Document:
ED-2022-SCC-0037-0007
Tracking
Number: 138-zka8-f3w9
Submitter Information:
Email:
bryce.mckibben@temple.edu
Organization:
The Hope Center for College,
Community, and Justice
Comment Summary:
Attached are suggested revisions and comments from The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. The MPN should be renamed the Federal Student Loan Application and significantly simplified for borrowers.
ED Response:
Thank you for your submitting your recommended changes for the Direct Subsidized Loan and Direct Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note. See the pages that follow for responses to your comments and suggested edits.
As a result of changes to the Direct Loan Program regulations that are expected by be published in the fall of 2022 (to be effective in 2023), it will be necessary to revise the MPN again next year to reflect the regulatory changes. For this reason, we purposely limited the proposed changes this year to the removal of obsolete information related to the repealed 150% time limitation on Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility. Making other modifications to the forms would require significant systems changes that would not be practical to make at this time, considering that more substantive changes to the Direct Loan promissory notes will need to be made in the relatively near future. However, we will consider some of your recommendations for the next revision of the forms after the final regulations have published. Note also that there will be opportunities for the public to comment on the next revision of the forms.
Federal
Student Loan Application 60-DAY
DRAFT 03/03/2022
For
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
WARNING: Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or misrepresentation on this form or any accompanying document is subject to penalties that may include fines, imprisonment, or both, under the U.S. Criminal Code and 20 U.S.C. 1097.
Before You Begin
Before you begin, read the Instructions on page 14 of this Federal Student Loan Application.
Borrower Information
1. First Name: _________________________________________________ Middle Initial: _________ Last Name: _______________________________________
2. Mailing Address (note: if you are living or intending to live in temporary or campus-based housing, please list an address where you receive postal mail, such as a permanent address, if available)
3. Social Security Number
4. Date of Birth (mm-dd-yyyy)
5. Driver’s License State and Number
6. Email Address please list a personal email address where you can receive e(note: mail after you are enrolled at the institution, rather than a school-based email address, if available)
7. Area Code/Telephone Number
ALTERNATIVE CONTACT INFORMATION
List two persons with different U.S. addresses who have known you for at least two years. The first alternative contact should be a parent or legal guardian if a parent or guardian was listed on the FAFSA. These alternative contacts are solely to assist in contacting you in the future if we are unable to reach you directly. Alternative contacts are not used for checking credit or determining your eligibility for a loan.
8. First Name: _________________________________________________ Middle Initial: _________ Last Name: _______________________________________
9. Mailing Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
11. Area Code/Telephone Number: ( ______ ) ______ - ________
12. Relationship to You: _________________________________________________________________________________
13. First Name: _________________________________________________ Middle Initial: _________ Last Name: _______________________________________
14. Mailing Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15. Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
16. Area Code/Telephone Number: ( ______ ) ______ - ________
18. Relationship to You: _________________________________________________________________________________
SCHOOL INFORMATION – TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SCHOOL
19. School Name and Address
20. School Code/Branch
21. Identification No.
22. Check to certify that, if the borrower is a veteran of the Armed Forces, such borrower has exhausted applicable veterans education benefits. Yes: ____
Borrower’s Name: ________________________________________________________________ Social Security Number: ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___
BORROWER REQUEST, CERTIFICATIONS, AUTHORIZATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDINGS
12. I request a total amount of Direct Subsidized Loans and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loans under this Federal Student Loan Application that cannot be more than the maximum amounts I am eligible to receive, as provided under federal law and explained in the MPN Terms and Conditions and in the Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities Statement that accompanies this MPN.
13. Under penalty of perjury, I certify that:
A. The information I provide on this MPN and that I update from time to time is true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
B. I will use the loan money I receive only to pay for my authorized educational expenses for attendance at the school that determined I was eligible to receive the loan.
D. If I am in default on a federal student loan, I have made satisfactory repayment arrangements with the loan holder to repay the amount owed.
E. If I have been convicted of, or if I have pled nolo contendere (no contest) or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in obtaining federal student aid funds, I have fully repaid those funds.
14. For each Direct Subsidized Loan and Direct Unsubsidized Loan I receive under this MPN, I authorize:
A. My schools, the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and their agents and contractors to release information about my loan to the alternative contacts I provide unless I submit written directions otherwise or as otherwise permitted by law.
B. My schools, ED, and their agents and contractors to contact me regarding my loan request or my loan, including repayment of my loan, at any cellular telephone number I provide now or in the future using automated dialing equipment or artificial or prerecorded voice or text messages.
15. I understand that:
A. My school is authorized to credit my loan money to my account at the school and to pay to ED any refund that may be due up to the full amount of the loan.
B. I have the option of paying the interest that accrues on my loans during grace, in-school, deferment (including in-school deferment), forbearance, and certain other periods.
C. ED has the authority to verify information reported on this MPN with other federal agencies and to report information about my loan status to persons and organizations permitted by law to receive that information.
D. My school will notify me of the type of loan and loan amount that I am eligible to borrow.
E. Within certain timeframes, I may cancel a loan or request a lower amount by contacting my school, or by refusing to accept or returning all or a portion of a loan disbursement that is made to me.
F. More than one loan may be made to me under this MPN for the same or different loan periods.
G. I am entitled to an exact copy of this MPN and the Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities Statement.
PROMISES16. I promise to pay to ED the full amount of all loans that I receive under this MPN in accordance with the terms of the MPN, plus interest and any other charges and fees that I may be required to pay under the terms of the MPN.
17. If I do not make a payment on a loan made under this MPN when it is due, I promise to pay reasonable collection costs, including but not limited to attorney fees, court costs, and other fees.
18. I promise that I will not sign this MPN before reading the entire MPN, even if I am told not to read it, or told that I am not required to read it.
19. By signing this MPN, whether electronically or on a paper copy, I promise that I have read, understand, and agree to the terms and conditions of the MPN, including the Borrower Request, Certifications, Authorizations, and Understandings, the MPN Terms and Conditions, and the Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities Statement.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY RECEIVE ONE OR MORE LOANS UNDER THIS MPN, AND THAT I MUST REPAY ALL LOANS THAT I RECEIVE UNDER THIS MPN.
20. Borrower’s Signature _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
21. Today’s Date (mm-dd-yyyy) ___ ___ - ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___
MPN TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This section summarizes some of the major terms and conditions of your loans. You can find more detailed information about the terms and conditions of your loans in the Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities Statement (BRR) that accompanies the MPN. Each topic covered in this section of the MPN is followed by the number of the item in the BRR that provides additional information about that topic. The BRR is considered to be part of the MPN. Whenever we refer to the MPN, the term "MPN" includes the BRR.
