[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 82866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26021]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2023-SCC-0120]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant Total and Permanent 
Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently 
approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Go to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to 
access the site. Find this information collection request (ICR) by 
selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' 
then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. 
Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this 
information collection request. Information collection forms and 
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information 
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting 
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, (202) 377-
4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is especially interested in 
public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection 
necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this 
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on 
the respondents, including through the use of information technology. 
Please note that written comments received in response to this notice 
will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: Direct Loan, FFEL, Perkins and TEACH Grant 
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application and Related Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 1845-0065.
    Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 61,629.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 30,814.
    Abstract: 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.

    Dated: November 20, 2023.
Kun Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-26021 Filed 11-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P