September 29 Is Real: What Happens If You Do Nothing

Derek Wu tackles the ongoing SAVE plan wind-down and clears up the confusion around servicer notices, repayment deadlines, and what comes next for federal student loan borrowers. The episode breaks down what happens if you ignore a ninety-day notice, why the widely cited September 29 deadline isn't universal, and how to decide between the new RAP plan and IBR before a key eligibility window closes.

Listeners will learn how missed deadlines trigger income-blind Standard or Tiered Standard repayment, why Nelnet's staggered notice rollout means deadlines vary by borrower, and how a simple two-question framework can simplify the RAP versus IBR decision. The episode closes with an update on the Havens lawsuit and why its outcome likely won't change the practical plan choices borrowers need to make now.

- Ignoring a SAVE notice leads to automatic enrollment in income-blind repayment, not immediate default

- September 29 is only the earliest possible deadline; each borrower's actual 90-day window starts when their own notice is issued

- Nelnet's notice rollout continues through March 2027, but switching plans early is possible anytime at StudentAid.gov

- Choosing between RAP and IBR comes down to PSLF status and whether income is above or below roughly $80,000

- The Havens lawsuit remains unresolved, but a 2028 legal deadline means RAP and IBR stay the practical choice regardless of the ruling

Have a money decision you're stuck on? Share it in the reviews, and it might be the subject of a future episode.