Maintained for Historical Purposes

This resource is being maintained for historical purposes only and is not currently applicable.

(Loans) Subject: New Direct Consolidation Loan Process Information - Phase One of Transition Implemented on January 2, 2014

Posted Date:January 7, 2014

Author: Sue O'Flaherty, Service Director, Program Management, Federal Student Aid

Subject: New Direct Consolidation Loan Process Information - Phase One of Transition Implemented on January 2, 2014

On January 2, 2014, we implemented the first phase in bringing closure to the existing loan consolidation system and transitioning to a new Direct Consolidation Loan process. As explained previously (November 27, 2013), we are making these changes in preparation for the end to our contract with ACS (Xerox).

In the first phase of the transition, some consolidation applicants will begin using the new Direct Consolidation Loan process while other consolidation applicants will continue using the existing loan consolidation process. Later, in the second phase, all applicants will use the new Direct Consolidation Loan process. The second phase is targeted for implementation in spring 2014.

We present the information in this announcement as follows:

  • Two Direct Consolidation Loan Processes During Phase One of Transition

  • New Direct Consolidation Loan Process – Applicant Information

  • New Direct Consolidation Loan Process – Loan Holder and Servicer Information

  • Contact Information

Two Direct Consolidation Loan Processes During Phase One of Transition

Given that we have two Direct Consolidation Loan processes during the first phase of the transition, it is important to understand which applicants will use each process. Regardless of the process used, the primary action on the part of an applicant is to complete and submit the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note. We will refer to the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note as the “application” throughout the rest of this announcement.

Existing Process on Direct Consolidation Loans Web Site

A consolidation applicant will use the existing loan consolidation application process on the Direct Consolidation Loans Web site if the applicant

  • Has one or more defaulted federal education loans assigned to the Department;

  • Needs to take action on an application the applicant submitted via the Direct Consolidation Loans Web site prior to January 2, 2014; or

  • Needs to take action on an application the applicant submitted via the Direct Consolidation Loans Web site on or after January 2, 2014.

The Direct Consolidation Loans Web site is available at www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov.

Note: If preferred, an applicant will also be able to download and print a paper application from the Direct Consolidation Loans Web site for submission by U.S. mail.

New Process on StudentLoans.gov Web Site

A consolidation applicant will use the new Direct Consolidation Loan application process on the StudentLoans.gov Web site if the applicant

  • Has no defaulted federal education loans;

  • Has one or more defaulted federal education loans, none of which are assigned to the Department; or

  • Needs to take action on an application the applicant submitted via StudentLoans.gov on or after January 2, 2014.

The StudentLoans.gov Web site is available at www.studentloans.gov.

New Direct Consolidation Loan Process – Applicant Information

An applicant who uses the new Direct Consolidation Loan process will sign in to StudentLoans.gov using his or her personal identifiers and Federal Student Aid PIN to electronically complete the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note.

Note: Although we strongly encourage electronic completion of the application, an applicant will be able to download and print a paper application from StudentLoans.gov for submission by U.S. mail.

The electronic application on StudentLoans.gov consists of five steps: 1 – Choose Loans & Servicer, 2 – Repayment Plan Selection, 3 – Terms & Conditions, 4 – Borrower & Reference Information, and 5 – Review & Sign.

  • 1 – Choose Loans & Servicer

  • In this step, a National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) lookup will be performed, and information about an applicant’s federal education loans will populate within the application. The applicant will have the opportunity to add loans to and/or remove loans from the information obtained from the NSLDS.

    Also in this step, an applicant who has at least one loan that is still in the grace period and wants to consolidate that loan will be able to select to have the processing of his or her application delayed until closer to the end of the grace period.

    Finally in this step, an applicant will choose the federal loan servicer that he or she wants to complete the consolidation. We have four consolidation
    servicers—FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA), Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., Nelnet, and Sallie Mae—from which an applicant may choose.

  • 2 – Repayment Plan Selection

  • In this step, an applicant will select the repayment plan under which he or she wants to repay the Direct Consolidation Loan. When making this selection, an applicant who is interested in one of the “income-driven” repayment plans will be able to complete the Electronic Income-Based Repayment (IBR)/Pay As You Earn/Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan Request as part of the Direct Consolidation Loan process.

  • 3 – Terms & Conditions

  • In this step, an applicant will review terms and conditions as well as the Privacy Act notice.

  • 4 – Borrower & Reference Information

  • In this step, an applicant will enter address, contact, employer, and reference information.

  • 5 – Review & Sign

  • In this step, an applicant will review information and edit, if necessary, before signing and submitting the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note.

Note: An applicant who is logged in to StudentLoans.gov and completing the electronic application may request technical assistance by clicking on the Contact Us tab in the top menu bar of StudentLoans.gov. The applicant can 1) complete and submit the feedback form or 2) click on Additional Information and contact the Student Loan Support Center at the phone number provided.

Once an applicant submits his or her application electronically via StudentLoans.gov or by mailing a paper application, the consolidation servicer will complete the actions required to consolidate the applicant’s eligible loans. The consolidation servicer will be the applicant’s point of contact for questions related to his or her consolidation application.

Key actions that the consolidation servicer will complete include the following:

  • Review the application and follow up with the applicant as necessary to complete or correct information.

  • Use the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Verification Certificate to confirm with the current loan holder the eligibility and payoff amount of each loan the applicant wants to consolidate.

  • Confirm with the applicant the loans that will be part of the consolidation.

  • Pay off each eligible loan the applicant wants to consolidate.

  • Determine the applicant’s eligibility for the repayment plan selected in the application.

  • Begin servicing the new Direct Consolidation Loan.

  • Report the new Direct Consolidation Loan to the NSLDS.

New Direct Consolidation Loan Process – Loan Holder and Servicer Information

As we explained in our November 27th announcement, loan holders and
servicers—Federal Perkins Loan schools and Federal Family Education Loan Program lenders and lender servicers—will have the same role in the new Direct Consolidation Loan process as they have in the existing loan consolidation process. The difference will be that loan holders and servicers will interact with multiple consolidation servicers instead of just one.

The four consolidation servicers for the new Direct Consolidation Loan
process—FedLoan Servicing (PHEAA), Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., Nelnet, and Sallie Mae—have been reaching out to loan holders and servicers to establish preferences and contacts for the exchange of verification certificates and payoff manifests. We appreciate the response to the new consolidation servicer outreach and look forward to ongoing efforts by loan holders and servicers to ensure a smooth consolidation experience for applicants.

Key actions that a loan holder or servicer will complete include the following:

  • Complete the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Verification Certificate within 10 days of the date received. This timeframe is pursuant to 34 CFR 685.220(f)(1)(i).

  • Report the underlying loan to the NSLDS as Paid In Full Through Consolidation once the payoff amount is received.

  • Work with the consolidation servicer to resolve underpayments and overpayments.

We will post additional process-related information for loan holders and servicers in a forthcoming Electronic Announcement.

Contact Information

We appreciate the financial aid community’s support as we bring closure to the existing loan consolidation system and transition to a new Direct Consolidation Loan process.

General information about Direct Consolidation Loans is available on the StudentAid.gov Web site at http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/consolidation.

Contact information associated with the two Direct Consolidation Loan application processes is available on the IFAP Web site’s Loan Consolidation for Applicants page and Loan Consolidation for Loan Holders and Servicers page.