We contract with servicers to process Direct Loan payments, deferment and forbearance requests, and other transactions, and to answer questions about Direct Loans. We will provide you with information about how to contact us or our servicers after your school disburses (pays out) your loan. It is important to keep in contact with your servicer.
The words "we," "us," and "our" refer to the U.S. Department of Education or our servicers. The word "loan" refers to one or more loans made under the MPN.
The term "federal student aid" refers to aid awarded under the following programs: the Federal Pell Grant Program; the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program; the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program; the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant Program; the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program; the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program; the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program; and the Federal Perkins Loan Program.
LAWS
THAT APPLY TO THIS MPN AND OTHER LEGAL INFORMATION
(BRR Item 1)
The terms of this MPN are determined in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA), our regulations, and other federal laws and regulations. Throughout this MPN, we refer to these laws and regulations as "the Act."
Any notice we are required to send you about your loans, even if you do not receive the notice, will be effective if it is sent by first-class mail to the most recent address that we have for you, emailed to an email address you have provided, or sent by any other method of notification that is permitted or required by the Act. You must immediately notify your servicer of a change in your contact information or status (see BRR Item 13).
If we do not enforce a term of this MPN, that does not waive any of our rights to enforce that term or any other term in the future. No term of your loan may be modified or waived, unless we do so in writing. If any term of your loan is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining terms remain in force.
TYPES OF LOANS YOU CAN RECEIVE UNDER THIS MPN (BRR Item 3)
This MPN is used to make Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Only undergraduate students with financial need are eligible to receive Direct Subsidized Loans. Both undergraduate and graduate or professional students can receive Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
USE OF THE MPN TO MAKE MORE THAN ONE LOAN (BRR Item 4)
This MPN can be used to make multiple loans to you to pay your educational expenses over a period of up to 10 years. If you do not want to receive more than one loan under this MPN, you must notify your school or your servicer in writing.
Each loan you receive under this MPN is separately enforceable. At or before the time of the first disbursement of each loan, we will send you a disclosure statement that tells you the amount of the loan and additional terms of the loan. Any disclosure statement we send to you in connection with a loan made under this MPN is considered to be part of the MPN. You can also find information about the amount of your loan and the disbursement dates in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
AMOUNT YOU MAY BORROW (BRR Item 5)
There are annual loan limits (the maximum loan amount you can borrow each academic year) and aggregate loan limits (the maximum loan amount you can borrow for undergraduate and graduate or professional study) under this MPN. The annual and aggregate limits vary depending on your academic level (first-year, second-year, etc.) and, for undergraduate students, whether you are a dependent or independent student.
INTEREST RATE (BRR Item 6)
Unless we notify you in writing that a lower rate will apply, the interest rate for any loan you receive under this MPN is a fixed rate (meaning that your interest rate will never change) that is calculated each year. When the rate is calculated, it applies to Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans with first disbursements made during the period beginning on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the following year. This means that different loans you receive under this MPN may have different interest rates.
The calculated interest rate cannot be more than the maximum rate set by the Act. The maximum interest rate for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans made to undergraduate students is 8.25%. The maximum interest rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans made to graduate or professional students is 9.5%.
If you are in the military and the interest rate on your loan is greater than 6%, you may qualify to have the rate limited to 6% during any period of active duty service or other qualifying periods.
PERIODS WHEN WE CHARGE INTEREST (BRR Item 7)
We do not charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans while you are enrolled at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis, during your 6-month grace period, during deferment periods, or during certain periods of repayment under certain repayment plans that base your monthly payment amount on your income. We charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans during all other periods, starting on the day after your grace period ends.
Generally, we charge interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during all periods (including while you are in school and during your grace period), starting when your loan is first disbursed.
You are responsible for paying all interest that we charge on your Direct Loans.
LOAN FEE (BRR Item 8)
We charge a loan fee for each loan you receive. The loan fee is a percentage of the loan amount and will reduce the amount of money you receive to pay for your educational expenses. However, you are required to pay the full amount of the loan, including the amount that was taken for the loan fee. The specific loan fee you are charged will be shown on disclosure statements that will be sent to you.
MPN TERMS AND CONDITIONS (CONTINUED)LATE CHARGES AND COLLECTION COSTS (BRR Item 8)
If you do not make your full monthly loan payment within 30 days of your due date, we may require you to pay a late charge of not more than six cents for each dollar of each late payment.
We may also require you to pay any other charges and fees that are permitted by the Act related to the collection of your loan. If you default on a loan, you must pay reasonable collection costs, plus any court costs and attorney fees.
YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL ALL OR PART OF A LOAN (BRR Item 10)
Before your loan money is disbursed, you may cancel all or part of the loan at any time by notifying your school. After your loan money is disbursed, you may cancel all or part of the loan within certain timeframes set by the Act. These timeframes and the procedures for cancelling all or part of your loan will be explained in a notice that will be sent to you at the time of each loan disbursement.
HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR LOAN MONEY (BRR Item 11)
Generally, your school will pay out your loan money in more than one installment (called a "disbursement") according to a schedule determined by your school. In most cases, the loan money will be applied to your school account to pay for tuition, room and board, and authorized school fees. If there is money left after those charges are paid, the school will give the excess amount (this is called a "credit balance") to you directly, unless you authorize the school to hold the credit balance.
GRACE PERIOD (BRR Item 14)
You will receive a 6-month grace period on repayment of your loan during which you do not have to make payments. The grace period begins the day after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school.
We do not charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans during this period. We do charge interest during the grace period on Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and this interest will be capitalized at the end of the grace period if you do not pay it.
REPAYING YOUR LOAN (BRR Item 15)
You must repay each loan you receive under the MPN in monthly installments during a repayment period that begins on the day immediately following your 6-month grace period on that loan. You have a choice of several repayment plans, including plans that base your required monthly payment amount on your income.
If you are temporarily unable to make your monthly loan payments, you can request a deferment or forbearance that allows you to temporarily stop making payments or to temporarily make a smaller payment amount (see BRR Item 19). In some cases, we may grant you a forbearance without a request.
You may prepay all or any part of your loan at any time without penalty.
After you have fully repaid a loan, we will send you a notice telling you that you have paid off your loan. You may fully repay different loans made under this MPN at different times.
DEFAULTING ON YOUR LOAN (BRR Item 16)
You will be considered in default on your loan if:
You do not make your monthly loan payments for a total of at least 270 days;
You do not comply with other terms of the loan, and we determine that you do not intend to repay your loan; or
We accelerate your loan (see "CONDITIONS WHEN WE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY REPAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF YOUR LOAN") and you do not pay the amount due.
