Publication Date: August 14, 2012
| DCL ID: | GEN-12-15 |
Subject: Revised School Closure and False CertificationLoan Discharge Applications
Summary: This letter announces the approval of revised versions of the School Closure, False Certification (Ability to Benefit), False Certification (Disqualifying Status), and False Certification (Unauthorized Signature/Unauthorized Payment) loan discharge applications used by borrowers in the in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program, the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, and the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program.
Dear Colleague:
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved revised versions of the School Closure and False Certification Loan discharge applications under OMB Control Number 1845-0015 with an expiration date of December 31, 2014. The revised forms replace the previously approved versions that have an expiration date of October 31, 2011. The revised forms include only minor changes from the previous versions that are currently in use.
Attached to this letter are revised versions, in both Microsoft Word and PDF format, of the following loan discharge applications:
Loan Discharge Application: School Closure – used by Direct Loan, FFEL, and Perkins Loan program borrowers to apply for loan discharge if they were unable to complete their program of study because the school closed.
Loan Discharge Application: False Certification (Ability to Benefit) – used by Direct Loan and FFEL program borrowers to apply for loan discharge if their ability to benefit was falsely certified by the school.
Loan Discharge Application: False Certification (Disqualifying Status) – used by Direct Loan and FFEL program borrowers to apply for loan discharge if they had a disqualifying status at the time their loans were originated or certified.
Loan Discharge Application: False Certification (Unauthorized Signature/Unauthorized Payment) – used by Direct Loan and FFEL program borrowers to apply for loan discharge when there was an unauthorized signature or payment by the school.
Implementation and Transition to the Revised Forms
Program participants may begin distributing the attached OMB-approved forms to borrowers immediately. Beginning December 31, 2012, only the revised forms with the December 31, 2014 expiration date may be distributed to borrowers. However, the previous version of the forms with the October 31, 2011 expiration date may continue to be accepted from borrowers and processed after that date.
Imaging Technology
To accommodate imaging technology, each of the attached forms requires the borrower to complete and sign the form in ink. However, a pencil signature does not invalidate a form.
Printing Instructions
The loan discharge applications must be printed using black ink on white paper. The typeface, point size, and general presentation of the forms may not be changed. Program participants should pre-print their name and address and provide a contact number in the section of each form that tells the borrower where to send the completed loan forgiveness application or forbearance request. Space at the top, bottom, or sides of the forms may be used for bar coding. No changes to, deletions from, or additions to the language of the attached documents are permitted.
Obtaining Copies for Reproduction
The forms are available in Microsoft Word and PDF format as attachments to this letter. In addition, they are available on the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP) web site at www.nchelp.org.
Guaranty agencies are responsible for ensuring that the forms they use are identical to the OMB-approved forms attached to this letter. No changes may be made to the forms except as expressly authorized above.
Sincerely,
Jeff Baker, Director
Policy Liaison and Implementation
Federal Student Aid
U.S. Department of Education