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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59311-59318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23831]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Parts 668, 674, 682, and 685

Federal Student Aid Programs (Student Assistance General 
Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan 
Program, and the Federal Direct Loan Program)

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Updated waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory 
provisions.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary is issuing updated waivers and modifications of 
statutory and regulatory provisions governing the Federal student 
financial aid programs under the authority of the Higher Education 
Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act). The HEROES 
Act requires the Secretary to publish, in a notice in the Federal 
Register, the waivers or modifications of statutory or regulatory 
provisions applicable to the student financial assistance programs 
under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), 
to assist individuals who are performing qualifying military service, 
and individuals who are affected by a disaster, war or other military 
operation or national emergency, as described in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: Effective September 27, 2012. The waivers and modifications in 
this document expire on September 30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For provisions related to the title IV 
loan programs (Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Family Education 
Loan (FFEL) Program, and Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program): 
Gail McLarnon, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
8026, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 219-7048 or by email: 
Gail.McLarnon@ed.gov. For other

[[Page 59312]]

provisions: Wendy Macias, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street 
NW., Room 8017, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7526 or 
by email: Wendy.Macias@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an 
accessible format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or compact 
disc) by contacting Wendy Macias, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street NW., Room 8017, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-
7526 or by email: Wendy.Macias@ed.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a notice published in the Federal 
Register on December 12, 2003 (68 FR 69312), the Secretary exercised 
the authority under the HEROES Act (Pub. L. 108-76, 20 U.S.C. 
1098bb(b)) and announced waivers and modifications of statutory and 
regulatory provisions designed to assist ``affected individuals.'' 
Under 20 U.S.C. 1098ee(2), the term ``affected individual'' means an 
individual who:
     Is serving on active duty during a war or other military 
operation or national emergency;
     Is performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war 
or other military operation or national emergency;
     Resides or is employed in an area that is declared a 
disaster area by any Federal, State, or local official in connection 
with a national emergency; or
     Suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a 
war or other military operation or national emergency, as determined by 
the Secretary.
    Under the HEROES Act, the Secretary's authority to provide the 
waivers and modifications would have expired on September 30, 2005. On 
September 30, 2005, Public Law 109-78 extended the expiration date of 
the Secretary's authority to September 30, 2007. Accordingly, in a 
notice in the Federal Register published on October 20, 2005 (70 FR 
61037), the Secretary extended the expiration of the waivers and 
modifications published on December 12, 2003, to September 30, 2007.
    On September 30, 2007, the President signed into law Public Law 
110-93, which eliminated the September 30, 2007, expiration date of the 
HEROES Act, thereby making permanent the Secretary's authority to issue 
waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory provisions.
    On December 26, 2007, the Secretary published a notice in the 
Federal Register (72 FR 72947) extending the waivers and modifications 
published on December 12, 2003, to September 30, 2012. In that notice, 
the Secretary also indicated an intent to review the waivers and 
modifications published on December 12, 2003, in light of statutory and 
regulatory changes and to consider whether to change some or all of the 
published waivers and modifications.
    We are now updating the waivers and modifications to reflect the 
results of that review. With limited exceptions, the waivers and 
modifications in this notice reflect the same waivers and modifications 
originally published in the December 12, 2003, Federal Register notice. 
However, they have been updated to reflect statutory and regulatory 
changes that have occurred since the original publication. In addition, 
a waiver has been added to assist affected individuals in regard to the 
annual reevaluation requirements for borrowers who are repaying loans 
made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or Federal 
Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program under the Income-Based Repayment 
(IBR) or Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plans.
    The waiver and modifications related to military deferments were 
eliminated because the time-limited military service deferment under 
section 455(f)(4) of the HEA to which they applied (commonly referred 
to as the Armed Forces deferment) has been replaced by the military 
service deferment authorized in sections 428(b)(1)(M)(iii), 
455(f)(2)(C), and 464(c)(2)(A)(iii) of the HEA, which is available to 
all borrowers, regardless of when they received their loans, for any 
period during which a borrower is serving on active duty during a war 
or other military operation or national emergency, or is performing 
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation 
or national emergency.
    In addition, the Secretary has decided not to retain the 
modification to the amount of unearned funds an institution must return 
under the Return of Title IV Funds requirements in section 484(b)(1) of 
the HEA and 34 CFR 668.22(g) because the Secretary has determined that 
it is not in the best interest of affected individuals. The removal of 
institutional charges that the institution is required to cover, and 
has covered, with non-title IV sources of aid generally results in the 
institution returning less unearned title IV, HEA program funds and the 
student returning more, often leaving the student with a larger title 
IV, HEA program loan debt.
    The Secretary is issuing these waivers and modifications under the 
authority of the HEROES Act, 20 U.S.C. 1098bb(a). In accordance with 
the HEROES Act, the Secretary is providing the waivers and 
modifications of statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to the 
student financial assistance programs under title IV of the HEA that 
the Secretary believes are appropriate to ensure that:
     Affected individuals who are recipients of student 
financial assistance under title IV are not placed in a worse position 
financially in relation to that financial assistance because they are 
affected individuals;
     Affected individuals who are recipients of student 
financial assistance are not unduly subject to administrative burden or 
inadvertent, technical violations or defaults;
     Affected individuals are not penalized when a 
determination of need for student financial assistance is calculated;
     Affected individuals are not required to return or repay 
an overpayment of grant funds based on the HEA's Return of title IV 
Funds provision; and
     Entities that participate in the student financial 
assistance programs under title IV of the HEA and that are located in 
areas that are declared disaster areas by any Federal, State, or local 
official in connection with a national emergency, or whose operations 
are significantly affected by such a disaster, receive temporary relief 
from administrative requirements.
    In 20 U.S.C. 1098bb(b)(1), the HEROES Act further provides that 
section 437 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232) 
and section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) do 
not apply to the contents of this notice.
    In 20 U.S.C. 1098ee, the HEROES Act defines the following terms 
used in this notice:
    Active duty has the meaning given that term in 10 U.S.C. 101(d)(1), 
but does not include active duty for training or attendance at a 
service school (e.g., the U.S. Military Academy or U.S. Naval Academy).
    Military operation means a contingency operation as that term is 
defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13).
    National emergency means a national emergency declared by the 
President of the United States.
    Serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or 
national emergency includes service by an individual who is--