If you default, we may:
Capitalize all outstanding interest, which will increase the principal amount due on the loan and the total amount of interest you will pay;
Report the default to nationwide consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus), which will significantly and negatively affect your credit history;
Demand that you immediately repay the loan in full;
Order administrative wage garnishment (AWG) of your wages;
Take (offset) your federal income tax refund or Social Security Administration payments or any other payment authorized for offset under federal law and use that amount to pay off part of your loan;
File a lawsuit against you to collect on the loan; and
Require you to pay collection costs, which will increase the total amount you must pay on your loan.
CONDITIONS WHEN WE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY REPAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF YOUR LOAN (BRR Item 17)
We may require you to immediately repay the entire unpaid balance of your loan (this is called "acceleration") if you:
Receive loan money, but do not begin attendance in any classes at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the loan;
Use your loan money to pay for anything other than expenses related to your education at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the loan;
Make a false statement that causes you to receive a loan that you are not eligible for; or
Default on your loan (see "DEFAULTING ON YOUR LOAN").
INFORMATION WE REPORT ABOUT YOUR LOAN (BRR Item 18)
We will report information about your loan to nationwide consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus) and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or successor system on a regular basis. This information will include the disbursement dates, amount, and repayment status of your loan (for example, whether you are current or delinquent in making payments). If you default on a loan, we will report this to nationwide consumer reporting agencies. Your loan will be identified as an education loan. Schools may access information in NSLDS for specific purposes that we authorize.
IMPORTANT NOTICESGRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT NOTICE
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Public Law 106-102) requires that lenders provide certain information to their customers regarding the collection and use of nonpublic personal information.
We disclose nonpublic personal information to third parties only as necessary to process and service your loan and as permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974. See the Privacy Act Notice below. We do not sell or otherwise make available any information about you to any third parties for marketing purposes.
We protect the security and confidentiality of nonpublic personal information by implementing the following policies and practices. All physical access to the sites where nonpublic personal information is maintained is controlled and monitored by security personnel. Our computer systems offer a high degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. These systems limit data access to our staff and contract staff on a "need-to-know" basis, and control individual users’ ability to access and alter records within the systems. All users of these systems are given a unique user ID with personal identifiers. All interactions by individual users with the systems are recorded.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE
The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you:
The authority for collecting the requested information from and about you is §451 et seq. of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) and the authorities for collecting and using your Social Security Number (SSN) are §484(a)(4) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(4)) and 31 U.S.C. 7701(b). Participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and giving us your SSN are voluntary, but you must provide the requested information, including your SSN, to participate.
The principal purposes for collecting the information on this form, including your SSN, are to verify your identity, to determine your eligibility to receive a loan or a benefit on a loan (such as a deferment, forbearance, discharge, or forgiveness) under the Direct Loan Program, to permit the servicing of your loan(s), and, if it becomes necessary, to locate you and to collect and report on your loan(s) if your loan(s) become delinquent or in default. We also use your SSN as an account identifier and to permit you to access your account information electronically.
The information in your file may be disclosed, on a case-by-case basis or under a computer matching program, to third parties as authorized under routine uses in the appropriate systems of records notices. The routine uses of this information include, but are not limited to, its disclosure to federal, state, or local agencies, to private parties such as relatives, present and former employers, business and personal associates, to consumer reporting agencies, to financial and educational institutions, and to guaranty agencies in order to verify your identity, to determine your eligibility to receive a loan or a benefit on a loan, to permit the servicing or collection of your loan(s), to enforce the terms of the loan(s), to investigate possible fraud and to verify compliance with federal student financial aid program regulations, or to locate you if you become delinquent in your loan payments or if you default. To provide default rate calculations, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to state agencies. To provide financial aid history information, disclosures may be made to educational institutions. To assist program administrators with tracking refunds and cancellations, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to federal or state agencies. To provide a standardized method for educational institutions to efficiently submit student enrollment status, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies or to financial and educational institutions. To counsel you in repayment efforts, disclosures may be made to guaranty agencies, to financial and educational institutions, or to federal, state, or local agencies.
In the event of litigation, we may send records to the Department of Justice, a court, adjudicative body, counsel, party, or witness if the disclosure is relevant and necessary to the litigation. If this information, either alone or with other information, indicates a potential violation of law, we may send it to the appropriate authority for action. We may send information to members of Congress if you ask them to help you with federal student aid questions. In circumstances involving employment complaints, grievances, or disciplinary actions, we may disclose relevant records to adjudicate or investigate the issues. If provided for by a collective bargaining agreement, we may disclose records to a labor organization recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71. Disclosures may be made to our contractors for the purpose of performing any programmatic function that requires disclosure of records. Before making any such disclosure, we will require the contractor to maintain Privacy Act safeguards. Disclosures may also be made to qualified researchers under Privacy Act safeguards.
FINANCIAL PRIVACY ACT NOTICE
Under the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3401-3421), ED will have access to financial records in your student loan file maintained in compliance with the administration of the Direct Loan Program, and also to the financial records of any account at a financial institution used to disburse Direct Loan funds to you.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION NOTICE
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1845-0007. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes (0.5 hours) per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with 34 CFR 685.201. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write to:
U.S. Department of Education
Common Origination and Disbursement School Relations Center
Attn: Applicant Services
PO Box 9002
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
ABOUT THE BORROWER’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT (BRR)
This BRR provides additional information about the terms and conditions of the loans you receive under the accompanying Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Please keep this BRR for your records. You may request another copy of the BRR at any time by contacting your loan servicer. You can also obtain a complete copy of the MPN that you signed, including the BRR, on StudentAid.gov.
Throughout this BRR, the words "we," "us," and "our" refer to the U.S. Department of Education or our servicers. The word "loan" refers to one or more loans made under the accompanying MPN.
1. Laws that apply to this MPN and other legal information
The terms and conditions of loans made under this MPN are determined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA), and other federal laws and regulations. We refer to these laws and regulations as "the Act" throughout this BRR. Under applicable state law (unless federal law preempts a state law), you may have certain borrower rights, remedies, and defenses in addition to those stated in the MPN and this BRR.
Any notice we are required to send you related to a loan made under this MPN, even if you do not receive the notice, will be effective if it is sent by first-class mail to the most recent address that we have for you, sent by electronic means to an email address you have provided, or sent by any other method of notification that is permitted or required by the Act. You must immediately notify your servicer of a change in your contact information or status (see BRR Item 13).
If we do not enforce a term of this MPN, that does not waive our right to enforce that term or any other term in the future. No term of this MPN may be modified or waived, unless we do so in writing. If any term of this MPN is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining terms remain in force.
