The following definitions apply to this subpart:

(a) Academic year or its equivalent for elementary and secondary schools and special education: (1) One complete school year, or two half years from different school years, excluding summer sessions, that are complete and consecutive and generally fall within a 12-month period.

(2) If such a school has a year-round program of instruction, the Secretary considers a minimum of nine consecutive months to be the equivalent of an academic year.

(b) Academic year or its equivalent for institutions of higher education: A period of time in which a full-time student is expected to complete—

(1) The equivalent of 2 semesters, 2 trimesters, or 3 quarters at an institution using credit hours; or

(2) At least 900 clock hours of training for each program at an institution using clock hours.

(c) Title I Children: Children of ages 5 through 17 who are counted under section 1124(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(d) Child with a disability: A child or youth from ages 3 through 21, inclusive, who requires special education and related services because he or she has one or more disabilities as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(e) Community defender organizations: A defender organization established in accordance with section 3006A(g)(2)(B) of title 18, United States Code.

(f) Early intervention services: Those services defined in section 632(4) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that are provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities.

(g) Educational service agency: A regional public multi-service agency authorized by State law to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local educational agencies as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(h) Elementary school: A school that provides elementary education, including education below grade 1, as determined by—

(1) State law; or

(2) The Secretary, if the school is not in a State.

(i) Faculty member at a Tribal College or University: An educator or tenured individual who is employed by a Tribal College or University, as that term is defined in section 316 of the HEA, to teach, research, or perform administrative functions. For purposes of this definition an educator may be an instructor, lecturer, lab faculty, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, dean, or academic department head.

(j) Federal public defender organization: A defender organization established in accordance with section 3006A(g)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code.

(k) Firefighter: A firefighter is an individual who is employed by a Federal, State, or local firefighting agency to extinguish destructive fires; or provide firefighting related services such as—

(1) Providing community disaster support and, as a first responder, providing emergency medical services;

(2) Conducting search and rescue; or

(3) Providing hazardous materials mitigation (HAZMAT).

(l) Handicapped children: Children of ages 3 through 21 inclusive who require special education and related services because they are—

(1) Individuals with intellectual disabilities;

(2) Hard of hearing;

(3) Deaf;

(4) Speech and language impaired;

(5) Visually handicapped;

(6) Seriously emotionally disturbed;

(7) Orthopedically impaired;

(8) Specific learning disabled; or

(9) Otherwise health impaired.

(m) High-risk children: Individuals under the age of 21 who are low-income or at risk of abuse or neglect, have been abused or neglected, have serious emotional, mental, or behavioral disturbances, reside in placements outside their homes, or are involved in the juvenile justice system.

(n) Infant or toddler with a disability: An infant or toddler from birth to age 2, inclusive, who needs early intervention services for specified reasons, as defined in section 632(5)(A) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(o) Librarian with a master's degree: A librarian with a master's degree is an information professional trained in library or information science who has obtained a postgraduate academic degree in library science awarded after the completion of an academic program of up to six years in duration, excluding a doctorate or professional degree.

(p) Local educational agency: (1) A public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a State to administer, direct, or perform a service function for public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, other political subdivision of a State; or such combination of school districts of counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary or secondary schools.

(2) Any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a public elementary or secondary school.

(q) Low-income communities: Communities in which there is a high concentration of children eligible to be counted under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(r) Medical technician: An allied health professional (working in fields such as therapy, dental hygiene, medical technology, or nutrition) who is certified, registered, or licensed by the appropriate State agency in the State in which he or she provides health care services. An allied health professional is someone who assists, facilitates, or complements the work of physicians and other specialists in the health care system.

(s) Nurse: A licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, or other individual who is licensed by the appropriate State agency to provide nursing services.

(t) Qualified professional provider of early intervention services: A provider of services as defined in section 632 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(u) Secondary school: (1) A school that provides secondary education, as determined by—

(i) State law; or

(ii) The Secretary, if the school is not in a State.

(2) However, State laws notwithstanding, secondary education does not include any education beyond grade 12.

(v) Speech language pathologist with a master's degree: An individual who evaluates or treats disorders that affect a person's speech, language, cognition, voice, swallowing and the rehabilitative or corrective treatment of physical or cognitive deficits/disorders resulting in difficulty with communication, swallowing, or both and has obtained a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program of up to six years in duration, excluding a doctorate or professional degree.

(w) State education agency: (1) The State board of education; or

(2) An agency or official designated by the Governor or by State law as being primarily responsible for the State supervision of public elementary and secondary schools.

(x) Substantial gainful activity: A level of work performed for pay or profit that involves doing significant physical or mental activities, or a combination of both.

(y) Teacher: (1) A teacher is a person who provides—

(i) Direct classroom teaching;

(ii) Classroom-type teaching in a non-classroom setting; or

(iii) Educational services to students directly related to classroom teaching such as school librarians or school guidance counselors.

(2) A supervisor, administrator, researcher, or curriculum specialist is not a teacher unless he or she primarily provides direct and personal educational services to students.

(3) An individual who provides one of the following services does not qualify as a teacher unless that individual is licensed, certified, or registered by the appropriate State education agency for that area in which he or she is providing related special educational services, and the services provided by the individual are part of the educational curriculum for handicapped children:

(i) Speech and language pathology and audiology;

(ii) Physical therapy;

(iii) Occupational therapy;

(iv) Psychological and counseling services; or

(v) Recreational therapy.

(z) Teaching in a field of expertise: The majority of classes taught are in the borrower's field of expertise.

(aa) Total and permanent disability: The condition of an individual who—

(1) Is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that—

(i) Can be expected to result in death;

(ii) Has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months; or

(iii) Can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 60 months; or

(2) Has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be unemployable due to a service-connected disability.