[[Page 59313]]

    (A) a Reserve member of an Armed Force ordered to active duty under 
10 U.S.C. 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 12306, or any retired 
member of an Armed Force ordered to active duty under 10 U.S.C. 688, 
for service in connection with a war or other military operation or 
national emergency, regardless of the location at which that active 
duty service is performed; and
    (B) any other member of an Armed Force on active duty in connection 
with any war, operation, or emergency or subsequent actions or 
conditions who has been assigned to a duty station at a location other 
than the location at which the member is normally assigned.
    Qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military 
operation or national emergency means service as a member of the 
National Guard on full-time National Guard duty (as defined in 10 
U.S.C. 101(d)(5)) under a call to active service authorized by the 
President or the Secretary of Defense for a period of more than 30 
consecutive days under 32 U.S.C. 502(f), in connection with a war, 
another military operation, or a national emergency declared by the 
President and supported by Federal funds.
    The following waivers and modifications are grouped into four 
categories, according to the affected individuals to whom they apply.
    Category 1: The Secretary is waiving or modifying the following 
provisions of title IV of the HEA and the Department's regulations for 
ALL affected individuals as specified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice:

Need Analysis

    Section 480 of the HEA provides that, in the calculation of an 
applicant's expected family contribution (EFC), the term ``total 
income,'' which is used in the determination of ``annual adjusted 
family income'' and ``available income,'' is equal to adjusted gross 
income plus untaxed income and benefits for the preceding tax year 
minus excludable income. The HEROES Act allows an institution to 
substitute adjusted gross income plus untaxed income and benefits 
received in the first calendar year of the award year for which such 
determination is made for any affected individual, and for his or her 
spouse and dependents, if applicable, in order to reflect more 
accurately the financial condition of an affected individual and his or 
her family. The Secretary has determined that an institution has the 
option of using the applicant's original EFC or the EFC based on the 
data from the first calendar year of the award year.
    If an institution chooses to use the alternate EFC, it should use 
the administrative professional judgment procedures established by the 
Secretary as discussed in the following section on ``Professional 
Judgment.''

Professional Judgment

    Section 479A of the HEA specifically gives the financial aid 
administrator (FAA) the authority to use professional judgment to make 
case-by-case adjustments to the cost of attendance or to the values of 
the items used in calculating the EFC to reflect a student's special 
circumstances. The Secretary is modifying this provision by removing 
the requirement that adjustments be made case by case for affected 
individuals. The use of professional judgment in Federal need analysis 
is discussed in the Federal Student Aid Handbook available at 
www.ifap.ed.gov.
    The Secretary encourages FAAs to use professional judgment in order 
to reflect more accurately the financial need of affected individuals. 
To that end, the Secretary encourages institutions to determine an 
affected individual's need using the method listed below that is the 
most beneficial to the affected individual:
     By using the adjusted gross income (AGI) plus untaxed 
income and benefits received in the first calendar year of the award 
year;
     By using professional judgment; or
     By making no modifications. (For example, in some cases, 
an individual's income will increase as a result of serving on active 
duty or performing qualifying National Guard duty.)
    The FAA must clearly document the reasons for any adjustment and 
the facts supporting the decision. In almost all cases, the FAA should 
have documentation from a third party with knowledge of the student's 
unusual circumstances. As usual, any professional judgment decisions 
made by an FAA that affect a student's eligibility for a subsidized 
student financial assistance program must be reported to the Central 
Processing System.