NOTE: Amendments to the Act may change the terms of this MPN. Any amendment to the Act that changes the terms of this MPN will be applied to your loans in accordance with the effective date of the amendment. Depending on the effective date of the amendment, amendments to the Act may modify or remove a benefit that existed at the time that you signed this MPN.
2. The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
The Direct Loan Program (formally known as the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program) includes the following types of loans, known collectively as "Direct Loans":
Direct Subsidized Loans (formally known as Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans)
Direct Unsubsidized Loans (formally known as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans)
Direct PLUS Loans (formally known as Federal Direct PLUS Loans)
Direct Consolidation Loans (formally known as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans)
Direct Loans are made by the U.S. Department of Education. We contract with servicers to process Direct Loan payments, deferment and forbearance requests, and other transactions, and to answer questions about Direct Loans. We will provide you with information about how to contact us or our servicers after your school notifies us that the first disbursement of your loan has been made. It is important to keep in contact with your servicer.
If we transfer one or all of your loans to a new servicer, we will notify you of who your new servicer is, how to contact your new servicer, and when your loans will be transferred. A transfer of the servicing of your loan does not affect any of your rights and responsibilities under that loan. You can find the name of your servicer in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (see BRR Item 18).
3. Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are made to students to help pay for the cost of education beyond high school.
Direct Subsidized Loans are available only to undergraduate students. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to both undergraduate students and graduate or professional students.
To receive a Direct Subsidized Loan, you must have financial need. We do not charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans while you are in school on at least a half-time basis, during the grace period, during deferment periods, and during certain periods of repayment under the Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE Plan), the Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE Plan), and the Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan).
You can receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan without showing that you have financial need. Except during certain periods of repayment under the REPAYE Plan, we charge interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during all periods. For more information on periods when we charge interest, see BRR Item 7.
6. USE OF the MPN TO MAKE MORE THAN ONE LOAN
You may receive more than one loan under this MPN over a period of up to 10 years to pay for your educational costs, as long as the school you are attending is authorized to use the MPN in this way and chooses to do so. At any school, you can receive more than one loan for the same academic year under this MPN.
If your school is not authorized to use the MPN for multiple loans or chooses not to do so, or if you do not want to receive more than one loan under this MPN, you must sign a new MPN each time you receive a loan for a new academic year. If you do not want to receive more than one loan under this MPN, you must notify your school or your servicer in writing.
If the school you are attending is authorized to use the MPN for multiple loans and chooses to do so, no additional loans will be made under this MPN after the earliest of the following dates:
The date we or your school receive your written notice that you do not want to receive any additional loans under the MPN;
One year after the date you sign the MPN or the date we receive the MPN, if no loan disbursements have been made under the MPN; or
Ten years after the date you sign the MPN or the date we receive the MPN.
7. Amount you may borrow
The charts that follow show the maximum amounts of Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans that you may borrow for a single academic year (annual loan limits), and the maximum amounts that you may borrow in total for undergraduate and graduate study (aggregate loan limits). The actual amount you are eligible to borrow for an academic year may be less than the maximum annual amounts shown in the charts.
If you are enrolled in a program that is less than a full academic year in length, or if the remaining portion of the program you are enrolled in is less than a full academic year in length, the annual loan limits may be lower than those shown in the chart.
If you are enrolled in certain graduate level health professions programs, you may qualify for higher annual and aggregate limits on Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Your school will determine the actual loan amount you are eligible to receive based on your academic level, dependency status, and other factors such as:
Your cost of attendance;
Your Expected Family Contribution;
Other financial aid you receive; and
Your remaining eligibility under the annual or aggregate loan limits.
The amount of Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans you are eligible to receive may increase or decrease based on changes in your financial circumstances. Your school will notify you of any changes in your eligibility.
Annual Loan Limits
Dependent Undergraduate
Students
|
|
First
Year Total |
$5,500 |
Second
Year Total |
$6,500 |
Third
Year & Beyond (Total Each Year) |
$7,500 |
Independent
Undergraduate Students |
|
First
Year Total |
$9,500 |
Second
Year Total |
$10,500 |
Third
Year & Beyond (Total Each Year) |
$12,500 |
Graduate and Professional Students |
|
Total
Amount (Each Year) |
$20,500 |
Aggregate Loan Limits
Dependent Undergraduate
Students
|
|
Total Amount Cumulative |
$31,000 |
Independent
Undergraduate Students |
|
Total Amount Cumulative |
$57,500 |
Graduate and Professional Students |
|
Total Amount Cumulative |
$138,500 |
8. Interest rate
The interest rate on Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans is a fixed rate (meaning that the rate for each loan you receive will never change). The rate is determined according to a formula specified in the Act, and is calculated each year. When the rate is calculated, it applies to all Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans that have a first disbursement date during the period beginning on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the following year. If you receive more than one loan under this MPN, each loan may have a different fixed interest rate, depending on when the loan is first disbursed, and whether you are an undergraduate student or a graduate or professional student when the loan is made.
The interest rate for any loan you receive under this MPN cannot be more than the maximum rate set by the Act. The maximum interest rate for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans made to undergraduate students is 8.25%. The maximum interest rate for Direct Unsubsidized Loans made to graduate or professional students is 9.5%. We will notify you of the interest rate for each loan you receive in a disclosure statement that we send to you.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
If you are in military service, you may qualify for a lower interest rate on your loans.
Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the interest rate on loans you received before you began your military service may be limited to 6% during your military service. We will determine if you are eligible for this benefit based on information from the U.S. Department of Defense. If you are eligible and have qualifying loans with an interest rate greater than 6%, we will automatically reduce the interest rate on those loans to 6% during your military service. If you think you qualify for the 6% interest rate but have not received it, contact your servicer.
interest rate reduction for automatic withdrawal of payments
You will receive a 0.25% reduction in the interest rate on your loan if you choose to repay the loan under the automatic withdrawal option. Under the automatic withdrawal option, we automatically deduct your monthly loan payment from your checking or savings account. In addition to lowering your interest rate, automatic withdrawal ensures that your payments are made on time. We will provide you with information about the automatic withdrawal option.
7. PERIODS WHEN WE CHARGE INTEREST
We do not charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans during certain periods, but we charge interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during all periods, as explained below.
Direct Subsidized Loans
We charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans—
During most periods when you are repaying your loans; and
During forbearance periods.
We do not charge interest on Direct Subsidized Loans—
While you are enrolled in school at least half-time;
During your grace period;
During deferment periods;
During some periods of repayment under the REPAYE, PAYE, and IBR plans; and
During periods of active duty military service that qualify you for the no accrual of interest benefit for active duty service members (see below).