(bb) Tribal College or University: An institution that—

(1) Qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a note); or

(2) Is cited in section 532 of the Equity in Education Land Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note).

(a) Application for cancellation. To qualify for cancellation of a loan, a borrower shall submit to the institution to which the loan is owed, by the date that the institution establishes, both a written request for cancellation and any documentation required by the institution to demonstrate that the borrower meets the conditions for the cancellation requested.

(b) Part-time employment. (1) An institution may refuse a request for cancellation based on a claim of simultaneously teaching in two or more schools or institutions if it cannot determine easily from the documentation supplied by the borrower that the teaching is full-time. However, it shall grant the cancellation if one school official certifies that a teacher worked full-time for a full academic year.

(2) An institution may refuse a request for cancellation based on a claim of simultaneous employment as a nurse or medical technician in two or more facilities if it cannot determine easily from the documentation supplied by the borrower that the combined employment is full-time. However, it shall grant the cancellation if one facility official certifies that a nurse or medical technician worked full-time for a full year.

(c) Break in service. (1) If the borrower is unable to complete an academic year of eligible teaching service due to a condition that is covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) (29 U.S.C. 2601, et seq.), the borrower still qualifies for the cancellation if—

(i) The borrower completes one half of the academic year; and

(ii) The borrower's employer considers the borrower to have fulfilled his or her contract requirements for the academic year for purposes of salary increases, tenure, and retirement.

(2) If the borrower is unable to complete a year of eligible service under §§ 674.56, 674.57, 674.59, or 674.60 due to a condition that is covered under the FMLA, the borrower still qualifies for the cancellation if the borrower completes at least six consecutive months of eligible service.

(d) Cancellation of a defaulted loan. (1) Except with regard to cancellation on account of the death or disability of the borrower, a borrower whose defaulted loan has not been accelerated may qualify for a cancellation by complying with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) A borrower whose defaulted loan has been accelerated—

(i) May qualify for a loan cancellation for services performed before the date of acceleration; and

(ii) Cannot qualify for a cancellation for services performed on or after the date of acceleration.

(3) An institution shall grant a request for discharge on account of the death or disability of the borrower, or, if the borrower is the spouse of an eligible public servant as defined in § 674.64(a)(1), on account of the death or disability of the borrower's spouse, without regard to the repayment status of the loan.

(e) Concurrent deferment period. The Secretary considers a Perkins Loan, NDSL or Defense Loan borrower's loan deferment under § 674.34(c) to run concurrently with any period for which cancellation under §§ 674.53, 674.54, 674.55, 674.56, 674.57, 674.58, 674.59, and 674.60 is granted.

(2) For loans made on or after July 1, 1993, the Secretary considers a borrower's loan deferment under § 674.34 to run concurrently with any period for which a cancellation under §§ 674.53, 674.56, 674.57, or 674.58 is granted.

(f) National community service. No borrower who has received a benefit under subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 may receive a cancellation under this subpart.

(g) Switching cancellation categories. A borrower who qualifies for a cancellation under one of the cancellation categories in §§ 674.53, 674.56, 674.57, or 674.59 receives cancellation of 15 percent of the original principal for the first and second years of qualifying service, 20 percent of the original principal for the third and fourth years of qualifying service, and 30 percent of the original principal for the fifth year of qualifying service. If, after the first, second, third, or fourth complete year of qualifying service—

(1) The borrower switches to a position that qualifies the borrower for cancellation under a different cancellation category under §§ 674.53, 674.56, 674.57, or 674.59, the borrower's cancellation rate progression continues from the last year the borrower received a cancellation under the former cancellation category; or

(2) The borrower switches to a position that qualifies the borrower for cancellation under a different cancellation category under §§ 674.58 or 674.60, the borrower's cancellation rate progression under the new cancellation category begins at the year one cancellation rates specified in §§ 674.58(b) or 674.60(b), respectively.

(a) Cancellation for full-time teaching in an elementary or secondary school serving low-income students. (1)(i) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins loan or an NDSL made on or after July 23, 1992, for full-time teaching in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school.

(ii) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992, for teaching service performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(iii) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance of a Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for teaching service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, at an educational service agency.

(2) The borrower must be teaching full-time in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school that—

(i) Is in a school district that qualified for funds, in that year, under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended; and

(ii) Has been selected by the Secretary based on a determination that more than 30 percent of the school's or educational service agency's total enrollment is made up of title I children.

(3) For each academic year, the Secretary notifies participating institutions of the schools and educational service agencies selected under paragraph (a) of this section.

(4)(i) The Secretary selects schools and educational service agencies under paragraph (a)(1) of this section based on a ranking by the State education agency.

(ii) The State education agency must base its ranking of the schools and educational service agencies on objective standards and methods. These standards must take into account the numbers and percentages of title I children attending those schools and educational service agencies.

(5) The Secretary considers all elementary and secondary schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or operated on Indian reservations by Indian tribal groups under contract with BIA to qualify as schools serving low-income students.

(6) A teacher, who performs service in a school or educational service agency that meets the requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section in any year and in a subsequent year fails to meet these requirements, may continue to teach in that school or educational service agency and will be eligible for loan cancellation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section in subsequent years.

(7) If a list of eligible institutions in which a teacher performs services under paragraph (a)(1) of this section is not available before May 1 of any year, the Secretary may use the list for the year preceding the year for which the determination is made to make the service determination.

(b) Cancellation for full-time teaching in special education. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins loan or NDSL loan made on or after July 23, 1992, for the borrower's service as a full-time special education teacher of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities, in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992, for teaching service performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(3) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for a borrower's service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time special education teacher of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities, in an educational service agency.

