1

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

A. Justification 

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any

legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a hard copy of the 

appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of 

information, or you may provide a valid URL link or paste the applicable section1. Specify the 

review type of the collection (new, revision, extension, reinstatement with change, reinstatement 

without change). If revised, briefly specify the changes. If a rulemaking is involved, make note 

of the sections or changed sections, if applicable.

This request is for an extension of the information collection supporting the policies and 

reporting requirements contained in Subpart E of Part 668 – Verification and Updating 

of Student Aid Application Information. Sections 668.53, 668.54, 668.55, 668.56, 

668.57, 668.59 and 668.61 contain information collection requirements (OMB control 

number 1845-0041). This subpart governs the verification and updating of the Free 

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) used to calculate an applicant’s Expected 

Family Contribution (EFC) for purposes of determining an applicant’s need for student 

financial assistance under Title IV of Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). 

The collection of this documentation helps ensure that students (and parents in the case of 

PLUS loans) receive the correct amount of Title IV program assistance by providing 

accurate information to calculate an applicant’s expected family contribution. 

There has been no change to the regulatory language since the prior information 

collection filing. The regulations require the verification process to include the updating 

of a student’s marital status during the award year when the institution determines that 

the update is necessary to address an inequity or reflect more accurately the applicant’s 

ability to pay. The regulations identify the number of items to be verified as an average 

of three data elements as selected on an individual basis. The regulations require that all 

data changes be transmitted to the Department in order to insure that our systems contain 

correct data.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new 

collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the 

current collection.

The regulations require participating institutions to inform an applicant selected for 

verification with a clear explanation of the documentation needed to satisfy the 

verification requirements, the deadline for the submission of those documents, and the 

consequences of an applicant’s failure to provide the required documentation within the 

 

1

Please limit pasted text to no longer than 3 paragraphs.
2

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

specified time period. Subsequently, the institution will review the submitted 

documentation and compare the data with that which was originally submitted on the 

FAFSA. When the data contained on the verification documentation differs from the 

FAFSA data, the original FAFSA data must be corrected.

Institutions will utilize the verification and updating regulation information to record any

changes to application data to ensure that only eligible students receive Title IV, HEA 

student financial assistance. And by an institution’s reporting of confirmation of student 

information or updates to student information, the Department will have more accurate

data to use to determine trends or to insure that eligible students continue to have access 

to limited federal aid funds.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or forms of 

information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the 

decision of adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration given to using 

technology to reduce burden.

Institutions are encouraged to use computer and Internet technology to image, transmit, 

and receive the supporting documents. Changes to FAFSA information are reported 

using the Department’s FAA Access to CPS Online system or the Electronic Data 

Exchange (EDE), which are both web-based. Students who filed the FAFSA 

electronically are also able to make changes to the record electronically using the 

Personal Identification Number (PIN) provided by the Department to ensure a more 

secure exchange of information.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information 

already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

The student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using selfreported data and submits the data by paper or electronically to the Department. Those 

students selected for verification by the Secretary must submit documentation to support 

the data as originally provided on the FAFSA. The submission of supporting 

documentation is not duplicated during any other part of the application process. 

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any

methods used to minimize burden. A small entity may be (1) a small business which is deemed 

to be one that is independently owned and operated and that is not dominant in its field of 

operation; (2) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise that is independently

owned and operated and is not dominant in its field; or (3) a small government jurisdiction, 

which is a government of a city, county, town, township, school district, or special district with a 

population of less than 50,000.

No small businesses are impacted by this collection.
3

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not 

conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing 

burden.

Without these annual data collections institutions would not be able to comply with the 

statutory verification requirements, resulting in students receiving more aid than they

would otherwise be eligible to receive, based solely upon self-reported data. The 

Department’s selection of applicants for the verification process is based upon annual 

studies it conducts to identify applicant classes that are most prone to report erroneous 

data. 

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted 

in a manner:

 requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

 requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in 

fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

 requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

 requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, 

grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

 in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable 

results than can be generalized to the universe of study;

 requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and 

approved by OMB;

 that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in 

statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are 

consistent with the pledge, or that unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other 

agencies for compatible confidential use; or

 requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential 

information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect 

the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

This information collection requirement requires no special circumstances.

8. As applicable, state that the Department has published the 60 and 30 Federal Register notices 

as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to 

submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and 

describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address 

comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the 

availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instruction and record keeping, 

disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or 

reported.
4

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who 

must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years – even if the collection of 

information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may

preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

There will be a 60-day and 30-day Federal Register notice published seeking public 

comment. This is the 60 day notice.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration 

of contractors or grantees with meaningful justification.

No payments or gifts will be provided to the respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the 

assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If personally identifiable information (PII) is 

being collected, a Privacy Act statement should be included on the instrument. Please provide a 

citation for the Systems of Record Notice and the date a Privacy Impact Assessment was 

completed as indicated on the IC Data Form. A confidentiality statement with a legal citation that 

authorizes the pledge of confidentiality should be provided.2If the collection is subject to the 

Privacy Act, the Privacy Act statement is deemed sufficient with respect to confidentiality. If 

there is no expectation of confidentiality, simply state that the Department makes no pledge 

about the confidentially of the data.