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
We charge interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans, starting on the date of the first disbursement—
While you are enrolled in school at least half-time;
During your grace period;
During most periods when you are repaying your loans;
During most deferment periods; and
During forbearance periods.
You will pay more interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan than on a Direct Subsidized Loan.
We do not charge interest on Direct Unsubsidized Loans—
During some periods of repayment under the REPAYE Plan;
During periods of active duty military service that qualify you for the no accrual of interest benefit for active duty service members (see below); and
During periods of deferment for cancer treatment (see BRR Item 19).
No accrual of interest benefit for active duty service members
We do not charge interest on any type of Direct Loan Program loan first disbursed on or after October 1, 2008 during periods while you are on qualifying active military duty in an area of hostilities where your service qualifies you for special pay (for up to 60 months).
Interest capitalization
If you do not pay the interest as it accrues on either a Direct Subsidized Loan or a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, we will add the accrued interest to the unpaid principal balance of your loan. This is called "capitalization." Capitalization increases the principal amount you owe on the loan and the total amount of interest you will pay. We capitalize unpaid interest when your grace period ends and when you start making payments again after periods of deferment or forbearance. We may also capitalize unpaid interest that has accrued since the first disbursement of a Direct Unsubsidized Loan when you enter repayment for the first time.
The chart below shows the difference in the total amount you would repay if you pay the interest as it accrues during a 12-month deferment or forbearance period, compared to the amount you would repay if you do not pay the interest and it is capitalized at the end of the deferment or forbearance period. The example illustrated in the chart assumes the following—
You owed $30,000 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans when your loans entered repayment at the end of the 6-month grace period;
The interest rate on your loans is 6%;
You are repaying your loans under the Standard Repayment Plan; and
You received a 12-month deferment or forbearance that began on the day after your grace period ended.
|
If you pay the interest as it accrues… |
If you do not pay the interest and it is capitalized… |
Loan principal amount owed at beginning of deferment or forbearance |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
Interest for 12 months at an annual interest rate of 6% |
$1,800 |
$1,800 |
Loan principal amount to be repaid at end of deferment or forbearance |
$30,000 |
$31,800 |
Monthly payment |
$333 |
$353 |
Number of payments |
120 |
120 |
Total repaid |
$41,767* |
$42,365 |
*The total repaid includes $1,800 in interest that was repaid as it accrued during the 12-month deferment or forbearance period.
In this example, you would pay $20 less per month and $598 less altogether if you pay the interest as it accrues during the 12-month deferment or forbearance period.
Federal income tax deduction for student loan interest payments
You may be able to claim a federal income tax deduction for interest payments you make on Direct Loans. For further information, refer to IRS Publication 970, available at https://irs.gov/publications/p970.
8. Loan fee
For each Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan you receive under this MPN, we charge a loan fee that is a percentage of the amount you initially borrowed. The loan fee will be subtracted from each disbursement of your loan. This means that the actual disbursement amount you receive will be less than the disbursement amount you must repay. However, you are required to pay the full amount of the loan, including the amount that was taken for the loan fee.
The amount of the loan fee may be different for different loans you receive under the MPN, depending on when the loans are first disbursed. The specific loan fee you are charged will be shown on a disclosure statement that we will send to you.
9. Late charges and collection costs
If you do not make any part of a payment within 30 days after it is due, we may require you to pay a late charge. This charge will not be more than 6% of each late payment. We may also require you to pay other charges and fees involved in collecting your loan.
10. YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL ALL OR PART OF A LOAN
Before your loan money is disbursed, you may cancel all or part of your loan at any time by notifying your school. After your loan money is disbursed, there are two ways to cancel all or part of your loan:
Within certain timeframes you may notify your school that you want to cancel all or part of your loan. The timeframes for notifying your school are different depending on whether your school requires you to confirm in writing the types and amounts of loans you want to receive. These timeframes range from 14 days to 30 days after your school notifies you of your right to cancel all or part of your loan. Your school will tell you the specific cancellation timeframe that applies to you. If you tell the school that you want to cancel all or part of your loan within the applicable timeframe, your school is required to process your cancellation request.
If you ask your school to cancel all or part of your loan outside the applicable timeframe, your school may process your cancellation request, but it is not required to do so.
You may return all or part of your loan to us. Within 120 days of the date your school disbursed your loan money, you may cancel all or part of your loan by returning all or part of the loan money to us. Contact your servicer for instructions on how and where to return your loan money.
You do not have to pay interest or the loan fee on the part of your loan that is cancelled or returned within the timeframes described above. We will adjust your loan amount to eliminate any interest and loan fee that applies to the amount of the loan that is cancelled or returned.
11. HOW YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR LOAN MONEY
Generally, your school will disburse (pay out) your loan money in more than one installment. Each installment is called a disbursement.
If your school uses academic terms (for example, semesters or quarters), it will usually make a loan disbursement at the beginning of each academic term.
If your school does not use academic terms or does not have academic terms that meet certain requirements, it will generally pay out your loan in at least two disbursements, one at the beginning of the period of study for which you are receiving the loan, and one at the midpoint of that period of study. Your school determines the schedule for disbursing your loan money in accordance with the Act.
In most cases, if the Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you are receiving is your first student loan under the Direct Loan Program, you must complete entrance counseling before your school can make the first disbursement of your loan. Your school will tell you if entrance counseling is required, and will provide instructions for completing entrance counseling.
Your school may disburse your loan money by crediting it to your account at the school, or may give some or all of it to you directly by check or other means. We will notify you in writing each time the school disburses part of your loan money.
If your school credits your loan money to your account and the amount credited is more than the amount of your tuition and fees, room and board, and other authorized charges, the excess amount is called a credit balance. Unless you authorize your school to hold the credit balance for you, your school must give you the credit balance within 14 days after the credit balance occurred or 14 days after classes began, whichever is later.
12. Use of your loan money
You may use the loan money you receive only to pay for your authorized educational expenses for attendance at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the loan. Authorized expenses include the following:
Tuition
Room
Board
Institutional fees
Books
Supplies
Equipment
Dependent care expenses
Transportation
Commuting expenses
Rental or purchase of a personal computer
Loan fees
Other documented, authorized costs
13. Information you must report to us after you receive your loan
You must notify your servicer and/or the financial aid office at your school about certain changes.
While you are still in school, you must notify your school’s financial aid office if you:
Change your address or telephone number;
Change your name (for example, maiden name to married name);
Do not enroll at least half-time for the period of study that your loan is intended to pay for;
Do not enroll at the school that determined you were eligible to receive your loan;
Stop attending school or drop below half-time enrollment;
Transfer from one school to another school; or
Graduate.