Return of Title IV Funds--Grant Overpayments Owed by the Student

    Section 484B(b)(2) of the HEA and 34 CFR 668.22(h)(3)(ii) require a 
student to return or repay, as appropriate, unearned grant funds for 
which the student is responsible under the Return of Title IV Funds 
calculation. For a student who withdraws from an institution because of 
his or her status as an affected individual, the Secretary is waiving 
these statutory and regulatory requirements so that a student is not 
required to return or repay any overpayment of grant funds based on the 
Return of Title IV Funds provisions.
    For these students, the Secretary also waives 34 CFR 668.22(h)(4), 
which:
     Requires an institution to notify a student of a grant 
overpayment and the actions the student must take to resolve the 
overpayment;
     Denies eligibility to a student who owes a grant 
overpayment and does not take an action to resolve the overpayment; and
     Requires an institution to refer a grant overpayment to 
the Secretary under certain conditions.
    Therefore, an institution is not required to contact the student, 
notify the National Student Loan Data System, or refer the overpayment 
to the Secretary. However, the institution must document in the 
student's file the amount of any overpayment as part of the 
documentation of the application of this waiver.
    The student is not required to return or repay an overpayment of 
grant funds based on the Return of Title IV Funds provision. Therefore, 
an institution must not apply any title IV credit balance to the grant 
overpayment prior to: using a credit balance to pay authorized charges; 
paying any amount of the title IV credit balance to the student or 
parent, in the case of a parent PLUS loan; or using the credit balance 
to reduce the student's title IV loan debt (with the student's 
authorization) as provided in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-04-03 (February 
2004; revised November 2004).

Verification of AGI and U.S. Income Tax Paid

    Pursuant to 34 CFR 668.57(a)(3)(ii), for an individual who is 
required to file a U.S. income tax return and has been granted a filing 
extension by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an institution must 
accept, in lieu of an income tax return for verification of AGI or 
income tax paid:
     A copy of IRS Form 4868, ``Application for Automatic 
Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,'' that the 
individual filed with the IRS for the specified year, or a copy of the 
IRS's approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension 
if the individual requested an additional extension of the filing time; 
and
     A copy of each IRS Form W-2 that the individual received 
for the specified year or, for a self-employed individual, a statement 
signed by the individual certifying the amount of AGI for the specified 
year.
    The Secretary is modifying this provision so that the submission of 
a

[[Page 59314]]

copy of IRS Form 4868 or a copy of the IRS extension approval is not 
required if an affected individual has not filed an income tax return 
by the filing deadline.
    For these individuals, an institution must accept, in lieu of an 
income tax return for verification of AGI and taxes paid:
     A signed statement from the individual certifying that he 
or she has not filed an income tax return or a request for a filing 
extension because he or she was called up for active duty or for 
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation 
or national emergency; and
     A copy of each W-2 received for the specified year or, for 
a self-employed individual, a statement signed by the individual 
certifying the amount of AGI for the specified year.
    An institution may request that an individual granted a filing 
extension submit tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, or 
by obtaining a tax return transcript from the IRS that lists tax 
account information for the specified year after the income tax return 
is filed. If an institution receives the tax information, it must 
verify the income information of the tax filer(s).
    Category 2: The Secretary is waiving or modifying the following 
provisions of title IV of the HEA and the Department's regulations for 
affected individuals who are serving on active duty, performing 
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation 
or national emergency, or who reside or are employed in a disaster area 
as described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

