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Issue Paper 8

Session 3: February 12-15, 2018

Issue: Whether to recalculate a borrower’s Subsidized Usage Period and interest 

accrual, if applicable, when the borrower receives a discharge of a loan for 

which he or she has not received all or part of the educational benefit of the 

loan

Statutory cite: § 455(q) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)

Regulatory cite: 34 CFR 685.200(f)

Summary of Change: To eliminate or recalculate the subsidized usage period and, if applicable, 

restore interest subsidy associated with the Direct Subsidized Loan(s) fully or 

partially discharged based on school closure, false certification, unpaid refund, 

or borrower defense, amend 34 CFR 685.200(f)(3)(v) and 685.200(f)(4)(iii).

Changes: See regulatory text below.

§ 685.200 Borrower eligibility.

[ * * * ]

(f) Limitations on eligibility for Direct Subsidized Loans and borrower responsibility for accruing interest 

for first-time borrowers on or after July 1, 2013

[ * * * ]

(3) Borrower responsibility for accruing interest. 

(i) Notwithstanding any provision of this part that provides for the borrower to not be responsible for 

accruing interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan or on the portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that 

repaid a Direct Subsidized Loan, and except as provided in paragraphs (f)(6)(v) and (f)(7)(iv) of this 

section, a first-time borrower becomes responsible for the interest that accrues on a previously received 

Direct Subsidized Loan or on the portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that repaid a Direct Subsidized 

Loan beginning on the date—

(A) The borrower has no remaining eligibility period; and

(B) The borrower attends any undergraduate program or preparatory coursework on at least a half-time 

basis at an eligible institution that participates in the title IV, HEA programs.

(ii) The borrower continues to be responsible for the interest that accrues on the portion of a Direct 

Consolidation Loan that repaid a Direct Subsidized Loan for which the borrower previously became 

responsible for accruing interest in accordance with paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section.
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(iii) For any loan for which the borrower becomes responsible for accruing interest in accordance with 

paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, the borrower is responsible for only the interest that accrues after the 

borrower meets the criteria in paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section and unpaid interest is capitalized in the 

same manner as for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

(iv) A borrower who completes an undergraduate program and who has not become responsible for 

accruing interest on Direct Subsidized Loans as a result of attendance in that program does not become 

responsible for accruing interest under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section on any Direct Subsidized Loans 

received for attendance in any program prior to completing that undergraduate program and for which 

the borrower has not previously become responsible for accruing interest, regardless of subsequent 

attendance in any other program.

(v) A borrower who receives a closed school, false certification, unpaid refund, or borrower defense

discharge that results in a remaining eligibility period greater than zero is not responsible for the 

interest that accrues on a Direct Subsidized Loan or on the portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that 

repaid a Direct Subsidized Loan unless the borrower once again becomes responsible for the interest 

that accrues on a previously received Direct Subsidized Loan or on the portion of a Direct Consolidation 

Loan that repaid a Direct Subsidized Loan, for the life of the loan, as described in paragraph (f)(3)(i) of 

this section.

(4) Exceptions to the calculation of subsidized usage periods. 

(i) For a first-time borrower who receives a Direct Subsidized Loan in an amount that is equal to the full 

annual loan limit for a loan period that is less than a full academic year in length, the subsidized usage 

period is one year.

(ii) For a first-time borrower who is enrolled on a half-time or three-quarter-time basis, the borrower's 

prorated subsidized usage period is calculated by multiplying the borrower's subsidized usage period by 

0.5 or 0.75, respectively.

(iii) For a first-time borrower who receives a closed school, false certification, unpaid refund, or 

borrower defense discharge on a Direct Subsidized Loan or a portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that 

is attributable to a Direct Subsidized Loan, the Subsidized Usage Period is reduced. If the Direct 

Subsidized Loan or a portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that is attributable to a Direct Subsidized 

Loan is discharged in full, the Subsidized Usage Period of those loans is zero years. If the Direct 

Subsidized Loan or a portion of a Direct Consolidation Loan that is attributable to a Direct Subsidized 

Loan is discharged in part, the Subsidized Usage Period may be reduced if the discharge results in the 

inapplicability of paragraph (f)(4)(i) of this section.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.)