The Department of Education (the Department) requests approval of this new collection of an Application for Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment form (âUniversal Borrower Defense Formâ) to ensure that all borrowers have a consistent platform to petition for relief, and to facilitate the Departmentâs receipt of clear and complete information necessary to process applications efficiently. This form will facilitate processing claims from student borrowers who believe that they have a Borrower Defense claim regarding their Federal Loans. The form will provide borrowers with an easily accessible and clear method to provide the information necessary for the Department to review and process claim applications efficiently. The Universal Borrower Defense Form will set forth examples of the types of activities that could form the basis of borrowersâ claims for Borrower Defense relief. A successful Borrower Defense claim would provide a full or partial discharge of a borrowerâs loans, as well as reimbursement of amounts previously paid (if appropriate).
US Code:
20 USC 1087e(h)
Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
This is a request for a new information collection. There is no change to current statutory or regulatory requirements. We estimate a total of 10,000 responses at 1 hour per response completion time, resulting in a total of 10,000 new burden hours for 10,000 borrowers. This new program change burden is necessary to ensure borrowers who wish to invoke the Borrower Defense can do so in a uniform and efficient manner.
No
Yes
Yes
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.