At any time after you receive your loan, you must notify your servicer if you:
Change your address or telephone number;
Change your name (for example, maiden name to married name); or
Have any other change in status that would affect your loan (for example, if you receive a deferment while you are unemployed, but you find a job and therefore no longer meet the eligibility requirements for the deferment).
14. Grace period
You do not need to begin making payments on your loan until 6 months after you stop attending school or drop below half-time enrollment. This 6-month period is called your grace period.
If you are a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and you are called to active duty for more than 30 days while you are enrolled in school on at least a half-time basis or during your grace period, the period of your active duty service and the time necessary for you to re-enroll in school after your active duty ends (up to a maximum of three years) are not counted as part of your grace period. We can provide more information about this benefit.
15. Repaying your loan
The repayment period for each Direct Subsidized Loan and Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you receive begins on the day after your grace period ends. We will notify you of the date your first payment is due.
You must make payments on your loan even if you do not receive a bill or repayment notice.
You must repay the principal amount of your loan, plus any interest charged on the loan in accordance with the Act. The principal amount that you owe, and are required to repay, is the total of all loan disbursements that are made (except for any disbursements that you reduce or cancel), plus any unpaid interest that is capitalized and added to the principal balance, as authorized under the Act.
You must generally repay all of your Direct Loans under the same repayment plan.
There are two types of repayment plans: traditional repayment plans and income-driven repayment plans. We will ask you to choose a repayment plan before your loans enter repayment. If you do not choose a repayment plan, we will place you on the Standard Repayment Plan, which may require you to make a higher monthly payment than other repayment plans.
If you choose a repayment plan that reduces your monthly payment amount by extending the period of time you have to repay your loans or by basing your payment on your income, you will likely pay more in interest over time than you would pay on another repayment plan.
REPAYMENT PLANS
Under the standard, graduated, and extended repayment plans, your required monthly payment amount is based on the loan amount that you owe, the interest rate on your loans, and the length of the repayment period. Income-driven repayment plans (IDR) are discussed below.
Standard Repayment Plan
Under the Standard Repayment Plan, you will make fixed monthly payments and repay your loan in full within 10 years (not including periods of deferment or forbearance) from the date the loan entered repayment. Your payments must be at least $50 a month, and will be more, if necessary, to repay the loan within the required time period.
Graduated Repayment Plan
Under the Graduated Repayment Plan, you will make lower payments at first, and your payments will gradually increase over time. You will repay your loan in full within 10 years (not including periods of deferment or forbearance) from the date the loan entered repayment. Your scheduled monthly payment must at least be equal to the amount of interest that accrues each month. No single scheduled payment will be more than three times greater than any other payment.
Extended Repayment Plan
You are eligible for the Extended Repayment Plan only if (1) you have an outstanding balance on Direct Loans that exceeds $30,000, and (2) you did not have an outstanding balance on a Direct Loan as of October 7, 1998 or on the date you obtained a Direct Loan on or after October 7, 1998.
Under this plan, you will repay your loan in full over a period not to exceed 25 years (not including periods of deferment or forbearance) from the date the loan entered repayment. You may choose to make fixed monthly payments or graduated monthly payments that start out lower and gradually increase over time. If you make fixed monthly payments, your payments must be at least $50 a month and will be more, if necessary, to repay the loan within the required time period. If you make graduated payments, your scheduled monthly payment must at least be equal to the amount of interest that accrues each month. No single scheduled payment under the graduated option will be more than three times greater than any other payment.
INCOME DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLANS
Under an income-driven repayment plan, your required monthly payment amount is based on your income and family size, instead of being based on your loan debt, interest rate, and repayment period, as under a traditional repayment plan. These plans may offer the opportunity to lower your monthly payment compared to a standard, graduated, or extended repayment plan. Changes in your income or family size will result in changes to your monthly payment amount. If you choose an income-driven plan, you must certify your family size and provide documentation of your income (and, if you are married, your spouse’s income) each year so that we can recalculate your payment amount.
Your required monthly payment amount under an income-driven repayment plan is generally a percentage of your discretionary income. For all of the income-driven repayment plans except for the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan, discretionary income is defined as the difference between your adjusted gross income and 150% of the poverty guideline amount for your state of residence and family size, divided by 12. For the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan, discretionary income is defined as the difference between your adjusted gross income and the poverty guideline amount for your state of residence and family size, divided by 12.
Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE Plan)
Under the REPAYE Plan, your monthly payment amount is generally 10% of your discretionary income.
If you are married, the income used to determine your REPAYE Plan payment amount will generally be the combined income of you and your spouse, regardless of whether you file a joint or separate federal income tax return. However, your payment amount will be reduced if your spouse also has federal student loans.
Under the REPAYE Plan, any remaining loan amount will be forgiven after you have made the equivalent of either 20 years of qualifying monthly payments over a period of at least 20 years (if all of the loans you are repaying under the plan were obtained for undergraduate study) or 25 years of qualifying payments over a period of at least 25 years (if any of the loans you are repaying under the plan were obtained for graduate or professional study). You may have to pay federal income tax on the loan amount that is forgiven.
Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE Plan)
Under the PAYE Plan, your monthly payment amount is generally 10% of your discretionary income, but it will never be more than the Standard Repayment Plan amount.
If you are married and file a joint federal income tax return, the income used to determine your PAYE Plan payment amount will be the combined adjusted gross income of you and your spouse, but your payment amount will be reduced if your spouse also has federal student loans.
If you are married and file a separate federal income tax return from your spouse, only your individual adjusted gross income will be used to determine your PAYE Plan payment amount.
To initially qualify for the PAYE Plan, the monthly amount you would be required to pay under this plan, based on your income and family size, must be less than the amount you would have to pay under the Standard Repayment Plan.
Under the PAYE Plan, if your loan is not repaid in full after you have made the equivalent of 20 years of qualifying monthly payments over a period of at least 20 years, any remaining loan amount will be forgiven. You may have to pay federal income tax on the loan amount that is forgiven.
Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR Plan)
Under the IBR Plan, your monthly payment amount is generally 15% of your discretionary income, but it will never be more than the Standard Repayment Plan amount.
If you are married and file a joint federal income tax return, the income used to determine your IBR Plan payment amount will be the combined adjusted gross income of you and your spouse, but your payment amount will be reduced if your spouse also has federal student loans.
If you are married and file a separate federal income tax return from your spouse, only your individual adjusted gross income will be used to determine your IBR Plan payment amount.
To initially qualify for the IBR Plan, the monthly amount you would be required to pay under this plan, based on your income and family size, must be less than the amount you would have to pay under the Standard Repayment Plan.
