2013-08708. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; FFEL/Direct Loan/Perkins Military Service Deferment/Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request & SCRA Request

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2013-ICCD-0051 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E105, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Electronically mail [e-mail]. Please do not send comments here.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: FFEL/Direct Loan/Perkins Military Service Deferment/Post-Active Duty Student Deferment Request & SCRA Request.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0080.

Type of Review: a revision of an existing information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 20,708.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 9,177.

Abstract: The Military Service/Post-Active Duty Student Deferment request form serves as the means by which a FFEL, Perkins, or Direct Loan borrower requests a military service deferment and/or post-active duty student deferment and provides his or her loan holder with the information needed to determine whether the borrower meets the applicable deferment eligibility requirements. The form also serves as the means by which the U.S. Department of Education identifies Direct Loan borrowers who qualify for the Direct Loan Program's no accrual of interest benefit for active duty service members.

The SCRA Request form services as one of the means by which a FFEL or Direct Loan borrower requests that his or her loan holder limit the interest rate on his or her FFEL or Direct Loan Program loans to 6% during the period of the borrower's eligible military service. This is an optional form. Borrowers would continue to be able to simply request the limitation in writing.

Dated: April 9, 2013.

Stephanie Valentine,

Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.