Your Next Move

Instead of new updates today, I’m sharing the articles we updated this week — the ones that help you make the decisions you’re facing right now. Bookmark what applies to you.

1/ If you’re a SAVE borrower choosing your next plan

You know the timeline: the Department is emailing you now, your servicer sends a formal notice onJuly 1, and you have 90 days to pick a plan. If you missed my earlier breakdown, here’s the video version. The question iswhichplan?

These will help:

Should You Switch IDR Plans in 2026? — This is the decision tree — when to switch, what carries over, and what happens during processing. If you only read one article, make it this one.

What Happens to IBR and SAVE Borrowers When RAP Starts — RAP launches July 1. This explains how the transition works, whether your payment history carries over, and how to compare RAP against staying in IBR. It also covers what happened to SAVE legally — the Final Rule was vacated on March 10.

PAYE vs IBR: Which Plan Is Better for You?— If you’re eligible for both PAYE and IBR, calculate payments differently and forgive on different timelines. This breaks down which one saves you more.

PAYE vs RAP: How the New Plan Compares— If you’re weighing whether to switch to PAYE now or wait for RAP in July, this is the side-by-side comparison — payment formulas, interest treatment, and forgiveness terms.

Why Did My Federal Student Loan Payment Increase?— If you’ve already been moved off SAVE and your payment jumped, this explains why and how to bring it back down.

2/ If you have Parent PLUS loans

Today — April 1 — is the date that other consumer advocates and I have been recommending as your target for submitting a consolidation application.The hard deadline is June 30, 2026, but that’s a** disbursement deadline**. Your consolidation has to be fully processed by then. Processing takes 6–8 weeks, which is why today matters.

If you haven’t started yet, start today. If you’ve already applied, make sure you’re tracking the status. Here’s what to read:

Parent PLUS Loan Consolidation: What It Does, What It Doesn’t, and What Changed— The mechanics of consolidation, what it unlocks, and what the OBBBA changed. Start here if you haven’t consolidated yet.

IBR vs ICR: Which Plan Saves You the Most Money?— Once you consolidate, you’ll need to pick a repayment plan. For Parent PLUS borrowers, you’ll have to choose ICR first, and then you can switch to IBR. This walks you through both.

Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness: Your Options, Timeline, and Deadlines— If forgiveness is part of your strategy — whether through ICR’s 25-year timeline or PSLF — this covers your options and deadlines.

Student Loan Changes on July 1, 2026— The comprehensive timeline of everything changing. Parent PLUS is one piece, but if you also have loans in your own name, this covers the full landscape.

Not sure where to start?

If you want the foundations before diving into the comparisons above:

Income-Driven Repayment: How It Works— The primer on how IDR plans work, who’s eligible, and how payments are calculated.

Student Loan Repayment Options— Every federal repayment plan in one place — Standard, Extended, Graduated, and income-driven.

Income-Based Repayment— A deep dive on IBR specifically — how it calculates payments, who qualifies, and why it’s the plan most borrowers are landing on right now.

Pay As You Earn (PAYE)— PAYE is still open for now, but isscheduled to close to new enrollments. This covers the eligibility rules and payment formula.

And, as always, if you want to walk through your file and determine whether the issue is eligibility or a record error, you can schedule a consultation here: https://www.tateesq.com/book-a-call

I mentioned in my last two emails that I’ve been dealing with some health stuff. Small update.

I’m feeling better. Not all the way — but better. I’ve been outside the past couple of days, going for walks, getting sunlight, and doing something I don’t do enough of: just thinking. Not about cases or content or the next email. Just about what the future looks like.

At the end of the month, I’m heading back down to Puerto Rico. We’ve got floors to put in, bathrooms and a kitchen to finish, and I’m hoping my client Alex M. — he’s a solar provider on the island — can help me get panels installed. It’s the kind of project that puts your hands on something real — and I need more of that in my life right now.

Also, I still haven’t watched the Paradise finale. I’m saving it for Friday at the cigar lounge. Nobody spoil it for me.

The consultation model email is still coming — look for it later this week.