(c) Cancellation for full-time teaching in fields of expertise. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins loan or NDSL made on or after July 23, 1992, for full-time teaching in mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or any other field of expertise where the State education agency determines that there is a shortage of qualified teachers.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992, for teaching service performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(d) Cancellation rates. (1) To qualify for cancellation under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, a borrower must teach full-time for a complete academic year or its equivalent.

(2) Cancellation rates are—

(i) 15 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the first and second years of full-time teaching;

(ii) 20 percent of the original principal loan amount, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the third and fourth years of full-time teaching; and

(iii) 30 percent of the original principal loan amount, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for the fifth year of full-time teaching.

(e) Teaching in a school system. The Secretary considers a borrower to be teaching in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system or an educational service agency only if the borrower is directly employed by the school system.

(f) Teaching children and adults. A borrower who teaches both adults and children qualifies for cancellation for this service only if a majority of the students whom the borrower teaches are children.

(a) Cancellation for full-time teaching. (1) An institution shall cancel up to 50 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Defense loan for full-time teaching in—

(i) A public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school;

(ii) An institution of higher education; or

(iii) An overseas Department of Defense elementary or secondary school.

(2) The cancellation rate is 10 percent of the original principal loan amount, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each complete year, or its equivalent, of teaching.

(b) Cancellation for full-time teaching in an elementary or secondary school serving low-income students. (1) The institution shall cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Defense loan for full-time teaching in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school that—

(i) Is in a school district that qualifies for funds in that year under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended; and

(ii) Has been selected by the Secretary based on a determination that a high concentration of students enrolled at the school are from low-income families.

(2)(i) The Secretary selects schools under paragraph (b)(1) of this section based on a ranking by the State education agency.

(ii) The State education agency shall base its ranking of the schools on objective standards and methods. These standards must take into account the numbers and percentages of title I children attending those schools.

(3) The Secretary considers all elementary and secondary schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or operated on Indian reservations by Indian tribal groups under contract with BIA to qualify as schools serving low-income students.

(4) For each academic year, the Secretary notifies participating institutions of the schools selected under paragraph (b) of this section.

(5) The cancellation rate is 15 percent of the original principal loan amount, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each complete academic year, or its equivalent, of full-time teaching.

(6) [Reserved]

(7) Cancellation for full-time teaching under paragraph (b) of this section is available only for teaching beginning with academic year 1966-67.

(c) Cancellation for full-time teaching of the handicapped. (1) An institution shall cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Defense loan, plus interest, for full-time teaching of handicapped children in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system.

(2) The cancellation rate is 15 percent of the original principal loan amount, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each complete academic year, or its equivalent, of full-time teaching.

(3) A borrower qualifies for cancellation under this paragraph only if a majority of the students whom the borrower teaches are handicapped children.

(4) Cancellation for full-time teaching under paragraph (c) of this section is available only for teaching beginning with the academic year 1967-68.

(d) Teaching in a school system. The Secretary considers a borrower to be teaching in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary school system only if the borrower is directly employed by the school system.

(e) Teaching children and adults. A borrower who teaches both adults and children qualifies for cancellation for this service only if a majority of the students whom the borrower teaches are children.

(a) Cancellation for full-time employment as a nurse or medical technician. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL made on or after July 23, 1992, for full-time employment as a nurse or medical technician providing health care services.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992, for full-time service as a nurse or medical technician performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the borrower's promissory note.

(b) Cancellation for full-time employment in a public or private nonprofit child or family service agency. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins loan or NDSL made on or after July 23, 1992, for service as a full-time employee in a public or private nonprofit child or family service agency who is providing services directly and exclusively to high-risk children who are from low-income communities and the families of these children, or who is supervising the provision of services to high-risk children who are from low-income communities and the families of these children. To qualify for a child or family service cancellation, a non-supervisory employee of a child or family service agency must be providing services only to high-risk children from low-income communities and the families of these children. The employee must work directly with the high-risk children from low-income communities, and the services provided to the children's families must be secondary to the services provided to the children.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992, for employment in a child or family service agency on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(c) Cancellation for service as a qualified professional provider of early intervention services. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL made on or after July 23, 1992, for the borrower's service as a full-time qualified professional provider of early intervention services in a public or other nonprofit program under public supervision by the lead agency as authorized in section 632 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL or Defense loan made prior to July 23, 1992 for early intervention service performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(d) Cancellation for full-time employment as a firefighter to a local, State, or Federal fire department or fire district. An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time firefighter.

(e) Cancellation for full-time employment as a faculty member at a Tribal College or University. An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time faculty member at a Tribal College or University.

(f) Cancellation for full-time employment as a librarian with a master's degree. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins Loan, NDSL, or Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time librarian, provided that the individual—

(i) Is a librarian with a master's degree; and

(ii) Is employed in an elementary school or secondary school that is eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended; or

(iii) Is employed by a public library that serves a geographic area that contains one or more schools eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (f) of this section, the term geographic area is defined as the area served by the local school district.

(g) Cancellation for full-time employment as a speech pathologist with a master's degree. An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins Loan, NDSL, or Defense loan for full-time employment that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a speech pathologist with a master's degree who is working exclusively with schools eligible for funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

(h) Cancellation rates. (1) To qualify for cancellation under paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, a borrower must work full-time for 12 consecutive months.

(2) [Reserved]

(a)(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL made on or after November 29, 1990, for full-time service as a law enforcement or corrections officer for an eligible employing agency.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan made prior to November 29, 1990, for law enforcement or correction officer service performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(3) An eligible employing agency is an agency—

(i) That is a local, State, or Federal law enforcement or corrections agency;

(ii) That is publicly-funded; and

(iii) The principal activities of which pertain to crime prevention, control, or reduction or the enforcement of the criminal law.

(4) Agencies that are primarily responsible for enforcement of civil, regulatory, or administrative laws are ineligible employing agencies.

