The Department of Education (the
Department) requests approval of this extension without change of
the 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. A successful Borrower Defense claim would provide a
full or partial discharge of a borrower’s loans, and if
appropriate, reimbursement of amounts previously paid.
US Code:
20
USC 1087e(h) Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended
This is a request for an
extension of the current information collection. There is no change
to current statutory or regulatory requirements. We estimate a
total of 96,000 responses at 30 minutes per response completion
time, resulting in a total of 48,000 burden hours for an increase
of 38,000 hours and 80,000 borrowers. This adjustment to the
current burden s necessary to more accurately assess the estimated
burden to borrowers who wish to invoke the Borrower Defense by
doing so in a uniform and efficient manner.
$1,000,000
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
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.