Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins)

Emergency DRAFT 06/22/2023

OMB No. 1845-0058
Form Under Review
Exp. Date XX/XX/XXXX

LOAN DISCHARGE APPLICATION: FALSE CERTIFICATION (HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION STATUS)

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program

WARNING: Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or misrepresentation on this form or on any accompanying document is subject to penalties that may include fines, imprisonment, or both, under the U.S. Criminal Code and 20 U.S.C. 1097.

SECTION 1: BORROWER IDENTIFICATION

Please enter or correct the following information.

Check this box if any of your information has changed.

SSN ____________________

Name __________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

City __________________________________________________

State ____________________

Zip Code ____________________

Telephone – Primary ____________________________________

Telephone – Alternate ____________________________________

Email (Optional) ____________________________________

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Carefully read the entire application before completing it. In Sections 2 and 3, complete each item unless the item is identified as optional or the instructions tell you to skip an item.

SECTION 2: DISCHARGE ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. You are applying for this loan discharge as a:

Student borrower - Skip to Item 4.

Parent PLUS borrower - Continue to Item 2. If a question includes "(or the student)," answer as it applies to the student on whose behalf you borrowed the loan.

2. Student Name (Last, First, MI):

__________________________________________________________

3. Student SSN:

_____________________________________________

4. Enter the earliest date you (or the student) attended or officially registered for classes at a postsecondary school:

_____________________________________________

OR Don't Know

5. Provide the name and address of the school referenced in Item 4:

School Name:

_____________________________________________

School Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):

6. Is the postsecondary school in Item 5 the same school you (or the student) attended when you received the loans you want discharged?

Yes - Skip to Item 11.

No - Continue to Item 7 and enter the name and address of the school you (or the student) attended when you received the loans you want discharged.

7. School Name:

_____________________________________________

School Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):

8. Dates that you (or the student) attended the school:

First Date: __________________	OR	Don’t Know
Last Date: __________________		Don’t Know

9. Name the program you (or the student) were enrolled in when you received the loans you want discharged:

10. Did you (or the student) complete the program of study identified in Item 9?

Yes.

No

11. Did you (or the student) have a high school diploma or GED before enrolling?

Yes – You are not eligible for this discharge.

No –

12. Did you (or the student) receive a GED before completing the program of study identified in Item 9?

Yes – Attach a copy of the GED you received before completing the program (providing this documentation is optional).

No

13. Do you believe the school falsely certified that you graduated from high school?

Yes – Explain in detail below.

No

14. Do you believe the school or a third party to which the school referred you falsified your (or the student’s) high school diploma?

Yes – Explain in detail below.

No

15. If you believe the school coerced you (or the student) into falsely reporting that you had a high school diploma or GED, explain in detail below.

16. Did you (or the student) successfully complete 6 credits or 225 clock hours of coursework that applied toward a program offered by the school before you received the loans you want discharged?

Yes

No

Don't Know

17. Before you (or the student) were admitted to the school, did the school give an entrance examination?

Yes - Continue to Items 18-21.

No - Skip to Item 22.

Don't Know - Skip to Item 22.

18. Give the date of the test if you know it:

______________________________________________

19. Give the name of the test if you know it:

______________________________________________

20. Give the score of the test if you know it:

______________________________________________

21. Did anything appear improper about the way the test was given or scored?

Yes - Explain in detail below what appeared improper and provide the name, address, and telephone number of anyone who can support your statement.

Name of person who can support your statement:

Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):

Telephone Number:

No

22. Did you (or the student) complete a developmental or remedial program at the school?

Yes - Continue to Items 23-26.

No - Skip to Item27.

Don't Know - Skip to Item 27.

23. Provide the name of the program:

______________________________________________

24. Dates that you (or the student) attended the program:

First Date: __________________	OR	Don’t Know
Last Date: __________________		Don’t Know

25. List the courses you (or the student) took:

26. Provide the grades you (or the student) earned:

SECTION 3: REFUNDS OR PAYMENTS27. Did the school refund any money to you or any third-party?