(5) A borrower qualifies for cancellation under this section only if the borrower is—

(i) A sworn law enforcement or corrections officer; or

(ii) A person whose principal responsibilities are unique to the criminal justice system.

(6) To qualify for a cancellation under this section, the borrower's service must be essential in the performance of the eligible employing agency's primary mission.

(7) The agency must be able to document the employee's functions.

(8) A borrower whose principal official responsibilities are administrative or supportive does not qualify for cancellation under this section.

(b) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance of a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time attorney employed in Federal public defender organizations or community defender organizations, established in accordance with section 3006A(g)(2) of title 18, U.S.C.

(c)(1) To qualify for cancellation under paragraph (a) of this section, a borrower must work full-time for 12 consecutive months.

(2) Cancellation rates are—

(i) 15 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the first and second years of full-time employment;

(ii) 20 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the third and fourth years of full-time employment; and

(iii) 30 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for the fifth year of full-time employment.

(a)(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's NDSL or Federal Perkins loan, for service as a full-time staff member in a Head Start program.

(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a Defense loan for service as a full-time staff member in a Head Start program performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(3) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance of a borrower's NDSL, Defense, or Federal Perkins loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-time staff member of a pre-kindergarten or childcare program that is licensed or regulated by the State.

(4) The Head Start, pre-kindergarten or child care program in which the borrower serves must operate for a complete academic year, or its equivalent.

(5) In order to qualify for cancellation, the borrower's salary may not exceed the salary of a comparable employee working in the local educational agency of the area served by the local Head Start, pre-kindergarten or child care program.

(b) The cancellation rate is 15 percent of the original loan principal, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each complete academic year, or its equivalent, of full-time teaching service.

(c)(1) “Head Start” is a preschool program carried out under the Head Start Act (subchapter B, chapter 8 of title VI of Pub. L. 97-35, the Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended; formerly authorized under section 222(a)(1) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964). (42 U.S.C. 2809 (a) (1))

(2) A pre-kindergarten program is a State-funded program that serves children from birth through age six and addresses the children's cognitive (including language, early literacy, and early mathematics), social, emotional, and physical development.

(3) A child care program is a program that is licensed or regulated by the State and provides child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child, unless care in excess of 24 consecutive hours is needed due to the nature of the parents' work.

(4) “Full-time staff member” is a person regularly employed in a full-time professional capacity to carry out the educational part of a Head Start, pre-kindergarten or child care program.

(a) Cancellation on a Defense loan. (1) An institution must cancel up to 50 percent of a Defense loan made after April 13, 1970, for the borrower's full-time active service starting after June 30, 1970, in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.

(2) The cancellation rate is 12 1/2 percent of the original loan principal, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for the first complete year of qualifying service, and for each consecutive year of qualifying service.

(3) Service for less than a complete year, including any fraction of a year beyond a complete year of service, does not qualify for military cancellation.

(b) Cancellation of an NDSL or Perkins loan. (1) An institution must cancel up to 50 percent of the outstanding balance on an NDSL or Perkins loan for active duty service that ended before August 14, 2008, as a member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard in an area of hostilities that qualifies for special pay under section 310 of title 37 of the United States Code.

(2) The cancellation rate is 12 1/2 percent of the original loan principal, plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each complete year of qualifying service.

(c)(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL loan for a borrower's full year of active duty service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard in an area of hostilities that qualifies for special pay under section 310 of title 37 of the United States Code.

(2) The cancellation rate is 15 percent for the first and second year of qualifying service, 20 percent for the third and fourth year of qualifying service, and 30 percent for the fifth year of qualifying service.

(d) Service for less than a complete year, including any fraction of a year beyond a complete year of service, does not qualify for military cancellation.

(a)(1) An institution must cancel up to 70 percent of the outstanding balance on a Perkins loan, and 70 percent of the outstanding balance of an NDSL made on or after October 7, 1998, for service as a volunteer under The Peace Corps Act or The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (ACTION programs).

(2) An institution must cancel up to 70 percent of the outstanding balance on an NDSL or Defense loan for service as a volunteer under The Peace Corps Act or The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (ACTION programs) performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits provided under this section are not included in the terms of the borrower's promissory note.

(b) Cancellation rates are—

(1) Fifteen percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the first and second twelve-month periods of service;

(2) Twenty percent of the original principal loan amount plus the interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying service, for each of the third and fourth twelve-month periods of service.

(a) Death. (1) An institution must discharge the unpaid balance of a borrower's Defense, NDSL, or Federal Perkins loan, including interest, if the borrower dies. The institution must discharge the loan on the basis of—

(i) An original or certified copy of the death certificate;

(ii) An accurate and complete photocopy of the original or certified copy of the death certificate;

(iii) An accurate and complete original or certified copy of the death certificate that is scanned and submitted electronically or sent by facsimile transmission; or

(iv) Verification of the borrower's death through an authoritative Federal or State electronic database approved for use by the Secretary.

(2) Under exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis, the chief financial officer of the institution may approve a discharge based upon other reliable documentation of the borrower's death.

(b) Total and permanent disability as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1). (1) General. (i) A borrower's Defense, NDSL, or Perkins loan is discharged if the borrower becomes totally and permanently disabled, as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), and satisfies the additional eligibility requirements in this section.

(ii) For purposes of paragraph (b) of this section, a borrower's representative or a veteran's representative is a member of the borrower's family, the borrower's attorney, or another individual authorized to act on behalf of the borrower in connection with the borrower's total and permanent disability discharge application. References to a “borrower” or a “veteran” include, if applicable, the borrower's representative or the veteran's representative for purposes of applying for a total and permanent disability discharge, providing notifications or information to the Secretary, and receiving notifications from the Secretary.

