Short answer: yes, RAP payments count toward PSLF.
What OBBBA did
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act amended Public Service Loan Forgiveness so that payments made under the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) count toward the 120 qualifying payments. This provision was effective on the law’s enactment (July 4, 2025), even though RAP itself opens July 1, 2026.
Which plans count toward PSLF in 2026
| Plan | Counts toward PSLF |
|---|---|
| RAP | Yes |
| IBR | Yes |
| SAVE / PAYE / ICR (while available) | Yes |
| New tiered Standard | No |
| Classic Standard / Graduated / Extended | No |
Source: Federal Student Aid, as of June 2026. RAP eligibility added by OBBBA.
Why this matters for new borrowers
Borrowers whose first loan is on or after July 1, 2026 can only use RAP or the new tiered Standard plan. Since the tiered Standard plan does not count toward PSLF, anyone working in public service and aiming for forgiveness should be on RAP.
PSLF in brief
PSLF forgives your remaining Direct Loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) while working full-time for a government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit employer. The forgiven amount is not federally taxed. On RAP, that 10-year PSLF clock runs in place of RAP’s own 30-year forgiveness.
Read the full PSLF guide, the RAP plan page, and use the forgiveness timeline calculator.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Verify with your servicer and studentaid.gov.