Approved State Ability to Benefit Process

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
60 Day Comment Responses.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-10-20	Available
Supporting Statement_30D_1845-0176.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-10-20	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
260238	Approved State Ability to Benefit Process	Other-Regulation	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1845-0176	ICR Reference No: 202607-1845-007
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202310-1845-002
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No: ED-2026-SCC-2608
Title: Approved State Ability to Benefit Process
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/23/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2026
Responses	10	30
Time Burden (Hours)	3,200	3,200
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Ability to Benefit (ATB) is an alternative for an individual who does not have a high school diploma to become eligible for Title IV aid. The State process is one of the three alternatives. The State ATB processes described in §668.156 outlines the requirements for the approval of a State’s processes, monitoring, and reporting requirements under ATB. This is a request for an extension without change of information and burden found in §668.156, 1845-0176 Approved State Ability to Benefit Process.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 46777	07/24/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 66839	10/23/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Approved State Ability to Benefit Process

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	10	30	0	-20	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,200	3,200	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 10/23/2026

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