026, and when will that change?
The Education Department runs discharge eligibility checks only every other month, so April fell between batches—but the May report should show the first IDR discharges coming out of the March eligibility batch.
How significant is the April IDR processing record, and how long could it take to clear the full backlog?
April set a record with 456,594 IDR applications decided, cutting the backlog to 530,295, though the department flagged that figure as an outlier and cautioned that the pace may not hold steady going forward.
What is PSLF Buyback and what is happening with the 88,000 pending applications?
PSLF Buyback lets public servants retroactively count certain forbearance or deferment periods toward forgiveness, and the Education Department disclosed for the first time that roughly 18,000 to 19,000 of the 88,000 pending applications are duplicates it plans to remove upfront, bringing the effective backlog down to about a 10-month wait—though that depends on April's elevated processing pace holding. We've not seen that low amount of delay yet so it would be surprising if it holds.
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Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.