(2) Discharge application process for borrowers who have a total and permanent disability as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1). (i) If the borrower notifies the institution that the borrower claims to be totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), the institution must direct the borrower to notify the Secretary of the borrower's intent to submit an application for total and permanent disability discharge and provide the borrower with the information needed for the borrower to notify the Secretary.

(ii) If the borrower notifies the Secretary of the borrower's intent to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge, the Secretary—

(A) Provides the borrower with information needed for the borrower to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge;

(B) Identifies all title IV loans owed by the borrower and notifies the lenders of the borrower's intent to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge;

(C) Directs the lenders to suspend efforts to collect from the borrower for a period not to exceed 120 days; and

(D) Informs the borrower that the suspension of collection activity described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(C) of this section will end after 120 days and the collection will resume on the loans if the borrower does not submit a total and permanent disability discharge application to the Secretary within that time.

(iii) If the borrower fails to submit an application for a total and permanent disability discharge to the Secretary within 120 days, collection resumes on the borrower's title IV loans.

(iv) The borrower must submit to the Secretary an application for total and permanent disability discharge on a form approved by the Secretary. The application must contain—

(A) A certification by a physician, who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy legally authorized to practice in a State, that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1);

(B) A certification by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant licensed by a State or a certified psychologist licensed at the independent practice level by a State, that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1); or

(C) A Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefit Planning Query (BPQY) or an SSA notice of award or other documentation deemed acceptable by the Secretary indicating that—

(1) The borrower qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on disability and the borrower's next continuing disability review has been scheduled between 5 and 7 years;

(2) The borrower qualifies for SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability and the borrower's next continuing disability review has been scheduled at 3 years;

(3) The borrower has an established onset date for SSDI or SSI of at least 5 years prior to the application for a disability discharge or has been receiving SSDI benefits or SSI based on disability for at least 5 years prior to the application for a disability discharge;

(4) The borrower qualifies for SSDI benefits or SSI based on a compassionate allowance; or

(5) For borrowers currently receiving SSA retirement benefits, documentation that, prior to the borrower qualifying for SSA retirement benefits, the borrower met the requirements in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section.

(v) The borrower must submit the application described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section to the Secretary within 90 days of the date the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certifies the application, if applicable.

(vi) After the Secretary receives the application described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, the Secretary notifies the holders of the borrower's title IV loans that the Secretary has received a total and permanent disability discharge application from the borrower.

(vii) If the application is incomplete, the Secretary notifies the borrower of the missing information and requests the missing information from the borrower, the borrower's representative, or the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist who provided the certification, as appropriate. The Secretary does not make a determination of eligibility until the application is complete.

(viii) The lender notification described in paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section directs the borrower's loan holders to suspend collection activity or maintain the suspension of collection activity on the borrower's title IV loans.

(ix) After the Secretary receives a disability discharge application, the Secretary sends a notice to the borrower that—

(A) States that the application will be reviewed by the Secretary;

(B) Informs the borrower that the borrower's lenders will suspend collection activity or maintain the suspension of collection activity on the borrower's title IV loans while the Secretary reviews the borrower's application for discharge; and

(C) Explains the process for the Secretary's review of total and permanent disability discharge applications.

(3) Secretary's review of the total and permanent disability discharge application. (i) If, after reviewing the borrower's completed application, the Secretary determines that the data described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section supports the conclusion that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), the borrower is considered totally and permanently disabled as of the date—

(A) The physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certified the borrower's application; or

(B) The Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section.

(ii) If the Secretary determines that the borrower's application does not support the conclusion that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), the Secretary may require the borrower to submit additional medical evidence. As part of the Secretary's review of the borrower's discharge application, the Secretary may require and arrange for an additional review of the borrower's condition by an independent physician or other medical professional identified by the Secretary at no expense to the borrower.

(iii) After determining that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), the Secretary notifies the borrower and the borrower's lenders that the application for a disability discharge has been approved. With this notification, the Secretary provides the date the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certified the borrower's loan discharge application or the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section and directs each institution holding a Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan made to the borrower to assign the loan to the Secretary.

(iv) The institution must assign the loan to the Secretary within 45 days of the date of the notice described in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section.

(v) After the loan is assigned, the Secretary discharges the borrower's obligation to make further payments on the loan and notifies the borrower and the institution that the loan has been discharged. The notification to the borrower explains the terms and conditions under which the borrower's obligation to repay the loan will be reinstated, as specified in paragraph (b)(6) of this section. Any payments received after the date the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certified the borrower's loan discharge application or the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section are returned to the person who made the payments on the loan in accordance with paragraph (b)(7) of this section.

(vi) If the Secretary determines that the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certification or the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section provided by the borrower does not support the conclusion that the borrower is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1), the Secretary notifies the borrower and the institution that the application for a disability discharge has been denied. The notification includes—

(A) The reason or reasons for the denial;

(B) A statement that the loan is due and payable to the institution under the terms of the promissory note and that the loan will return to the status that would have existed had the total and permanent disability discharge application not been received;

(C) A statement that the institution will notify the borrower of the date the borrower must resume making payments on the loan;

(D) An explanation that the borrower is not required to submit a new total and permanent disability discharge application if the borrower requests that the Secretary re-evaluate the application for discharge by providing, within 12 months of the date of the notification, additional information that supports the borrower's eligibility for discharge; and

(E) An explanation that if the borrower does not request re-evaluation of the borrower's prior discharge application within 12 months of the date of the notification, the borrower must submit a new total and permanent disability discharge application to the Secretary if the borrower wishes the Secretary to reevaluate the borrower's eligibility for a total and permanent disability discharge.

