The Department of Education (the
Department) requests approval of this new collection of an
Application for Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment form (“Universal
Borrower Defense Form”) to ensure that all borrowers have a
consistent platform to petition for relief, and to facilitate the
Department’s 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 borrowers’ claims for Borrower Defense
relief. A successful Borrower Defense claim would provide a full or
partial discharge of a borrower’s 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.