Return of Title IV Funds--Post-Withdrawal Disbursements of Loan Funds

    Under 34 CFR 668.22(a)(6)(iii)(A)(5) and (a)(6)(iii)(D), a student 
(or parent for a parent PLUS loan) must be provided a post-withdrawal 
disbursement of a title IV loan if the student (or parent) responds to 
an institution's notification of the post-withdrawal disbursement 
within 14 days of the date that the institution sent the notice, or a 
later deadline set by the institution. If a student or parent submits a 
late response, an institution may, but is not required to, make the 
post-withdrawal disbursement.
    The Secretary is modifying this requirement so that, for a student 
who withdraws because of his or her status as an affected individual in 
this category and who is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, 
the 14-day time period in which the student (or parent) must normally 
respond to the offer of the post-withdrawal disbursement is extended to 
45 days, or to a later deadline set by the institution. If the student 
or parent submits a response after the designated period, the 
institution may, but is not required to, make the post-withdrawal 
disbursement. As required under the current regulations, if the student 
or parent submits the timely response instructing the institution to 
make all or a portion of the post-withdrawal disbursement, or the 
institution chooses to make a post-withdrawal disbursement based on 
receipt of a late response, the institution must disburse the funds 
within 180 days of the date of the institution's determination that the 
student withdrew.

Leaves of Absence

    Under 34 CFR 668.22(d)(3)(iii)(B), a student is required to provide 
a written, signed, and dated request, which includes the reason for 
that request, for an approved leave of absence prior to the leave of 
absence. However, if unforeseen circumstances prevent a student from 
providing a prior written request, the institution may grant the 
student's request for a leave of absence if the institution documents 
its decision and collects the written request at a later date. It may 
be appropriate in certain limited cases for an institution to provide 
an approved leave of absence to a student who must interrupt his or her 
enrollment because he or she is an affected individual in this 
category. Therefore, the Secretary is waiving the requirement that the 
student provide a written request for affected individuals who have 
difficulty providing a written request as a result of being an affected 
individual in this category. The institution's documentation of its 
decision to grant the leave of absence must include, in addition to the 
reason for the leave of absence, the reason for waiving the requirement 
that the leave of absence be requested in writing.

Treatment of Title IV Credit Balances When a Student Withdraws

    Under 34 CFR 668.164(e), an institution must pay any title IV 
credit balance to the student, or parent in the case of a parent PLUS 
loan, within 14 days after the balance occurred. However, under 34 CFR 
668.165(b)(i), if a student (or parent) has provided authorization, an 
institution may use a title IV credit balance to reduce the borrower's 
total title IV loan debt, not just the title IV loan debt for the 
period for which the Return of Title IV Funds calculation is performed.
    Therefore, for students who withdraw because they are affected 
individuals in this category, the Secretary is modifying 34 CFR 
668.164(e) to consider that the institution has met the 14-day 
requirement if, within that timeframe, the institution attempts to 
contact the student (or parent) to suggest that the institution be 
authorized to return the credit balance to the loan program(s).
    Based upon the instructions of the student (or parent), the 
institution must promptly return the funds to the title IV loan 
programs or pay the credit balance to the student (or parent).
    In addition, if an institution chooses to attempt to contact the 
student (or parent) for authorization to apply the credit balance to 
reduce the student's title IV loan debt, it must allow the student (or 
parent) 45 days to respond. If there is no response within 45 days, the 
institution must promptly pay the credit balance to the student (or 
parent) or return the funds to the title IV programs if the student or 
parent cannot be located.
    Consistent with the guidance provided in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-
04-03 (February 2004; revised November 2004), the institution may also 
choose to pay the credit balance to the student (or parent) without 
first requesting permission to apply the credit balance to reduce the 
student's title IV loan debt.

Cash Management--Borrower Request for Loan Cancellation

    Under 34 CFR 668.165(a)(4)(ii), an institution must return loan 
proceeds or cancel the loan, or both, if the institution receives a 
loan cancellation request from a borrower within 14 days after the date 
of the institution's notice to the borrower of his or her right to 
cancel all or a portion of a loan, or by the first day of the payment 
period if the institution sends the notice more than 14 days before the 
first day of the payment period. Under 34 CFR 668.165(a)(4)(iii), if an 
institution receives a late loan cancellation request from a borrower, 
the institution may, but is not required to, comply with the request. 
For a borrower who is an affected individual in this category, the 
Secretary is modifying this provision to require an institution to 
allow at least 60 days, rather than at least 14 days, for the borrower 
to request the cancellation of all or a portion of a loan for which 
proceeds have been credited to the account at the institution. If an 
institution receives a loan cancellation request from a borrower after 
the 60-day period, the institution may, but is not required to, comply 
with the request.