(vii) If the borrower requests reevaluation in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(vi)(D) of this section or submits a new total and permanent disability discharge application in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(vi)(E) of this section, the request must include new information regarding the borrower's disabling condition that was not provided to the Secretary in connection with the prior application at the time the Secretary reviewed the borrower's initial application for a total and permanent disability discharge.

(4) Treatment of disbursements made during the period from the certification or the date the Secretary received the SSA data until the date of discharge. If a borrower received a title IV loan or TEACH Grant before the date the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certified the borrower's discharge application or before the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section and a disbursement of that loan or grant is made during the period from the date of the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certification or the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section until the date the Secretary grants a discharge under this section, the processing of the borrower's loan discharge application will be suspended until the borrower ensures that the full amount of the disbursement has been returned to the loan holder or to the Secretary, as applicable.

(5) Receipt of new title IV loans or TEACH Grants after the certification or after the date the Secretary received the SSA data. If a borrower receives a disbursement of a new title IV loan or receives a new TEACH Grant made on or after the date the physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or psychologist certified the borrower's discharge application or on or after the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section and before the date the Secretary grants a discharge under this section, the Secretary denies the borrower's discharge request and collection resumes on the borrower's loans.

(6) Conditions for reinstatement of a loan after a total and permanent disability discharge. (i) The Secretary reinstates the borrower's obligation to repay a loan that was discharged in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(v) of this section if, within 3 years after the date the Secretary granted the discharge, the borrower receives a new TEACH Grant or a new loan under the Direct Loan programs, except for a Direct Consolidation Loan that includes loans that were not discharged.

(ii) If the borrower's obligation to repay a loan is reinstated, the Secretary—

(A) Notifies the borrower that the borrower's obligation to repay the loan has been reinstated;

(B) Returns the loan to the status that would have existed had the total and permanent disability discharge application not been received; and

(C) Does not require the borrower to pay interest on the loan for the period from the date the loan was discharged until the date the borrower's obligation to repay the loan was reinstated.

(iii) The Secretary's notification under paragraph (b)(6)(ii)(A) of this section will include—

(A) The reason or reasons for the reinstatement;

(B) An explanation that the first payment due date on the loan following reinstatement will be no earlier than 90 days after the date of the notification of reinstatement; and

(C) Information on how the borrower may contact the Secretary if the borrower has questions about the reinstatement or believes that the obligation to repay the loan was reinstated based on incorrect information.

(7) Payments received after the certification of total and permanent disability. (i) If the institution receives any payments from or on behalf of the borrower on or attributable to a loan that has been assigned to the Secretary based on the Secretary's determination of eligibility for a total and permanent disability discharge, the institution must return the payments to the sender.

(ii) At the same time that the institution returns the payments, it must notify the borrower that there is no obligation to make payments on the loan after it has been discharged due to a total and permanent disability unless the loan is reinstated in accordance with § 674.61(b)(6), or the Secretary directs the borrower otherwise.

(iii) When the Secretary discharges the loan, the Secretary returns to the sender any payments received on the loan after the date the borrower became totally and permanently disabled.

(c) Total and permanent disability discharges for veterans. (1) General. A veteran's Defense, NDSL, or Perkins loan will be discharged if the veteran is totally and permanently disabled, as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2).

(2) Discharge application process for veterans who have a total and permanent disability as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2). (i) If a veteran notifies the institution that the veteran claims to be totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2), the institution must direct the veteran to notify the Secretary of the veteran's intent to submit an application for a total and permanent disability discharge to the Secretary; and provide the veteran with the information needed for the veteran to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge to the Secretary.

(ii) If the veteran notifies the Secretary of the veteran's intent to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge, the Secretary—

(A) Provides the veteran with information needed for the veteran to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge;

(B) Identifies all title IV loans owed by the veteran and notifies the lenders of the veteran's intent to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge;

(C) Directs the lenders to suspend efforts to collect from the borrower for a period not to exceed 120 days; and

(D) Informs the veteran that the suspension of collection activity described in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section will end after 120 days and collection will resume on the veteran's title IV loans if the veteran does not submit a total and permanent disability discharge application to the Secretary within that time.

(iii) If the veteran fails to submit an application for a total and permanent disability discharge to the Secretary within 120 days, collection resumes on the veteran's title IV loans.

(iv) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the veteran must submit to the Secretary an application for total and permanent disability discharge on a form approved by the Secretary.

(v) The application must be accompanied by documentation from the Department of Veteran Affairs showing that the Department of Veteran Affairs has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to a service-connected disability. The veteran will not be required to provide any additional documentation related to the veteran's disability.

(vi) After the Secretary receives the application and supporting documentation described in paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) and (c)(2)(v) of this section, the Secretary notifies the holders of the veteran's title IV loans that the Secretary has received a total and permanent disability discharge application from the veteran.

(vii) If the application is incomplete, the Secretary notifies the veteran of the missing information and requests the missing information from the veteran or the veteran's representative. The Secretary does not make a determination of eligibility until the application is complete.

(viii) The lender notification described in paragraph (c)(2)(vi) of this section directs the lenders to suspend collection activity or maintain the suspension of collection activity on the borrower's title IV loans.

(ix) After the Secretary receives the disability discharge application, the Secretary sends a notice to the veteran that—

(A) States that the application will be reviewed by the Secretary;

(B) Informs the veteran that the veteran's lenders will suspend collection activity on the veteran's title IV loans while the Secretary reviews the borrower's application for a discharge; and

(C) Explains the process for the Secretary's review of total and permanent disability discharge applications.

(3) Secretary's review of the total and permanent disability discharge application. (i) If, after reviewing the veteran's completed application, the Secretary determines, based on a review of the documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, that the veteran is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2), the Secretary notifies the veteran and the veteran's lenders that the application for disability discharge has been approved. With this notification, the Secretary provides the effective date of the determination and directs each institution holding a Direct, NDSL, or Perkins Loan made to the veteran to discharge the loan.