Under the IBR Plan, if your loan is not repaid in full after you have made the equivalent of 25 years of qualifying monthly payments over a period of at least 25 years, any remaining loan amount will be forgiven. You may have to pay federal income tax on the loan amount that is forgiven.
Income Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR Plan)
Under the ICR Plan, your monthly payment amount will be the lesser of—
20% of your discretionary income, or
A percentage of what you would repay under a Standard Repayment Plan with a 12-year repayment period.
If you are married and file a joint federal income tax return, the income used to determine your ICR Plan payment amount will be the combined adjusted gross income of you and your spouse.
If you are married and file a separate federal income tax return from your spouse, only your individual adjusted gross income will be used to determine your ICR Plan payment amount.
Until we obtain the information needed to calculate your monthly payment amount, your payment will equal the amount of interest that accrues monthly on your loan unless you request a forbearance.
Under the ICR Plan, if your loan is not repaid in full after you have made the equivalent of 25 years of qualifying monthly payments over a period of at least 25 years, any remaining loan amount will be forgiven. You may have to pay federal income tax on the loan amount that is forgiven.
Additional repayment information
Under each plan, the number or amount of payments may need to be adjusted to reflect capitalized interest and/or new loans made to you. We may also adjust payment dates on your loans or may grant you a forbearance (see BRR Item 19) to eliminate a past delinquency that remains even though you are making your scheduled monthly payments.
If you can show to our satisfaction that the terms and conditions of the repayment plans described above are not adequate to meet your exceptional circumstances, we may provide you with an alternative repayment plan.
You can use the Loan Simulator at StudentAid.gov/Loan-Simulator to evaluate your eligibility for the PAYE and IBR plans and to estimate your monthly and total payment amounts under all of the repayment plans. The Loan Simulator is for informational purposes only. We will make the official determination of your eligibility and payment amount.
Generally, you may change from your current repayment plan to any other repayment plan you qualify for at any time after you have begun repaying your loan.
Unless you are required to pay late charges or collection costs, when you make a payment on your loan, we apply the payment first to outstanding interest. If the payment amount is more than the amount of outstanding interest, we apply the remainder of your payment to your loan principal.
If you are required to pay late charges or collection costs, we apply your payment differently depending on your repayment plan. If you are repaying under a traditional repayment plan or the ICR Plan, we apply your payment first to late charges and collection costs, then to outstanding interest, and then to loan principal. If you are repaying under any income-driven repayment plan other than the ICR Plan, we apply your payment first to outstanding interest, then to late charges and collection costs, and then to loan principal.
You can prepay your loans (that is, make loan payments before they are due, or pay more than the amount due in a month) at any time without penalty. We apply any prepayments in accordance with the Act. Your servicer can provide more information about how prepayments are applied.
When you have repaid a loan in full, your servicer will send you a notice telling you that you have paid off your loan. You should keep this notice in a safe place.
16. Defaulting on your loan
Default (failing to repay your loan) is defined in detail in the Terms and Conditions section of your MPN. If you default:
We will require you to immediately repay the entire unpaid amount of your loan (this is called "acceleration"), or you may enter a loan rehabilitation or loan consolidation agreement to get out of default .
We may take all or part of your federal and state tax refunds and other federal or state payments as authorized by law/
We may garnish your wages, which means that your employer will be required to send us part of your salary to pay off your loan.
You will have to pay reasonable collection fees and costs, plus court costs and attorney fees in addition to the amount of your loan.
You will lose eligibility for other federal student financial aid and for assistance under most federal benefit programs.
You will lose eligibility for loan deferments, forbearances, and repayment plans.
We will report your default to nationwide consumer reporting agencies (see BRR Item 18). This will harm your credit history and may make it difficult for you to obtain credit cards, home or car loans, or other forms of consumer credit.
If you default on your loan, you will not be charged collection costs if you respond within 60 days to the initial notice of default that we send to you, and you enter into a repayment agreement with us, including a loan rehabilitation agreement, and fulfill that agreement.
17. CONDITIONS WHEN WE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY REPAY the FULL AMOUNT OF YOUR LOAN
We may require you to immediately repay the entire unpaid amount of your loan (this is called "acceleration") if you:
Receive loan money, but do not begin attendance in any classes at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the loan;
Use your loan money to pay for anything other than expenses related to your education at the school that determined you were eligible to receive the loan;
Make a false statement that causes you to receive a loan that you are not eligible to receive; or
Default on your loan (see BRR Item 16).
18. INFORMATION WE REPORT ABOUT YOUR LOAN
We will report information about your loan to nationwide consumer reporting agencies (commonly known as "credit bureaus") and to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or successor system on a regular basis. This information will include the disbursement dates, amount, and repayment status of your loan (for example, whether you are current or delinquent in making payments). The information in NSLDS will also identify the servicer of your loan. Your loan will be identified as an education loan. Schools may access information in NSLDS for specific purposes that we authorize.
If you default on a loan, we will report this to nationwide consumer reporting agencies. We will notify you at least 30 days in advance that we plan to report default information to a consumer reporting agency unless you resume making payments on the loan within 30 days of the date of the notice. You will be given a chance to ask for a review of the debt before we report a default.
If a consumer reporting agency contacts us regarding objections you have raised about the accuracy or completeness of any information we have reported, we are required to provide the agency with a prompt response. We respond to objections submitted to consumer reporting agencies using the methods established by those agencies.
19. Deferment and forbearance (postponing payments)
General
If you meet certain requirements, you may receive a deferment that allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your loan. If you cannot make your scheduled loan payments, but do not qualify for a deferment, we may give you a forbearance. A forbearance allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your loan, temporarily make smaller payments, or extend the time for making payments.
Deferment
You may receive a deferment:
While you are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school;
While you are in a full-time course of study in a graduate fellowship program;
While you are in an approved full-time rehabilitation program for individuals with disabilities;
While you are unemployed and seeking work (for a maximum of three years);
While you are experiencing an economic hardship, including serving in the Peace Corps (for a maximum of three years);
While you are serving on active duty or performing qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency and for an additional 180-day period following the demobilization date for your qualifying service;
For a maximum of 13 months following your active duty service, if you are a current or retired member of the National Guard or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and you are called or ordered to active duty while you are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school or during your grace period; or
For Direct Loans that were first disbursed on or after September 28, 2018, or for Direct Loans first disbursed before that date that entered repayment on or before September 28, 2018, while you are receiving treatment for cancer and for an additional 6 months after your treatment has ended.
In most cases, you will automatically receive a deferment based on your enrollment in school on at least a half-time basis based on information that we receive from the school you are attending.
If we process a deferment based on information received from your school, you will be notified of the deferment and will have the option of canceling the deferment and continuing to make payments on your loan.