[[Page 59315]]

Cash Management--Student and Parent Authorizations

    Under 34 CFR 668.164(c)(3)(i), an institution must obtain 
affirmative consent from a student or parent, as applicable, to 
disburse title IV funds to a bank account designated by the student or 
parent. In addition, 34 CFR 668.165(b)(1) provides that an institution 
must obtain a written authorization from a student or parent, as 
applicable, to:
     Use title IV funds to pay for educationally related 
charges incurred by the student at the institution other than charges 
for tuition and fees and, as applicable, room and board; and
     Hold on behalf of the student or parent any title IV funds 
that would otherwise be paid directly to the student or parent.
    The Secretary is modifying these provisions to permit an 
institution to accept affirmative consent and any authorization 
provided by a student (or parent for a parent PLUS loan) orally, rather 
than in writing, if the student or parent is prevented from providing a 
written affirmative consent or authorization because of his or her 
status as an affected individual in this category. The institution must 
document the oral consent or authorization.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

    Institutions may, in cases where a student failed to meet the 
institution's satisfactory academic progress standards as a direct 
result of being an affected individual in this category, apply the 
exception provision of ``other special circumstances'' contained in 34 
CFR 668.34(a)(9)(ii).

Borrowers in a Grace Period

    Sections 428(b)(7)(D) and 464(c)(7) of the HEA and 34 CFR 
674.31(b)(2)(i)(C), 682.209(a)(5), and 685.207(b)(2)(ii) and (c)(2)(ii) 
exclude from a Federal Perkins Loan, FFEL, or Direct Loan borrower's 
(title IV borrower's) initial grace period any period during which a 
borrower who is a member of an Armed Forces reserve component is called 
or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 days. The 
statutory and regulatory provisions further require that any single 
excluded period may not exceed three years and must include the time 
necessary for the borrower to resume enrollment at the next available 
regular enrollment period. Lastly, any borrower who is in a grace 
period when called or ordered to active duty is entitled to another 
six- or nine-month grace period, as applicable, upon completion of the 
excluded period of service.
    The Secretary is modifying these statutory and regulatory 
provisions to exclude from a title IV borrower's initial grace period, 
any period, not to exceed three years, during which a borrower is an 
affected individual in this category. Any excluded period must include 
the time necessary for an affected individual in this category to 
resume enrollment at the next available enrollment period.

Borrowers in an ``In-School'' Period

    A title IV borrower is considered to be in an ``in-school'' status 
and is not required to make payments on a title IV loan that has not 
entered repayment as long as the borrower is enrolled at an eligible 
institution on at least a half-time basis. Under sections 428(b)(7) and 
464(c)(1)(A) of the HEA and 34 CFR 674.31(b)(2), 682.209(a), and 
685.207(b), (c), and (e)(2) and (3), when a title IV borrower ceases to 
be enrolled at an eligible institution on at least a half-time basis, 
the borrower is obligated to begin repayment of the loan after a six- 
or nine-month grace period, depending on the title IV loan program and 
the terms of the borrower's promissory note. The Secretary is modifying 
the statutory and regulatory provisions that obligate an ``in-school'' 
borrower who has dropped below half-time status to begin repayment if 
the borrower is an affected individual in this category, by requiring 
the holder of the loan to maintain the loan in an ``in-school'' status 
for a period not to exceed three years, including the time necessary 
for the borrower to resume enrollment in the next regular enrollment 
period, if the borrower is planning to go back to school. The Secretary 
will pay interest that accrues on a subsidized Stafford Loan as a 
result of the extension of a borrower's in-school status under this 
modification.

Borrowers in an In-School or Graduate Fellowship Deferment

    Under sections 427(a)(2)(C)(i), 428(b)(1)(M)(i), 428B(a)(2) and 
(d)(1), 428C(b)(4)(C), 455(f)(2)(A), and 464(c)(2)(A)(i) of the HEA and 
34 CFR 674.34(b)(1), 682.210(b)(1)(i) and (ii), 682.210(s)(2)and(3), 
and 685.204(b)(1)(i)(A) and (B), a title IV borrower is eligible for a 
deferment on the loan during periods after the commencement or 
resumption of the repayment period on the loan when the borrower is 
enrolled and in attendance as a regular student on at least a half-time 
basis (or full-time, if required by the terms of the borrower's 
promissory note) at an eligible institution; enrolled and in attendance 
as a regular student in a course of study that is part of a graduate 
fellowship program; or engaged in graduate or post-graduate fellowship-
supported study outside the United States. The borrower's deferment 
period ends when the borrower no longer meets one of the above 
conditions.
    The Secretary is waiving the statutory and regulatory eligibility 
requirements for this deferment for title IV borrowers who were 
required to interrupt a graduate fellowship deferment, or who were in 
an in-school deferment but who left school, because of their status as 
an affected individual in this category. The holder of the loan is 
required to maintain the loan in the graduate fellowship deferment or 
in-school deferment status for a period not to exceed three years 
during which the borrower is an affected individual in this category. 
This period includes the time necessary for the borrower to resume his 
or her graduate fellowship program or resume enrollment in the next 
regular enrollment period if the borrower returns to school. The 
Secretary will pay interest that accrues on a subsidized Stafford Loan 
as a result of extending a borrower's eligibility for deferment under 
this waiver.

