Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
277157	Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation - Public Form and Instruction	New
277155	Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation - Private NFP Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202508-1845-007
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No: ED-2025-SCC-0517
Title: Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 03/19/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	3,349	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,089	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Federal Student Aid (FSA) administers the Department of Education’s Federal student financial aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Under these programs, institutions of higher education act as a fiduciary in receiving grant and loan funds from the Department for the sole purpose of allowing students to pay the costs of attendance at the institution. The Department executes a two-stage Sampling and Estimation Methodology Plan (S&EMP) that is based in part on the results of compliance audits to estimate its improper payments and unknown payments in accordance with the Public Law 116-117, Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA) and OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C (A-123C). The Department requires sample, population, and as applicable, finding information regarding testing performed by the auditors, however, this is not reported with the compliance audit. This information is necessary to execute FSA’s S&EMP. The legal and administrative requirements that necessitate the collection of this information are the audit access provisions in 2 CFR 200.517(b) and Title IV regulations at 34 CFR 668.23(e)(1)(ii), which the Department has concluded gives it the authority to collect certain information from the single audit in order for the Department to carry out its oversight responsibilities with regard to improper payments and unknown payments. PIIA section 3352 (31 U.S.C. section 3352) requires federal agencies to review all programs and activities they administer that may be susceptible to significant improper payments and publish the payment integrity information annually. This is a request for a new information collection to develop a form for institutions of higher education to have a mechanism to report to the Department information required to carry out the S&EMP and publish payment integrity information on an annual basis.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 116 - 117 375 Name of Law: Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019
   US Code: 31 USC 3352 Name of Law: Estimates of improper payments and reports on actions to reduce i
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 41552	08/26/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 12593	03/16/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation - Private NFP	NA	Required Information for the Pell Grant and Direct Loan Programs
Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation - Public	NA	Required Information for the Pell Grant and Direct Loan Programs

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	3,349	0	0	3,349	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,089	0	0	1,089	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a request for a new information collection to develop a form for institutions of higher education to have a mechanism to report to the Department information required to publish payment integrity information on an annual basis. We estimate that there will be 3,349 responses annually with a total burden of 1,089 hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government:

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 03/19/2026

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