How to Complete Student Loan Recertification and Why It’s Important

Recertifying your student loans keeps your payments affordable under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. By updating your income and family size each year, your loan servicer can calculate a payment that reflects your current financial situation.

This guide covers everything you need to know, from the required documentation to step-by-step instructions, to help you navigate the student loan recertification process.

What is student loan recertification?

Student loan recertification is the yearly updating of your income and family size to ensure your payments remain affordable under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. 

Because IDR plans calculate your monthly payment based on your current financial situation, recertification is essential for keeping your repayment plan manageable and aligned with your ability to pay. 

If your income has increased in the past year, you’ll likely have to pay a bit more per month. If your income has decreased considerably, your student loan payments will, too. Your monthly payment will also decrease if you expand your family by having a child or adopting. 

By recertifying on time each year, you avoid unexpected payment increases and can prevent unpaid interest from being added to your loan principal. This process is also critical if you’re working toward loan forgiveness. Missing recertification deadlines may delay your progress or result in higher monthly payments. 

When to recertify 

The Department of Education requires all borrowers on an income-driven repayment plan to recertify yearly. The recertification date varies from borrower to borrower and is usually scheduled for a year after you first enrolled in the program or 12 months after your last certification. 

The company that services your student loan should contact you when it’s time to recertify it. Look for emails or check your account online to be sure you don’t miss the deadline.

If you miss the recertification deadline, you could be placed on a standard repayment plan, which has higher monthly payments. Other potential consequences of not recertifying on time include capitalizing any unpaid interest and losing benefits like interest subsidies. 

While recertification must be done at least once every year, you can recertify at any time if any changes affect your ability to repay. For example, if you have a child or you lose your job, you can contact your loan servicer to recertify immediately. 

How to recertify your student loans 

When it’s time to recertify your student loan, you have two options: recertifying online through the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website or sending documentation to your loan servicer by mail. Let’s take a closer look at each method. 

Online recertification

The easiest way to recertify your student loans is online through the (FSA) website. The application should only take 10 minutes from start to finish. Here’s what you need to do:

Step one: Log in to the FSA website: 

• Go to the income-driven repayment page on the FSA website.
• Scroll down to the “Returning IDR Borrowers” section and click the “Log in to Start” button.
• Enter your email address, phone number, FSA ID username, and your site password.
• Choose your preferred two-step verification method to receive a code to log in.

Step two: Access the recertification section

• Once you’re logged in, click on the “Manage Your Plan” button.
• A screen will pop up telling you what to expect from the process; click “Continue.”
• Select “Recertify my IDR plan” from the options presented to you.

Step three: Verify or update your information

• Confirm your personal information, such as name, email, address, and phone number.
• Review information about your federal student loans.
• Update any changes to your family size or marital status.

Step four: Provide income information

• If you filed taxes recently, select the option to allow the IRS to transfer your tax return information directly to the FSA system to streamline the process.
• If your income has changed or you don’t have a recent tax return on file, upload alternative documentation like a pay stub or letter from your employer.

Step five: Select your repayment plan

• You can choose whether to remain on your current income-driven plan or explore other IDR options. The site should provide potential monthly payments for each plan to help you compare and select the best one.  

Step six: Review and submit your application

• Carefully review all the information you’ve entered.
• Electronically sign and submit your recertification request.

Step seven: Receive confirmation

• After submission, you’ll receive confirmation on the website and via email. Your loan servicer will follow up if any additional information is required. 

Be careful about linking your tax return online if your income is lower than it was based on your prior tax return. It may be better for you to submit a more recent paystub as proof of documentation.

Crystal Rau, CFP®

Paper recertification

The Department of Education strongly recommends that borrowers recertify their student loans through the FSA website. If you prefer to submit a paper application, here are the steps to follow:

Step one: Download the form

• You can find the IDR Plan Request form in the FSA forms library.

Step two: Complete the form

• You’ll need to provide your:
  • Personal information
  • Reason for the application
  • Family size and marital status

Step three: Include income documentation

• You’ll need to supply documentation for all taxable income for you and your spouse.
• Standard proof of income is usually a pay stub or a letter from your employer stating how much you earn. (You can send copies of pay stubs if you prefer.)
• Mark how often you receive that amount—it is every week, two weeks, month, or year?
• If documentation isn’t available, include a signed statement that lists all sources of income, names, and addresses of businesses providing the income, plus an explanation of why you can’t obtain official documentation. 

Step four: Mail the application

• Place the application and supporting documents in an envelope and mail them to your student loan servicer; you can find the appropriate mailing address on their website. 

Required documentation

You actually need very little documentation to recertify your student loan. If you recertify online, you must authorize the IRS to transfer your last tax return information directly to the FSA website. 

To show proof of income, here is the documentation you may need to provide:

• Pay stubs
• Most recent tax return
• Bank statements
• A letter from your employer
• Profit and loss statements (if you’re self-employed)

Documentation should be provided for all sources of income, including what your spouse earns. If no proof of income is available, you’ll need to include a signed statement that explains why you have no documentation and lists all sources of income plus their contact information. 

You don’t need to offer proof of changes in family size; just enter details on the recertification form.

How to ensure a smooth recertification process

To make sure the recertification process goes as smoothly as possible, consider following these tips:

• Check your recertification date: Don’t just wait until you hear from your student loan service provider; look on its website to see your recertification date so you won’t be surprised.
• Set a reminder: Note your recertification date and put a reminder in your calendar so you won’t forget. Set the reminder for 30 or 60 days out to give yourself plenty of time.
• Gather documentation in advance: If you’re not using the IRS transfer function, keep your paycheck stubs and tax returns in one place so you can easily access them when it’s time to recertify. 
• Keep your info current: If your income or family size changes mid-year, don’t wait until you recertify to update it; request a recalculation immediately so your monthly payments can reflect the changes. 

Recertification notices are coming out (even for SAVE payors) typically a few months before your recertification date. You can check this date through studentaid.gov. View loan details, and keep drilling down until you get to the raw details of your loan details where you can see your recertification date. 

The drop dead date is 10 days before your recertification date to submit income information, otherwise you may be kicked off the income-driven repayment plan and your payment can go up much higher. Pay attention to your servicer’s notice as you need to pay attention to those key dates.

Crystal Rau, CFP®

FAQ

How do income fluctuations affect my student loan certification?

Significant changes in income can affect your monthly student loan payments under an IDR plan. During recertification, your monthly payment is recalculated based on your current income and family size. 

If your income has increased, your monthly payments may go up; if it has decreased, you may qualify for a lower payment. It’s also possible to recertify your income early if you experience a major income drop, allowing you to reduce your payments sooner rather than waiting for the annual recertification.

What if I miss my recertification deadline?

The consequences of missing your recertification deadline will depend on your repayment plan. Typically, if you don’t recertify by the deadline, your monthly payment may revert to the standard repayment amount, which is often higher. 

Any unpaid interest might be capitalized, meaning it’s added to your loan principal, which can increase the amount of interest you pay over time. Contact your loan servicer as soon as possible if you miss your deadline—it may be able to help you re-enroll in your IDR plan or find an alternative solution.

What is the impact of recertification on student loan forgiveness?

Recertification is essential if you work toward loan forgiveness under an income-driven repayment plan. It ensures your payments remain tied to your income, potentially keeping them affordable. 

Consistent on-time recertification keeps you on track for forgiveness after 20 to 25 years of qualifying payments under IDR plans or 10 years if you qualify for PSLF. Missing recertification can reset or delay your progress toward forgiveness, so staying up to date is critical to avoid setbacks.

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