Forbearance

    Under section 464(e) of the HEA and 34 CFR 674.33(d)(2), there is a 
three-year cumulative limit on the length of forbearances that a 
Federal Perkins Loan borrower can receive. To assist Federal Perkins 
Loan borrowers who are affected individuals in this category, the 
Secretary is waiving these statutory and regulatory requirements so 
that any forbearance based on a borrower's status as an affected 
individual in this category is excluded from the three-year cumulative 
limit.
    Under section 464(e) of the HEA and 34 CFR 674.33(d)(2) and (3), a 
school must receive a request and supporting documentation from a 
Federal Perkins Loan borrower before granting the borrower a 
forbearance, the terms of which must be in the form of a written 
agreement. The Secretary is waiving these statutory and regulatory 
provisions to require an institution to grant forbearance based on the 
borrower's status as an affected individual in this category for a one-
year period, including a three-month ``transition period'' immediately 
following, without supporting documentation or a written agreement, 
based on the written or oral request of the borrower, a member of the 
borrower's family, or another reliable source. The purpose of the 
three-month transition period is to assist borrowers so that they will 
not be required to

[[Page 59316]]

reenter repayment immediately after they are no longer affected 
individuals in this category. In order to grant the borrower 
forbearance beyond the initial twelve- to fifteen-month period, 
supporting documentation from the borrower, a member of the borrower's 
family, or another reliable source is required.
    Under 34 CFR 682.211(i)(1), a FFEL borrower who requests 
forbearance because of a military mobilization must provide the loan 
holder with documentation showing that he or she is subject to a 
military mobilization. The Secretary is waiving this requirement to 
allow a borrower who is not otherwise eligible for the military service 
deferment under 34 CFR 682.210(t)(9), 685.204(e)(7), and 674.34(h)(7) 
to receive forbearance at the request of the borrower, a member of the 
borrower's family, or another reliable source for a one-year period, 
including a three-month transition period that immediately follows 
immediately following, without providing the loan holder with 
documentation. In order to grant the borrower forbearance beyond this 
period, documentation supporting the borrower's military mobilization 
must be submitted to the holder of the loan.
    The Secretary will apply the forbearance waivers and modifications 
in this section to loans held by the Department of Education.

Collection of Defaulted Loans

    In accordance with 34 CFR part 674, subpart C--Due Diligence, and 
682.410(b)(6), schools and guaranty agencies must attempt to recover 
amounts owed from defaulted Federal Perkins and FFEL borrowers, 
respectively. The Secretary is waiving the regulatory provisions that 
require schools and guaranty agencies to attempt collection on 
defaulted loans for the time period during which the borrower is an 
affected individual in this category and for a three-month transition 
period. The school or guaranty agency may stop collection activities 
upon notification by the borrower, a member of the borrower's family, 
or another reliable source that the borrower is an affected individual 
in this category. Collection activities must resume after the borrower 
has notified the school or guaranty agency that he or she is no longer 
an affected individual and the three-month transition period has 
expired. The loan holder must document in the loan file why it has 
suspended collection activities on the loan, and the loan holder is not 
required to obtain evidence of the borrower's status while collection 
activities have been suspended. The Secretary will apply the waivers 
described in this paragraph to loans held by the Department of 
Education.

Loan Cancellation

    Depending on the loan program, borrowers may qualify for loan 
cancellation if they are employed fulltime in specified occupations, 
such as teaching, as a civil legal assistance attorney, or in law 
enforcement, pursuant to Sections 428J, 428L, 460(b)(1), and 
465(a)(2)(A)-(M) and (a)(3) of the HEA, and 34 CFR 674.53, 674.55, 
674.55(b), 674.56, 674.57, 674.58, 674.60, 682.216, and 685.217. 
Generally, to qualify for loan cancellation, borrowers must perform 
uninterrupted, otherwise qualifying service for a specified length of 
time (for example, one year) or for consecutive periods of time, such 
as five consecutive years.
    For borrowers who are affected individuals in this category, the 
Secretary is waiving the requirements that apply to the various loan 
cancellations that such periods of service be uninterrupted or 
consecutive, if the reason for the interruption is related to the 
borrower's status as an affected individual in this category. 
Therefore, the service period required for the borrower to receive or 
retain a loan cancellation for which he or she is otherwise eligible 
will not be considered interrupted by any period during which the 
borrower is an affected individual in this category, including the 
three-month transition period. The Secretary will apply the waivers 
described in this paragraph to loans held by the Department of 
Education.

