I know there are many of us who have had our applications in for years. After calling often, I wanted to share what I’ve learned and offer an opportunity for us to crowdsource the process since they make it seem so secretive.
1.) Calling BD is the most effective way to receive information.
The system is antiquated. The call reps see updates first, then your servicer, then you, THEN FSA website. When you call BD, ask whether the representative specifically serves in BD, as this dictates the level of detail the rep can provide.
2.) Did you know you can speak directly with your case owner?
I learned this bit recently, and maybe it has more to do with how far along I am, but I was given the name of an individual who is handling my case. He’s a staff attorney for BD, and you can schedule callbacks with these people. I would encourage you to do this only when essential, as these are the folks handling the final pieces of your claim.
3.) What is the timeline?
This is an elusive question. No one, not even God himself, knows at this point. BUT the status updates on FSA aren’t useless. If you see your status as “Pending” then “In Review” then “Pending” again, this is great news. You are moving through a series of “buckets.” The more often you see this, the further along in the approval process you are. This isn’t a guarantee of approval, but it’s a great indication.
4.) How do I know if I’ve been approved?
Similar to 3, this answer has evaded most everyone. I had several representatives explain this to me. The easiest way to see whether you are inching towards approval is to inquire whether your Admin. forbearance has been recently updated or changed with your servicer. If so, good news, but no guarantee.
Want more proof? Call and ask to speak specifically with someone in BD. You can try calling multiple times OR request a callback from BD. They can walk you through the “flags” process. I don’t know every flag, but the most important one (“flagged for approval”) is what we are all after.
Being flagged for approval means you have made the final cut. Historically, a backlog of applications just sit here awaiting a final stamp or courts to finalize decisions. I would venture to say most of those waiting a year or more are here. At this point, it’s virtually a guarantee; however, you have to continue being patient. Find out your flag status, not just your case status.
5.) What about Sweet v. Cardona?
I’ve heard this twice now from representatives, but if you’ve viewed the quarterly reports, you may have noticed there have been no denials for this group. That’s not a typo. (Although the report anonymizes instances of less than 10.) I’ve been told twice now that they’ve been instructed to approve ALL applications that fall under this, and that it’s just a matter of time.
There are a million reasons to be precautious here, as what about folks who put in ridiculous applications? Or those lacking any evidence? I don’t know what that answer is.
I am happy to answer more questions, but I’m not an attorney or financial counselor, only an indebted educator.
tl;dr BD is complicated, but I’ve learned some “secrets” you might find helpful.