Common Manual Interim Policy Updates

    The Common Manual Governing Board recently approved several policies that modify the Common Manual.  These changes will be incorporated into the Common Manual when the next annual update is published in July 2003.

    Attached are interim updates to the Common Manual which address policy revisions approved on February 27, 2003.  Pay particular attention to the effective dates for these interim policy updates.

    The Integrated Common Manual, which is the online version of your paper Common Manual, includes these updates.  The Integrated Common Manual is available at www.uheaa.org under the links News for Financial Aid Administrators or Links to Financial Aid Sites.

    Any questions related to the attached Common Manual interim policy updates should be directed to the UHEAA Policy and Training Department at 801.321.7166 or by e-mail at mjohnson@utahsbr.edu.
 

Attachment

Economic Hardship Deferment
The Common Manual has been revised to coordinate the policy language related to the determination of the borrower's Title IV debt burden with federal regulations and with the requirements of the Economic Hardship Deferment Request form issued in Dear Colleague Letter GEN 02-08.  The revised policy specifies that the lender must include defaulted loans when determining the borrower's Title IV debt burden for the purposes of an economic hardship deferment if the borrower provides documentation that he or she has made repayment arrangements satisfactory to the holder of the defaulted loans.

Affected Sections:  7.10.P
Effective Date:    Retroactive to the implementation of the Common Manual..
Basis:    34 CFR 682.210(s); Economic Hardship Deferment Request form, issued in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-02-08.
 

Next Due Dates for PLUS and SLS Loans
When establishing the next payment due date on a PLUS or SLS loan following a period of forbearance, deferment, or post-deferment grace, the lender may provide the borrower a due date that is no later than 60 days after the end of the forbearance, deferment, or post-deferment grace period.  The due date may be later than 60 days if the borrower makes a prepayment during the period that advances the due date.  Previous policy required the lender to establish the next payment due date no later than 45 days after the end of the applicable period.

Affected Sections:  7.4.B, 7.4.C
Effective Date:    Next payment due dates for PLUS and SLS loans established by the lender on or after November 1, 2002.
Basis:    None.
 

First and Next Payment Due Dates for Stafford Loans
The Common Manual has been revised to reflect revised regulations regarding Stafford loan first payment due dates and next payment due dates following periods of forbearance, deferment, and post-deferment grace. Lenders are required to establish a Stafford borrower's first payment due date no later than 60 days, not 45 days as previously required, after the repayment start date. Lenders also are required to establish the due date following a period of forbearance, deferment, or post-deferment grace no later than 60 days, not 45 days as previously required, after the end of that period.

Previously, lenders were required to establish the first payment due date on a Stafford loan no later than 45 days after the repayment start date and the next payment due date no later than 45 days after a period of forbearance, deferment or post-deferment grace.

Affected Sections:  7.4.B, 7.9.G , 7.10.B , 7.11.K
Effective Date:    First payment due dates and next payment due dates established by the lender on or after November 1, 2002.
Basis:    34 CFR 682.209(a)(3)(ii).
 

Claim Purchase and Claim Returns
The Common Manual has been revised to reflect changes in federal regulations regarding the time frame in which the guarantor must purchase an approved total and permanent disability claim or return the claim.  Guarantors are required to purchase an approved total and permanent disability claim or return the claim not later than 90 days after the claim was received by the guarantor.  Previously, guarantors were required to purchase an approved total and permanent disability claim or return the claim not later than 45 days after receiving the claim from the lender.

Affected Sections:  8.4, CCI8.4, 8.6, CCI8.6
Effective Date:    Total and permanent disability claims received by the guarantor on or after July 1, 2003, unless implemented earlier by the guarantor.
Basis:    34 CFR 682.402(h).
 

Claim Purchase Time Frames
The Common Manual has been updated to clarify that for an unpaid refund discharge request for a closed school, the guarantor is required to purchase an approved discharge request or return the request to the lender within 45 days. For an unpaid refund discharge request for an open school, the guarantor may take up to 120 days to resolve the unpaid refund with the school.  The guarantor is required to purchase an approved discharge request or return it to the lender within 45 days from the date the eligibility determination is made. A cross reference to subsection 8.2.I has been added.

Affected Sections:  8.6, CCI8.6
Effective Date:    Unpaid refund discharges granted on or after July 1, 2000, for loans disbursed, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 1986.
Basis:    34 CFR 682.402(l)(2)(ii); 34 CFR 682.402(n)(1).
 

Organizational Changes to Text
The Common Manual has been revised to eliminate information related to guarantor processing. The Common Manual was established to provide information regarding guarantor policies related to school and lender requirements and does not provide information related to guarantor services, processing, or those policies related to the guarantors' administrative issues.  The manual has also been revised to combine related information from two subsections into one.

Affected Sections:  6.1.B, 6.1.G
Effective Date:    July 1, 2003.
Basis:    None.
 

Reissuing a Loan Disbursement
The Common Manual has been revised to provide an explanation of the circumstances under which a lender may reissue a disbursement.  A lender may reissue a loan disbursement if the original disbursement was made according to the school's disbursement schedule, the loan was canceled or not consummated, and the school subsequently determines that the student should have received the disbursement.

Affected Sections:  6.2.G
Effective Date:    July 1, 2003.
Basis:    None.