Rehabilitation of Defaulted Loans

    A borrower of a Direct Loan or FFEL Loan must make nine on-time, 
monthly payments over ten consecutive months to rehabilitate a 
defaulted loan in accordance with section 428F(a) of the HEA and 34 CFR 
682.405 and 685.211(f). Federal Perkins Loan borrowers must make nine 
consecutive, on-time monthly payments to rehabilitate a defaulted 
Federal Perkins Loan in accordance with section 464(h)(1)(A) of the 
HEA. To assist title IV borrowers who are affected individuals in this 
category, the Secretary is waiving the statutory and regulatory 
requirements that payments made to rehabilitate a loan must be 
consecutive or made over no more than ten consecutive months. Loan 
holders should not treat any payment missed during the time that a 
borrower is an affected individual in this category, or the three-month 
transition period, as an interruption in the number of monthly, on-time 
payments required to be made consecutively, or the number of 
consecutive months in which payment is required to be made, for loan 
rehabilitation. If there is an arrangement or agreement in place 
between the borrower and loan holder and the borrower makes a payment 
during this period, the loan holder must treat the payment as an 
eligible payment in the required series of payments. When the borrower 
is no longer considered to be an affected individual in this category, 
and the three-month transition period has expired, the required 
sequence of qualifying payments may resume at the point they were 
discontinued as a result of the borrower's status. The Secretary will 
apply the waivers described in this paragraph to loans held by the 
Department of Education.

Reinstatement of Title IV Eligibility

    Under sections 428F(b) and 464(h)(2) of the HEA and under the 
definition of ``satisfactory repayment arrangement'' in 34 CFR 
668.35(a)(2), 674.2(b), 682.200(b), and 685.102(b), a defaulted title 
IV borrower may make six consecutive, monthly, on-time payments to 
reestablish eligibility for title IV student financial assistance. To 
assist title IV borrowers who are affected individuals in this 
category, the Secretary is waiving statutory and regulatory provisions 
that require the borrower to make consecutive payments in order to 
reestablish eligibility for title IV student financial assistance. Loan 
holders should not treat any payment missed during the time that a 
borrower is an affected individual in this category as an interruption 
in the six consecutive, monthly, on-time payments required for 
reestablishing title IV eligibility. If there is an arrangement or 
agreement in place between the borrower and loan holder and the 
borrower makes a payment during this period, the loan holder must treat 
the payment as an eligible payment in the required series of payments. 
When the borrower is no longer considered to be an affected individual 
or in the three-month transition period for purposes of this notice, 
the required sequence of qualifying payments may resume at the point 
they were discontinued as a result of the borrower's status. The 
Secretary will apply the waivers described in this paragraph to loans 
held by the Department of Education.

Consolidation of Defaulted Loans

    Under the definition of ``satisfactory repayment arrangement'' in 
34 CFR

[[Page 59317]]

685.102(b), a defaulted FFEL or Direct Loan borrower may establish 
eligibility to consolidate a defaulted loan in the Direct Consolidation 
Loan Program by making three consecutive, monthly, on-time payments on 
the loan. The Secretary is waiving the regulatory requirement that such 
payments be consecutive. FFEL loan holders should not treat any payment 
missed during the time that a borrower is an affected individual in 
this category as an interruption in the three consecutive, monthly, on-
time payments required for establishing eligibility to consolidate a 
defaulted loan in the Direct Consolidation Loan Program. If there is an 
arrangement or agreement in place between the borrower and loan holder 
and the borrower makes a payment during this period, the loan holder 
must treat the payment as an eligible payment in the required series of 
payments. When the borrower is no longer considered to be an affected 
individual in this category or in the three-month transition period, 
the required sequence of qualifying payments may resume at the point 
they were discontinued as a result of the borrower's status as an 
affected individual. The Secretary will apply the waivers described in 
this paragraph to Direct and FFEL loans held by the Department of 
Education and to commercially held FFEL loans.