For all other deferments, you (or, for a deferment based on active duty military service or National Guard duty, a representative acting on your behalf) must submit a deferment request to your servicer, along with documentation of your eligibility for the deferment.
Forbearance
We may give you a forbearance if you are temporarily unable to make your scheduled loan payments for reasons including, but not limited to, financial hardship and illness.
You may also receive a forbearance if:
You are serving in a qualifying medical or dental internship or residency program;
The total amount you owe each month for all of your federal student loans is 20% or more of your total monthly gross income (for a maximum of three years);
You are serving in an AmeriCorps position;
You are performing service that would qualify you for loan forgiveness under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program (see BRR Item 20);
You qualify for partial repayment of your loans under a student loan repayment program administered by the Department of Defense; or
You are called to active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
To request a forbearance, contact your servicer.
Under certain circumstances, we may also give you a forbearance without requiring you to submit a request or documentation (for example, while we are determining your eligibility for a loan discharge, or during periods when you are affected by a local or national emergency).
20. Discharge (having your loan forgiven)
General
If you meet certain conditions as described below, we may discharge (forgive) some or all of your loans.
For a discharge based on your death, a family member must contact your servicer. To request a loan discharge based on one of the other conditions described below (except for a discharge due to bankruptcy), you must complete a loan discharge or forgiveness application and send it to your servicer. Your servicer can tell you how to apply.
We do not guarantee the quality of the academic programs provided by schools that participate in federal student financial aid programs. You cannot have your loan discharged solely because you do not complete the education paid for with your loan, are unable to obtain employment in the field of study for which your school provided training, or are dissatisfied with, or do not receive, the education you paid for with your loan.
Death, total and permanent disability, and bankruptcy
We will discharge (forgive) your loan if:
You die. We must receive acceptable documentation (as defined in the Act) of your death;
You become totally and permanently disabled; or
Your loan is discharged in bankruptcy after you have proven to the bankruptcy court that repaying the loan would cause undue hardship.
School closure, false certification, identity theft, and unpaid refund
We may also discharge all or a portion of your loan if:
You could not complete a program of study because your school closed;
Your loan eligibility was falsely certified by the school;
A loan in your name was falsely certified as a result of a crime of identity theft; or
The school did not pay a refund of your loan money that it was required to pay under the Act.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
We may forgive a portion of eligible student loans you received under the Direct Loan Program if you teach full time for five consecutive years in certain low-income elementary or secondary schools, or for certain low-income educational service agencies, and meet certain other qualifications.
Eligible teachers of math, science, or special education may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness. Other teachers may receive up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
A Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is also available. Under this program, we will forgive the remaining balance due on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 payments (after October 1, 2007) on those loans under certain repayment plans while you are employed full-time by a qualifying employer. The required 120 payments do not have to be consecutive. Qualifying repayment plans include the REPAYE Plan, the PAYE Plan, the IBR Plan, the ICR Plan, and the Standard Repayment Plan with a 10-year repayment period.
Note: Although the Standard Repayment Plan with a 10-year repayment period is a qualifying repayment plan for PSLF, to receive any loan forgiveness under this program you must enter the REPAYE Plan, the PAYE Plan, the IBR Plan, or the ICR Plan, and make the majority of the 120 payments under one of those plans.
Borrower defense to repayment
We may discharge all or a portion of your loan if your school did something or failed to do something related to your loan or to the educational services that the loan was intended to pay for.
The specific requirements to qualify for a borrower defense to repayment discharge vary depending on when you received your loan. Contact your servicer for more information.
21. Loan consolidation
A Direct Consolidation Loan Program is available that allows you to combine one or more of your eligible federal education loans into a new loan with a single monthly payment, and may allow you to extend the period of time that you have to repay your loans. This may make it easier for you to repay your loans.
If you have loans that were made under the FFEL Program, consolidating those loans into the Direct Loan Program can make them eligible for benefits that are only available for Direct Loans, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and certain repayment plans.
Although consolidation can provide certain benefits, it can also cause you to lose benefits on the loans that you consolidate. Contact your servicer for more information about loan consolidation and for help determining whether consolidation is a good option for you.
END OF BORROWER’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
Instructions
MASTER
PROMISSORY NOTE FOR Direct Subsidized LoanS AND Direct Unsubsidized
LoanS
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
Type or print using blue or black ink. Do not use pencil. Enter all dates as month-day-year (mm-dd-yyyy). Use only numbers. Example: January 31, 2019 = 01-31-2019.
Throughout the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the accompanying Borrower’s Rights and Responsibilities Statement (BRR), the words "we," "us," "our," and "ED" refer to the U.S. Department of Education and our servicers.
BORROWER INFORMATION
Note: Some of the items in this section may have been completed for you. If so, review these items carefully to make sure that the information is correct. Cross out any information that is incorrect and enter the correct information. Put your initials next to any information that you change.
Item 1. Enter your first name, then your middle initial and last name. Enter your permanent address (number, street, apartment number, or rural route number and box number, then city, state, zip code). If your mailing address is different from your permanent address, you must list both addresses. A temporary school address is not acceptable.
Item 2. Enter your nine-digit Social Security Number.
Item 3. Enter your date of birth.
Item 4. Enter the two-letter abbreviation for the state that issued your current driver’s license, followed by your driver’s license number. If you do not have a driver’s license, enter N/A.
Item 5. Enter your preferred email address for receiving communications. You are not required to provide this information. If you do, we may use your email address to communicate with you. If you do not have an email address or do not wish to provide one, enter N/A.
Item 6. Enter the area code and telephone number at which you can most easily be reached. If you do not have a telephone, enter N/A.
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Items 7 and 8. Enter the requested information for two adults with different U.S. addresses who have known you for at least three years and who will be able to help us contact you in the future if we are unable to reach you. References are used only for this purpose and are never required to repay your loan. The first reference should be a parent or legal guardian. References who live outside the United States are not acceptable. Providing an email address for a reference is optional. If you provide an email address for a reference, we may use it to communicate with the reference. If a reference does not have a telephone number or email address, or does not wish to provide an email address, enter N/A.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
This section will be completed by the school that determines your eligibility to receive the loan.
Top of Page 2. Enter your name and Social Security Number.
Items 12, 13, 14, and 15. Read these items carefully.
Items 16, 17, 18, and 19. Read these items carefully.
Items 20 and 21. Sign your full legal name, in blue or black ink, and enter the date you signed this MPN.
By signing this MPN, you (1) acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to the terms and conditions of the MPN, including the Borrower Request, Certifications, Authorizations, and Understandings and the accompanying BRR; and (2) agree to repay in full all loans made under this MPN according to the terms and conditions of the MPN.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Jon Utz |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-06-22 |