A timely discussion of what happens as we face down the expiration of the IDR waiver. Will the administration extend it at the last second? We don't know (as of the time of the recording). But one thing is sure: Borrowers can expect seismic shifts as the IDR waiver ends. It's been key to unlocking the forgiveness gates for many, but its flexible counting of nearly any kind of payment toward forgiveness expires at the end of April. We'll recap the IDR waiver and its benefits and explore what happens after the IDR waiver ends. Get clarity about your next steps and the implications of these changes on your student loan repayment journey. In today’s episode, you'll find out: How the end of the IDR waiver impacts borrowers who've been in forbearance or deferment Changes borrowers should prepare for after the IDR waiver expires How borrowers with older loans will suffer the biggest consequences as this program ends Options for maximizing qualifying payment count when consolidating loans Consequences borrowers will face when Pay As You Earn (PAYE) applications close What the precedent of moving borrowers from REPAYE to the SAVE plan means for the future of IDR programs How to calculate the cost-benefit of married filing separately for taxes Tips to navigate the PSLF pause during the transition from MOHELA to the Department of Education  What “consolidation Death Valley" is and why it could impact you in May-June 2024 Best practices for dealing with the coming uncertainty of student loans Links mentioned:  StudentAid.gov   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning   Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!