Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms

The Department of Education (Department) is requesting a renewal as revision of the information collection, 1845-0065, Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge Application and Related Forms. The regulations governing TPD discharges of federal student loans and TEACH Grant service obligations are contained in 34 CFR 685.213 for the Direct Loan Program, 34 CFR 682.402(c) for the FFEL Program, 34 CFR 674.61(b) for the Perkins Loan Program, and 34 CFR 686.42(b) for the TEACH Grant Program. A final rule published on November 1, 2022 (87 FR 65904) made changes to the TPD discharge regulations, including an expansion of the types of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determinations that qualify a borrower or TEACH Grant recipient for TPD discharge; elimination of the requirement for borrowers who receive TPD discharges based on SSA determinations or a physician's certification to provide documentation of their annual earnings from employment during the 3-year post-discharge monitoring period; and expansion of the categories of medical professionals who may certify an individual's TPD discharge application which necessitate the updating of this information collection. We have also revised the form based on public comment and internal review for ease of use and clarity. We have moved definitions to the front to allow users to know if their loans can be included on this form. We have moved forward where the completed form is to be sent and how to get assistance in completing the form. Further explanation of changes are in the attached comment response table.

The latest form for Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms expires 2027-02-28 and is listed under ICR 202307-1845-004.