(ii) The institution returns any payments received on or after the effective date of the determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs that the veteran is unemployable due to a service-connected disability to the person who made the payments.

(iii) If the Secretary determines, based on a review of the documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, that the veteran is not totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2), the Secretary notifies the veteran or the veteran's representative, and the institution that the application for a disability discharge has been denied. The notification includes—

(A) The reason or reasons for the denial;

(B) An explanation that the loan is due and payable to the institution under the terms of the promissory note and that the loan will return to the status that would have existed had the total and permanent disability discharge application not been received;

(C) An explanation that the institution will notify the veteran of the date the veteran must resume making payments on the loan;

(D) An explanation that the veteran is not required to submit a new total and permanent disability discharge application if the veteran requests that the Secretary re-evaluate the veteran's application for discharge by providing, within 12 months of the date of the notification, additional documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs that supports the veteran's eligibility for discharge; and

(E) Information on how the veteran may reapply for a total and permanent disability discharge in accordance with the procedures described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(8) of this section, if the documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs does not indicate that the veteran is totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(2), but indicates that the veteran may be totally and permanently disabled as defined in § 674.51(aa)(1).

(d) Discharge without an application. (1) The Secretary will discharge a loan under this section without an application or any additional documentation from the borrower if the Secretary—

(i) Obtains data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showing that the borrower is unemployable due to a service-connected disability; or

(ii) Obtains data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section.

(e) Notifications and return of payments. (1) After determining that a borrower qualifies for a total and permanent disability discharge under paragraph (d) of this section, the Secretary sends a notification to the borrower informing the borrower that the Secretary will discharge the borrower's title IV loans unless the borrower notifies the Secretary, by a date specified in the Secretary's notification, that the borrower does not wish to receive the loan discharge.

(2) Unless the borrower notifies the Secretary that the borrower does not wish to receive the discharge, the Secretary notifies the borrower's lenders that the borrower has been approved for a disability discharge.

(3) In the case of a discharge based on a disability determination by VA—

(i) The notification—

(A) Provides the effective date of the disability determination by VA; and

(B) Directs each institution holding a Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan made to the borrower to discharge the loan; and

(ii) The institution returns to the person who made the payments any payments received on or after the effective date of the determination by VA that the borrower is unemployable due to a service-connected disability.

(4) In the case of a discharge based on a disability determination by the SSA—

(i) The notification—

(A) Provides the date the Secretary received the SSA data described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv)(C) of this section; and

(B) Directs each institution holding a Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan made to the borrower to assign the loan to the Secretary within 45 days of the notice described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section; and

(ii) After the loan is assigned, the Secretary discharges the loan in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(v) of this section.

(5) If the borrower notifies the Secretary that they do not wish to receive the discharge, the borrower will remain responsible for repayment of the borrower's loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of the promissory notes that the borrower signed.

(f) No Federal reimbursement. No Federal reimbursement is made to an institution for discharge of loans due to death or disability.

(g) Retroactive. Discharge for death applies retroactively to all Defense, NDSL, and Perkins loans.

(a) No portion of a loan may be cancelled for teaching. Head Start, volunteer or military service if the borrower's service is performed—

(1) During the same period that he or she received the loan; or

(2) Before the date the loan was disbursed to the borrower.

(b) The institution shall not refund a repayment made during a period for which the borrower qualified for a cancellation unless the borrower made the payment due to an institutional error.

(a) Reimbursement for Defense loan cancellation. (1) The Secretary pays an institution each award year its share of the principal and interest canceled under §§ 674.55 and 674.59(a).

(2) The institution's share of cancelled principal and interest is computed by the following ratio:

(b) Reimbursement for NDSL and Federal Perkins loan cancellation. The Secretary pays an institution each award year the principal and interest canceled from its student loan fund under §§ 674.53, 674.54, 674.56, 674.57, 674.58, 674.59(b), and 674.60. The institution shall deposit this amount in its Fund.

(a) Definition of terms. As used in this section—

(1) Eligible public servant means an individual who—

(i) Served as a police officer, firefighter, other safety or rescue personnel, or as a member of the Armed Forces; and

(ii)(A) Died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; or

(B) Became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

(2) Died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 means the individual was present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site at the time of or in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes on September 11, 2001, and the individual died as a direct result of these crashes.

(3) Became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 means the individual was present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site at the time of or in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes on September 11, 2001, and the individual became permanently and totally disabled as a direct result of these crashes.

(i) An individual is considered permanently and totally disabled if—

(A) The disability is the result of a physical injury to the individual that was treated by a medical professional within 72 hours of the injury having been sustained or within 72 hours of the rescue;

(B) The physical injury that caused the disability is verified by contemporaneous medical records created by or at the direction of the medical professional who provided the medical care; and

(C) The individual is unable to work and earn money due to the disability and the disability is expected to continue indefinitely or result in death.

(ii) If the injuries suffered due to the terrorist-related aircraft crashes did not make the individual permanently and totally disabled at the time of or in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the individual may be considered to be permanently and totally disabled for purposes of this section if the individual's medical condition has deteriorated to the extent that the individual is permanently and totally disabled.

(4) Immediate aftermath means, for an eligible public servant, the period of time from the aircraft crashes until 96 hours after the crashes.

(5) Present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site means physically present at the time of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes or in the immediate aftermath—

(i) In the buildings or portions of the buildings that were destroyed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes;

(ii) In any area contiguous to the crash site that was sufficiently close to the site that there was a demonstrable risk of physical harm resulting from the impact of the aircraft or any subsequent fire, explosions, or building collapses. Generally, this includes the immediate area in which the impact occurred, fire occurred, portions of buildings fell, or debris fell upon and injured persons; or

(iii) On board American Airlines flights 11 or 77 or United Airlines flights 93 or 175 on September 11, 2001.

