Thousands of borrowers trying to get their student loans forgiven through a relatively new buyback process have been forced to wait in a massive backlog of applications. In some cases, borrowers have had to wait for two years or longer as the Education Department slowly works through a huge queue of student loan forgiveness requests. But there are some indications that the process, and the wait, are improving.

PSLF Buyback offers borrowers the opportunity to make up for lost time for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. PSLF allows borrowers to discharge their student loans in as little as 10 years, or after making 120 qualifying payments, while working full time for eligible nonprofit or government organizations. Those payments, to be considered “qualifying,” must be made while a borrower is in repayment under specific repayment plans (in most cases, income-driven repayment plans). Most periods of deferment and forbearance don’t count. PSLF Buyback gives borrowers the chance to get retroactive PSLF credit for certain past periods of deferment or forbearance by making a lump sum payment covering what they would have paid if they had been in repayment during that time.

Here’s what we know about the PSLF Buyback backlog, and whether people are actually getting their student loans forgiven.

How Student Loans Can Be Forgiven Through PSLF Buyback

Borrowers can apply to get their student loans forgiven through PSLF Buyback once they have 120 months of certified, qualifying employment, and the bought back period (if approved) must allow them to qualify for student loan forgiveness.

“The buyback opportunity is only available to you if you already have 120 months of qualifying employment under PSLF,” says online Education Department guidance on the program.

While many types of deferment and forbearance periods are potentially eligible for PSLF Buyback, the program has a number of limitations and restrictions.

“You can’t buy back months during which your loan was in any of the following statuses: In-school or In-origination,........

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