No assurance of confidentiality is provided to respondents. Submission of required 

documents is required for applicants selected for verification.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual 

behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. 

The justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, 

the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from 

whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

The Department is not requesting any sensitive data.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

 Indicate the number of respondents by affected public type (federal government, 

individuals or households, private sector – businesses or other for-profit, private 

sector – not-for-profit institutions, farms, state, local or tribal governments), 

frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was 

 

2

Requests for this information are in accordance with the following ED and OMB policies: Privacy Act of 1974, 

OMB Circular A-108 – Privacy Act Implementation – Guidelines and Responsibilities, OMB Circular A-130 

Appendix I – Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals, OMB M-03-22 – OMB 

Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, OMB M-06-15 –

Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information, OM:6-104 – Privacy Act of 1974 (Collection, Use and Protection 

of Personally Identifiable Information)
5

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

estimated, including identification of burden type: recordkeeping, reporting or third 

party disclosure. All narrative should be included in item 12. Unless directed to do 

so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to 

base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential 

respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely 

because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated 

hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should 

not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

 If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden 

estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in the ROCIS IC Burden 

Analysis Table. (The table should at minimum include Respondent types, IC activity, 

Respondent and Responses, Hours/Response, and Total Hours)

 Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents of the hour burdens for 

collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. 

The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection 

activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 

14.

Subpart E – Verification and Updating of Student Aid Application Information sections 

668.53, 668.54, 668.55, 668.56, 668.57, 668.59 and 668.61 contain collection requirements

(OMB control number 1845-0041). 

Section 668.53 – Policies and procedures.

The regulations require that all Title IV program participating institutions establish and 

use written policies and procedures for the verification of information supplied by aid applicants 

on the FAFSA. These procedures must be include timeframes for the request for and submission 

of documentation, applicant responsibilities in the verification process including consequences of 

the failure to provide the requested data, among other regulatory elements.

Because the items from the FAFSA selected for verification change annually, we 

estimate that each participating institution will require 2 hours to review their procedures and 

update any programming to capture the verification items for that award year.

AFFECTED PARTIES:

# of Respondents # of Responses Hrs/Response # of Burden Hours

For-profit institutions

2,199 2,199 X 2 hours 4,398

Private institutions

1,743 1,743 X 2 hours 3,486

Public institutions

1,896 1,896 X 2 hours 3,792

TOTAL

5,838 5,838 11,676
6

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

Section 668.54 – Selection of an applicant’s FAFSA information for verification.

The regulations require that the institution perform verification on all applicants at their 

institution who are selected by the Department of Education. The regulations also allow for 

institutions to select applications for institutional verification based on their written policies and 

procedures. There are also listed allowed exclusions from the verification process.

Because the selection process would be addressed in the updating of policy and 

procedures and the updating of any programs at the institution we are not including any burden 

hours for this section of the regulation.

Section 668.55 – Updating information.

The regulations require that all applicants update all dependency status changes 

throughout the award year, update changes in household size, the number in the household 

attending postsecondary educational institutions throughout the award year, and under certain 

situations a financial aid administrator can include changes in an applicant’s marital status.

We estimate that approximately ten percent of the approximate 21 million FAFSA 

applicants will be required to update information listed above.

AFFECTED PARTIES:

# of Respondents # of Responses Hrs/Response # of Burden Hours

Individuals

** 2,100,000 X 0.08 168,000

Proprietary Institutions

* 798,000 X 0.17 135,660

Private Not-For Profit Institutions

* 630,000 X 0.17 107,100

Public Institutions

 * 672,000 X 0.17 114,240

TOTAL

 * 4,200,000 525,000

Note - An asterisk (*) is used to avoid double counting the same respondents that has been 

identified in one of the section breakouts. The double asterisk denotes this group as a subsection 

of the individuals identified in section 668.57 and is used to avoid double counting the same 

respondent.

Section 668.56 – Information to be verified.

The regulations specify that the Secretary will publish an annual listing of FAFSA 

information that may be required to be verified. The Federal Register includes a range of

information that applicants will need to confirm and the types of acceptable documentation that 

is to be submitted to substantiate the previously provided information on the FAFSA for each of 

the items identified.
7

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

The review of the Federal Register identifying the verification classifications is part of 

the annual review of the institution’s policies and procedures identified in Section 668.53, there 

is no additional burden assessed here.

Section 668.57 – Acceptable documentation.

The regulations clarify acceptable documentation for the specified areas for verification. 

The regulations also allow the institutions to accept income information provided on the FAFSA 

if it has been obtained directly from the Internal Revenue Service during the initial application 

process through the IRS Data Retrieval process when the retrieved data has not been changed by

the applicant.

The Department selected about 30 percent of the approximate 21 million FAFSA filers in 

the 2012-2013 award year. We anticipate it will take the applicant an average of seven minutes 

to review the verification request and locate the requested documents to provide to the 

institution.