Yes - Continue to Items 28-29.

No - Skip to Item 30.

Don't Know - Skip to Item 30.

28. What was the amount of the refund? _________________________________

29. Explain why the money was refunded and to whom:

30. Have you (or the student) requested or received a refund or payment from the school or any third party (see Section 5) for any loan that you are requesting be discharged?

Yes - Continue to Items 31-33.

No - Sign and date the application in Section 4, then send it to the address in Section 8.

Don't Know - Sign and date the application in Section 4, then send it to the address in Section 8.

31. Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the organization you (or the student) requested or received a payment from:

Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):

Telephone Number: ___________________________________________________________

31. What is the amount and the status of the request?

Amount: __________________________________________

Status: __________________________________________

33. What was the amount of any payment received? If none, enter "0."

__________________________________________

SECTION 4: BORROWER CERTIFICATIONS, ASSIGNMENT, AND AUTHORIZATION

I certify that:

• I have read and agree to the terms and conditions for loan discharge, as specified in Section 6.

• Under penalty of perjury, all of the information I have provided on this application and in any accompanying documentation is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

By signing this application I assign and transfer to the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) any right I have to a refund on the amount discharged from the school and/or from any owners, affiliates, or assignees of the school, and from any third party that pays claims for a refund because of the actions of the school.

I authorize the organization I submit this request to and its agents to contact me regarding my request or my loans at the cellular telephone number that I provide now or in the future using automated telephone dialing equipment or artificial or prerecorded voice or text messages.

Borrower's Signature _______________________________________________________________

Date _____________________________________________________________

SECTION 5: DEFINITIONS

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program includes Federal Direct Stafford/Ford (Direct Subsidized) Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford (Direct Unsubsidized) Loans, Federal Direct PLUS (Direct PLUS) Loans, and Federal Direct Consolidation (Direct Consolidation) Loans.

The Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program includes Federal Stafford Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), Federal Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), Federal PLUS Loans, and Federal Consolidation Loans.

The holder of your Direct Loan Program loans is the Department. The holder of your FFEL Program loans may be a lender, a guaranty agency, or the Department. . Your loan holder may use a servicer to handle billing and other communications related to your loans. References to “your loan holder” on this application mean either your loan holder or your servicer.

If your loan is discharged, this means that you (and any endorser) are not required to repay the remaining portion of the loan, and you will be reimbursed for any payments on the loan that you made voluntarily or through forced collection (for example, through wage garnishment or Treasury offset). For a consolidation loan, only the portion that represents the original loans you received and that are eligible for discharge will be discharged. The loan holder reports the discharge to all consumer reporting agencies to which the holder previously reported the status of the loan and requests the removal of any adverse credit history previously associated with the loan.

The student refers to the student on whose behalf the parent borrower obtained a Direct PLUS Loan or Federal PLUS Loan.

Third party refers to any entity that may provide reimbursement for a refund owed by the school, such as a State or other entity offering a tuition recovery program.

SECTION 6: TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR LOAN DISCHARGE BASED ON FALSE CERTIFICATION (HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION STATUS)

You are eligible to have your loans discharged based on false certification (high school graduation status) if:

• The school certified your eligibility to receive a loan even though you: (1) reported that you did not have a high school diploma or its equivalent and (2) did not satisfy the alternative to graduation from high school requirements that were in effect when your loan was originated (for a Direct Loan) or when the school certified the loan application (for a FFEL loan) or

• You reported that you did not have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and the school certified your eligibility to receive a loan based on: (1) a high school graduation status falsified by the school, or (2) a high school diploma falsified by the school or a third party to which the school referred you.

For purposes of false certification (high school graduation status) loan discharge, a loan made under the Direct Loan Program is originated when the school submits the loan record to the U.S. Department of Education, and a loan made under the FFEL program was certified when the school transmitted the certification of the borrower’s eligibility for the loan to the lender.

Only loans made on or after January 1, 1986 are eligible for this type of discharge.