Annual Reevaluation Requirements for Direct Loan and FFEL Borrowers 
Under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and Income-Contingent Repayment 
(ICR) Plans

    Section 493C(c) of the HEA requires the Secretary to establish 
procedures for annually determining a borrower's eligibility for 
income-based repayment, including verification of a borrower's annual 
income and the annual amount due on the total amount of the borrower's 
loans. Section 493C(b)(6) of the HEA provides that if a borrower no 
longer has a partial financial hardship, the maximum monthly payment 
amount the borrower will be required to pay is an amount that does not 
exceed the monthly amount paid under the standard repayment plan based 
on a ten-year repayment period. Under 34 CFR 682.215(e), 682.221(e), 
and 685.209, borrowers repaying under the IBR or ICR plan must be 
evaluated annually to determine if the borrower continues to have a 
partial financial hardship, if applicable, and whether the borrower's 
monthly payment amount under the IBR or ICR plan should be recalculated 
based on changes in the borrower's income or family size. Borrowers are 
required to provide information about their annual income and family 
size to the loan holder each year by the deadline specified by the 
holder. A borrower who fails to provide the required information would 
have his or her monthly payment amount adjusted to the amount the 
borrower would pay under the ten-year standard payment plan.
    The Secretary is waiving these statutory and regulatory provisions 
to require loan holders to maintain an affected borrower's payment at 
the most recently calculated IBR or ICR monthly payment amount for up 
to a three-year period, including a three-month transition period 
immediately following, if the borrower's status as an affected 
individual in this category has prevented the borrower from providing 
documentation of updated income and family size by the specified 
deadline for the holder's receipt of that information.
    Category 3: The Secretary is waiving or modifying the following 
provisions of title IV of the HEA and the Department's regulations for 
affected individuals who are serving on active duty or performing 
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation 
or national emergency as described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice.

Institutional Charges and Refunds

    The HEROES Act encourages institutions to provide a full refund of 
tuition, fees, and other institutional charges for the portion of a 
period of instruction that a student was unable to complete, or for 
which the student did not receive academic credit, because he or she 
was called up for active duty or for qualifying National Guard duty 
during a war or other military operation or national emergency. 
Alternatively, the Secretary encourages institutions to provide a 
credit in a comparable amount against future charges.
    The HEROES Act also recommends that institutions consider providing 
easy and flexible reenrollment options to students who are affected 
individuals in this category. At a minimum, an institution must comply 
with the requirements of 34 CFR 668.18, which addresses the readmission 
requirements for service members under certain conditions.
    Of course, an institution may provide such treatment to affected 
individuals other than those who are called up to active duty or for 
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation 
or national emergency.
    Before an institution makes a refund of institutional charges, it 
must perform the required Return of Title IV Funds calculations based 
upon the originally assessed institutional charges. After determining 
the amount that the institution must return to the title IV Federal 
student aid programs, any reduction of institutional charges may take 
into account the funds that the institution is required to return. In 
other words, we do not expect that an institution would both return 
funds to the Federal programs and also provide a refund of those same 
funds to the student.
    Category 4: The Secretary is waiving or modifying the following 
provisions of the HEA and the Department's regulations for dependents 
and spouses of affected individuals who are serving on active duty or 
performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other 
military operation or national emergency as described in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

Verification Signature Requirements

    Regulations in 34 CFR 668.57(b) and (c) require signatures to 
verify the number of family members in the household and the number of 
family members enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Secretary is 
waiving the requirement that a dependent student submit a statement 
signed by one of the applicant's parents when no responsible parent can 
provide the required signature because of the parent's status as an 
affected individual in this category.

Required Signatures on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
(FAFSA), Student Aid Report (SAR), and Institutional Student 
Information Record (ISIR)

    Generally, when a dependent applicant for title IV aid submits the 
FAFSA or submits corrections to a previously submitted FAFSA, at least 
one parental signature is required on the FAFSA, SAR, or ISIR. The 
Secretary is waiving this requirement so that an applicant need not 
provide a parent's signature when there is no responsible parent who 
can provide the required signature because of the parent's status as an 
affected individual in this category. In these situations, a student's 
high school counselor or the FAA may sign on behalf of the parent as 
long as the applicant provides adequate documentation concerning the 
parent's inability to provide a signature due to the parent's status as 
an affected individual in this category.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register

[[Page 59318]]

and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal 
Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format 
(PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 
available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.007 Federal 
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program; 84.032 Federal 
Family Education Loan Program; 84.032 Federal PLUS Program; 84.033 
Federal Work Study Program; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program; 
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program; and 84.268 William D. Ford 
Federal Direct Loan Program.)

    Program Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1071, 1082, 1087a, 1087aa, Part F-
1.

    Dated: September 24, 2012.
David A. Bergeron,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-23831 Filed 9-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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