Department of Education Issues Interim Final Rules for 9/11 Loan Discharge

The U.S. Department of Education issued interim final rules in the Dec. 28, 2006, Federal Register. That Federal Register specifies processes and defines who may be eligible for the “9/11 discharge” of outstanding loan balances for certain Perkins, Federal Family Education Loan Program and Direct Loan Program loans.

The third Higher Education Extension Act of 2006 authorized federal education-loan discharges for survivors of eligible public servants and other eligible victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. These rules are effective Jan. 29, 2007. Industry comments regarding these rules also are due by Jan. 29.

You can view the rules and the discharge form in Adobe Acrobat Reader.