By signing this application, you are agreeing to provide, upon request, testimony, a sworn statement, or other documentation reasonably available to you that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department or its designee that you meet the qualifications for loan discharge, or that supports any statement you made on this application or in any accompanying documents.

By signing this application, you are agreeing to cooperate with the Department or the Department's designee in any enforcement action related to this application.

Your application may be denied or your discharge may be revoked if you fail to provide testimony, a sworn statement, or documentation upon request, or if you provide testimony, a sworn statement, or documentation that does not support the material representations you made on this application or in any accompanying documents.

SECTION 7: INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

When completing this application, type or print using dark ink. Enter dates as month-day-year (mm-dd-yyyy). Use only numbers. Example: March 14, 2023 = 03-14-2023. If you need more space to answer any of the items, continue on separate sheets of paper and attach them to this application. Identify the question number for which you are providing additional information. Include your name and Social Security Number (SSN) at the top of pages 2 and 3 and on any attached pages. Return the completed application and documentation to the address shown in Section 8.

SECTION 8: WHERE TO SEND THE COMPLETED APPLICATION

Return the completed application and any documentation to: (If no address is shown, return to your loan holder.)

If you need help completing this application, call: (If no telephone number is shown, call your loan holder.)

SECTION 9: IMPORTANT NOTICES

Privacy Act Notice. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you:

The authorities for collecting the requested information from and about you are §421 et seq. and §451 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. and 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) and the authorities for collecting and using your Social Security Number (SSN) are §§428B(f) and 484(a)(4) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1078-2(f) and 1091(a)(4)) and 31 U.S.C. 7701(b). Participating in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and giving us your SSN are voluntary, but you must provide the requested information, including your SSN, to participate.

The principal purposes for collecting the information on this form, including your SSN, are to verify your identity, to determine your eligibility to receive a loan or a benefit on a loan (such as a deferment, forbearance, discharge, or forgiveness) under the FFEL and/or Direct Loan Programs, to permit the servicing of your loans, and, if it becomes necessary, to locate you and to collect and report on your loans if your loans become delinquent or default. We also use your SSN as an account identifier and to permit you to access your account information electronically.

The information in your file may be disclosed, on a case-by-case basis or under a computer matching program, to third parties as authorized under routine uses in the appropriate systems of records notices. The routine uses of this information include, but are not limited to, its disclosure to federal, state, or local agencies, to private parties such as relatives, present and former employers, business and personal associates, to consumer reporting agencies, to financial and educational institutions, and to guaranty agencies in order to verify your identity, to determine your eligibility to receive a loan or a benefit on a loan, to permit the servicing or collection of your loans, to enforce the terms of the loans, to investigate possible fraud and to verify compliance with federal student financial aid program regulations, or to locate you if you become delinquent in your loan payments or if you default. To provide default rate calculations, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to state agencies. To provide financial aid history information, disclosures may be made to educational institutions.

To assist program administrators with tracking refunds and cancellations, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to federal or state agencies. To provide a standardized method for educational institutions to efficiently submit student enrollment statuses, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies or to financial and educational institutions. To counsel you in repayment efforts, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to federal, state, or local agencies.

In the event of litigation, we may send records to the Department of Justice, a court, adjudicative body, counsel, party, or witness if the disclosure is relevant and necessary to the litigation. If this information, either alone or with other information, indicates a potential violation of law, we may send it to the appropriate authority for action. We may send information to members of Congress if you ask them to help you with federal student aid questions. In circumstances involving employment complaints, grievances, or disciplinary actions, we may disclose relevant records to adjudicate or investigate the issues. If provided for by a collective bargaining agreement, we may disclose records to a labor organization recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71. Disclosures may be made to our contractors for the purpose of performing any programmatic function that requires disclosure of records. Before making any such disclosure, we will require the contractor to maintain Privacy Act safeguards. Disclosures may also be made to qualified researchers under Privacy Act safeguards.

Paperwork Reduction Notice. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1845-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (34 CFR 682.402(e)(3), or 685.215(c)). If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, contact your loan holder directly.

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