Red Flag Diagnostic
Student loan red flags and immediate fixes
| Red Flag | What It Means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Balance is growing despite making payments | Not covering accruing interest | Switch to SAVE (government covers excess interest) |
| Never filed PSLF certification | Payments may not be counting | File ECF immediately at StudentAid.gov |
| Servicer isn’t MOHELA and you’re doing PSLF | Wrong servicer for PSLF | Consolidate to Direct Loans with MOHELA as servicer |
| On standard plan with DTI > 1.5× | Paying unnecessarily high payment | Evaluate SAVE or IDR plans |
| Haven’t recertified IDR income in 12+ months | Paying wrong amount; potential late certification issues | Recertify immediately at StudentAid.gov |
| Missed payments (30+ days late) | Credit damage + interest capitalization | Bring current immediately; request forbearance if needed |
The Annual Student Loan Audit
- Log into StudentAid.gov — verify your loan types, balances, servicers, and payment counts
- Confirm you’re on the correct repayment plan for your situation
- If pursuing PSLF: submit annual Employment Certification and verify payment count
- If on IDR: recertify income (required annually; deadline 21 days before anniversary)
- Check your credit report for any missed payment notations
- Compare current balance to starting balance — is it going down?
💡The StudentAid.gov Hub
StudentAid.gov is the official, authoritative source for all federal student loan information. Your loan balance, servicer, repayment plan, and PSLF payment count are all visible here. Log in annually (or quarterly for PSLF borrowers) to audit your situation and catch errors before they compound.
Check if Your Strategy Is Working
Enter your current balance and monthly payment — see if you’re making meaningful progress toward payoff.