Section 428B(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), provides that to be eligible to receive a Federal PLUS Loan under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, the applicant must not have an adverse credit history, as determined pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary. In accordance with section 455(a)(1) of the HEA, this same eligibility requirement applies to applicants for PLUS loans under the Direct Loan Program. Since July 1, 2010 the Direct Loan Program is the only Federal loan program that offers Federal PLUS Loans.
The adverse credit history section of the eligibility regulations in 34 CFR §685.200 (b) and (c) specify an applicant for a PLUS loan who is determined to have an adverse credit history must complete loan counseling offered by the Secretary before receiving the Federal PLUS loan.
The Department is requesting an extension to the information collection regarding the adverse credit history regulations in 34 CFR §685.200 (b) and (c) and the burden these changes create for Federal PLUS loan borrowers, both parent and graduate/professional students.
US Code:
20 USC 1078-2
Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended Federal PLUS Loans
This is a request for an extension of the current information collection. We are estimating a slight increase of 4,935 hours of burden to individuals. The increase in burden is due to the increase of 27,461 cases of borrowers who have been denied a PLUS loan due to an adverse credit determination and who appeal the loan denial determination using the extenuating circumstances determination or by obtaining an endorser without adverse credit to complete the enhanced PLUS loan counseling. There has been no change to the form itself.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Beth Grebeldinger 202 708-8242
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.