(b) September 11 survivors discharge. (1) The obligation of a borrower to make any further payments on an eligible Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan is discharged if the borrower was, at the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and currently is, the spouse of an eligible public servant, unless the eligible public servant has died. If the eligible public servant has died, the borrower must have been the spouse of the eligible public servant at the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and until the date the eligible public servant died.

(2) A Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan owed by the spouse of an eligible public servant may be discharged under the procedures for a discharge in paragraphs (b)(3) through (b)(6) of this section.

(3) After being notified by the borrower that the borrower claims to qualify for a discharge under this section, an institution shall suspend collection activity on the borrower's eligible Defense, NDSL, and Perkins Loans and promptly request that the borrower submit a request for discharge on a form approved by the Secretary.

(4) If the institution determines that the borrower does not qualify for a discharge under this section, or the institution does not receive the completed discharge request form from the borrower within 60 days of the borrower notifying the institution that the borrower claims to qualify for a discharge, the institution shall resume collection and shall be deemed to have exercised forbearance of payment of both principal and interest from the date the institution was notified by the borrower. The institution must notify the borrower that the application for the discharge has been denied, provide the basis for the denial, and inform the borrower that the institution will resume collection on the loan.

(5) If the institution determines that the borrower qualifies for a discharge under this section, the institution shall notify the borrower that the loan has been discharged and that there is no further obligation to repay the loan. The institution shall return to the sender any payments received by the institution after the date the loan was discharged.

(6) A Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loan owed by an eligible public servant may be discharged under the procedures in § 674.61 for a discharge based on the death or total and permanent disability of the eligible public servant.

(c) Documentation that an eligible public servant died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. (1) Documentation that an eligible public servant died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 must include—

(i) A certification from an authorized official that the individual was a member of the Armed Forces, or was employed as a police officer, firefighter, or other safety or rescue personnel, and was present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site at the time of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes or in the immediate aftermath of these crashes; and

(ii) The inclusion of the individual on an official list of the individuals who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

(2) If the individual is not included on an official list of the individuals who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the borrower must provide—

(i) The certification described in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section;

(ii) An original or certified copy of the individual's death certificate; and

(iii) A certification from a physician or a medical examiner that the individual died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

(3) If the eligible public servant owed a FFEL Program Loan, a Direct Loan, or a Perkins Loan at the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, documentation that the individual's loans were discharged by the lender, the Secretary, or the institution due to death may be substituted for the original or certified copy of a death certificate.

(4) If the borrower is the spouse of an eligible public servant, and has been granted a discharge on a FFEL Program Loan, a Direct Loan, or a Perkins Loan held by another institution, because the eligible public servant died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, documentation of the discharge may be used as an alternative to the documentation required in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section.

(5) Under exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis, the determination that an eligible public servant died due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 may be based on other reliable documentation approved by the chief financial officer of the institution.

(d) Documentation that an eligible public servant became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. (1) Documentation that an eligible public servant became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 must include—

(i) A certification from an authorized official that the individual was a member of the Armed Forces or was employed as a police officer, firefighter or other safety or rescue personnel, and was present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site at the time of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes or in the immediate aftermath of these crashes;

(ii) Copies of contemporaneous medical records created by or at the direction of a medical professional who provided medical care to the individual within 24 hours of the injury having been sustained or within 24 hours of the rescue; and

(iii) A certification by a physician, who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy and legally authorized to practice in a state, that the individual became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

(2) If the borrower is the spouse of an eligible public servant, and has been granted a discharge on a FFEL Loan, a Direct Loan, or a Perkins Loan held by another institution, because the eligible public servant became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, documentation of the discharge may be used as an alternative to the documentation required in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(e) Additional information. (1) An institution may require the borrower to submit additional information that the institution deems necessary to determine the borrower's eligibility for a discharge under this section.

(2) To establish that the eligible public servant was present at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, at the Pentagon in Virginia, or at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site, such additional information may include but is not limited to—

(i) Records of employment;

(ii) Contemporaneous records of a federal, state, city, or local government agency;

(iii) An affidavit or declaration of the eligible public servant's employer; or

(iv) A sworn statement (or an unsworn statement complying with 28 U.S.C. 1746) regarding the presence of the eligible public servant at the site.

(3) To establish that the disability of the eligible public servant is due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, such additional information may include but is not limited to—

(i) Contemporaneous medical records of hospitals, clinics, physicians, or other licensed medical personnel;

(ii) Registries maintained by federal, state, or local governments; or

(iii) Records of all continuing medical treatment.

(4) To establish the borrower's relationship to the eligible public servant, such additional information may include but is not limited to—

(i) Copies of relevant legal records including court orders, letters of testamentary or similar documentation;

(ii) Copies of wills, trusts, or other testamentary documents; or

(iii) Copies of approved joint FFEL or Federal Direct Consolidation loan applications.

(f) Limitations on discharge. (1) Only outstanding Defense, NDSL, and Perkins Loans for which amounts were owed on September 11, 2001, are eligible for discharge under this section.

(2) Eligibility for a discharge under this section does not qualify a borrower for a refund of any payments made on the borrower's Defense, NDSL, or Perkins Loans prior to the date the loan was discharged.

(3) A determination by an institution that an eligible public servant became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 for purposes of this section does not qualify the eligible public servant for a discharge based on a total and permanent disability under § 674.61.

(4) The spouse of an eligible public servant may not receive a discharge under this section if the eligible public servant has been identified as a participant or conspirator in the terrorist-related aircraft crashes on September 11, 2001.

If any provision of this subpart or its application to any person, act, or practice is held invalid, the remainder of the subpart or the application of its provisions to any person, act, or practice will not be affected thereby.