Affected Parties:

# of Respondents # of Responses Hrs/Response # of Burden Hours

Individuals

 6,300,000 6,300,000 X 0.12 756,000 

Proprietary Institutions

* 2,394,000 X 0.12 287,280

Private Not-For Profit Institutions

* 1,890,000 X 0.12 226,800

Public Institutions

* 2,016,000 X 0.12 241,920

TOTAL

 6,300,000 12,600,000 1,512,000

Note - An asterisk (*) is used to avoid double counting the same respondents that has been 

identified in one of the section breakouts.

Section 668.59 – Consequences of a change in application information.

The regulations require that all changes to the applicant’s FAFSA information resulting 

from verification be submitted to the Department for those applicants receiving aid under any of 

the subsidized student financial assistance programs. 

Of the approximate 21 million applicants in the 2012-2013 award year, we estimate that 

about 6.3 million applicants will be selected for verification. Based upon the average number of 

transactions as a consequence of a change in FAFSA information, we believe that the 6.3 million 

applicants verified will have an average of 2.5 transactions per applicant selected to complete the 

verification/data correction process yielding 15,750,000 responses. We expect the average 

amount of time per response to be 7.4 minutes (.12 hours) for a total of 1,890,000 hours of 

burden. 
8

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

Affected Parties:

# of Respondents # of Responses Hrs/Response # of Burden Hours

Proprietary Institutions

* 5,985,000 X 0.12 718,200

Private Not-For Profit Institutions

* 4,725,000 X 0.12 567,000

Public Institutions

* 5,040,000 X 0.12 604,800

TOTAL

* 15,750,000 1,890,000

Note - An asterisk (*) is used to avoid double counting the same respondents that has been 

identified in one of the section breakouts.

Section 668.61 – Recovery of funds from interim disbursements.

The regulations outline the efforts that institutions must make to recover funds from 

students who received an interim disbursement of Title IV, HEA student financial assistance and 

who, through the verification process, are determined to have received more funding than they

were eligible to receive. Due to the risks of owing repayments of program funds for students 

who do not complete verification or are shown to be ineligible due to the completion of 

verification few institutions process interim disbursements. Therefore the Department has 

determined that any burden on the institutions would be negligible. 

A summary is of the proposed burden is noted below:

# of Respondents # of Responses # Hrs of Burden

Section 668.53-Policies and Procedures

 5,838 5,838 11,676

Section 668.55 – Updating information

* 4,200,000 525,000

Section 668.56 – Information to be verified

N/A N/A N/A 

Section 668.57 – Acceptable documentation

6,300,000 12,600,000 1,512,000

Section 668.59 – Consequences of a change in FAFSA information

* 15,750,000 1,890,000

Section 668.61 – Recovery of funds from interim disbursements

N/A N/A N/A 

Sub total

 6,305,838 32,555,838 3,938,676

Current Inventory

 9,859,207 33,670,371 4,713,934
9

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

Net decrease

 -3,553,369 -1,114,533 -775,258

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers 

resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown 

in Items 12 and 14.)

 The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost 

component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and 

maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account 

costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the 

information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors 

including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, 

the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and 

start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as 

purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing 

equipment; and acquiring and maintaining record storage facilities.

 If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost 

burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of contracting out information 

collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost 

burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), 

utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing 

economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the 

information collection, as appropriate.

 Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions 

thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with 

requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to 

provide information or keep records for the government or (4) as part of customary and 

usual business or private practices. Also, these estimates should not include the hourly

costs (i.e., the monetization of the hours) captured above in Item 12

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Cost : 

Total Annual Costs (O&M) : 

____________________

Total Annualized Costs Requested : 

There are no start–up costs associated with these regulatory changes.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description 

of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational 

expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that 

would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may

aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

There are no additional costs to the government.
10

ICRAS Tracking and OMB Number: (1416) 1845-0041 v8 Revised: 8/29/2013

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments. Generally, adjustments in 

burden result from re-estimating burden and/or from economic phenomenon outside of an 

agency’s control (e.g., correcting a burden estimate or an organic increase in the size of the 

reporting universe). Program changes result from a deliberate action that materially changes a 

collection of information and generally are result of new statute or an agency action (e.g., 

changing a form, revising regulations, redefining the respondent universe, etc.). Burden changes 

should be disaggregated by type of change (i.e., adjustment, program change due to new statute, 

and/or program change due to agency discretion), type of collection (new, revision, extension, 

reinstatement with change, reinstatement without change) and include totals for changes in 

burden hours, responses and costs (if applicable).

This information collection extension is an adjustment to the current burden assessment. 

There has been no change to the statute or regulatory language that supports this 

information collection. The decrease of 775,258 burden hours is due to the continued 

streamlining and automation of the verification process. The ability of an individual to 

retrieve his or her financial information directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has decreased 

the number of verification interactions institutions must have with students who are using 

the FAFSA on the Web application which helps to prevent and combat fraud, waste and 

abuse. 

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation 

and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time 

schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of 

information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

The results of the collection of information will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information 

collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

ED is not seeking approval to not display an expiration date. The OMB expiration dates 

will be displayed in the Federal Register once approved. 

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the Certification of 

Paperwork Reduction Act.

ED is not requesting any exceptions to the “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act 

Submissions.”