Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The Secretary proposes to amend the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) program, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program regulations. The proposed regulations would implement a new Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan in the Direct Loan program based on the President's ``Pay As You Earn'' repayment initiative, incorporate recent statutory changes to the Income Based Repayment (IBR) plan in the Direct Loan and FFEL programs, and streamline and add clarity to the total and permanent disability discharge process for borrowers in the title IV, HEA loan programs. The proposed regulations implementing a new ICR Plan and the statutory changes to the IBR plan would assist borrowers in repaying their loans while the proposed changes to the total and permanent disability discharge process would reduce burden for borrowers who are disabled and seeking a discharge of their title IV debt.

Agency Contact: Jessica Finkel, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8031, Washington, DC 20006-8502. Telephone: (202) 502-7647 or by email at: Jessica.Finkel@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877- 8339.