[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 34, Volume 3] [Revised as of July 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 34CFR674.34] [Page 593-595] TITLE 34--EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PART 674--FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM--Table of Contents Subpart B--Terms of Loans Sec. 674.34 Deferment of repayment--Federal Perkins loans, NDSLs and Defense loans. (a) The borrower may defer making a scheduled installment repayment on a Federal Perkins loan, an NDSL, or a Defense loan, regardless of contrary provisions of the borrower's promissory note and regardless of the date the loan was made, during periods described in this section. (b)(1) The borrower need not repay principal, and interest does not accrue, during a period after the commencement or resumption of the repayment period on a loan, when the borrower is-- (i) Enrolled and in attendance as a regular student in at least a half-time course of study at an eligible institution; (ii) Enrolled and in attendance as a regular student in a course of study that is part of a graduate fellowship program approved by the Secretary; (iii) Engaged in graduate or post-graduate fellowship-supported study (such as a Fulbright grant) outside the United States; or (iv) Enrolled in a course of study that is part of a rehabilitation training program for disabled individuals approved by the Secretary as described in paragraph (g) of this section. (2) No borrower is eligible for a deferment under paragraph (b)(1) of this section while serving in a medical internship or residency program, except for a residency program in dentistry. (3) The institution of higher education at which the borrower is enrolled does not need to be participating in the Federal Perkins Loan program for the borrower to qualify for a deferment. (4) If a borrower is attending an institution of higher education as at least a half-time regular student for a full academic year and intends to enroll as at least a half-time regular student in the next academic year, the borrower is entitled to a deferment for 12 months. (5) If an institution no longer qualifies as an institution of higher education, the borrower's deferment ends on the date the institution ceases to qualify. (c) The borrower of a Federal Perkins loan, an NDSL, or a Defense loan need not repay principal, and interest does not accrue, for any period during which the borrower is engaged in service described in Secs. 674.53, 674.54, 674.55, 674.56, 674.57, 674.58, 674.59, and 674.60. (d) The borrower need not repay principal, and interest does not accrue, for any period not to exceed 3 years during which the borrower is seeking and unable to find full-time employment. (e) The borrower need not repay principal, and interest does not accrue, for periods of up to one year at a time (except that a deferment under paragraph (e)(6) of this section may be granted for the lesser of the borrower's full term of service in the Peace Corps or the borrower's remaining period of economic hardship deferment eligibility) that, [[Page 594]] collectively, do not exceed 3 years, during which the borrower is suffering an economic hardship, if the borrower provides documentation satisfactory to the institution showing that the borrower is within any of the categories described in paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(6) of this section. (1) Has been granted an economic hardship deferment under either the FDSL or FFEL programs for the period of time for which the borrower has requested an economic hardship deferment for his or her Federal Perkins loan. (2) Is receiving payment under a Federal or state public assistance program, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, Food Stamps, or state general public assistance. (3) Is working full-time and earning a total monthly gross income that does not exceed the greater of-- (i) The monthly earnings of an individual earning the minimum wage described in section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; or (ii) An amount equal to 100 percent of the poverty line for a family of two, as determined in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Service Block Grant Act. (4) Is not receiving total monthly gross income that exceeds twice the amount specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section and, after deducting an amount equal to the borrower's monthly payments on Federal postsecondary education loans, as determined under paragraph (e)(10) of this section, the remaining amount of that income does not exceed the amount specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section; (5) Is working full-time and has a Federal education debt burden as determined under paragraph (e)(10) of this section that equals or exceeds 20 percent of the borrower's total monthly gross income, and the borrower's income minus such burden is less than 220 percent of the amount calculated under paragraph (3) of this section. (6) Is serving as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. (7) For a deferment granted under paragraph (e)(4) or (e)(5) of this section, the institution shall require the borrower to submit at least the following documentation to qualify for an initial period of deferment-- (i) Evidence showing the amount of the borrower's most recent total monthly gross income, as defined in section 674.2; and (ii) Evidence that would enable the institution to determine the amount of the monthly payments that would have been owed by the borrower during the deferment period to other entities for Federal postsecondary education loans in accordance with paragraph (e)(9) of this section. (8) To qualify for a subsequent period of deferment that begins less than one year after the end of a period of deferment under paragraphs (e)(3), (e)(4), or (e)(5) of this section, the institution shall require the borrower to submit a copy of the borrower's Federal income tax return if the borrower filed a tax return within eight months prior to the date the deferment is requested. (9) For purposes of paragraphs (e)(3) and (e)(5) of this section, a borrower is considered to be working full-time if the borrower is expected to be employed for at least three consecutive months at 30 hours per week. (10) In determining a borrower's Federal education debt burden under paragraphs (e)(4) and (e)(5) of this section, the institution shall-- (i) If the Federal postsecondary education loan is scheduled to be repaid in 10 years or less, use the actual monthly payment amount (or a proportional share if the payments are due less frequently than monthly); or (ii) If the Federal postsecondary education loan is scheduled to be repaid in more than 10 years, use a monthly payment amount (or a proportional share if the payments are due less frequently than monthly) that would have been due on the loan if the loan had been scheduled to be repaid in 10 years. (f) To qualify for a deferment for study as part of a graduate fellowship program pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, a borrower must provide the institution certification that the borrower has been accepted for or is engaged in full-time study in the institution's graduate fellowship program. [[Page 595]] (g) To qualify for a deferment for study in a rehabilitation training program, pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, the borrower must be receiving, or be scheduled to receive, services under a program designed to rehabilitate disabled individuals and must provide the institution with the following documentation: (1) A certification from the rehabilitation agency that the borrower is either receiving or scheduled to receive rehabilitation training services from the agency. (2) A certification from the rehabilitation agency that the rehabilitation program-- (i) Is licensed, approved, certified, or otherwise recognized by one of the following entities as providing rehabilitation training to disabled individuals-- (A) A State agency with responsibility for vocational rehabilitation programs; (B) A State agency with responsibility for drug abuse treatment programs; (C) A State agency with responsibility for mental health services programs; (D) A State agency with responsibility for alcohol abuse treatment programs; or (E) The Department of Veterans Affairs; and (ii) Provides or will provide the borrower with rehabilitation services under a written plan that-- (A) Is individualized to meet the borrower's needs; (B) Specifies the date on which the services to the borrower are expected to end; and (C) Is structured in a way that requires a substantial commitment by the borrower to his or her rehabilitation. The Secretary considers a substantial commitment by the borrower to be a commitment of time and effort that would normally prevent an individual from engaging in full- time employment either because of the number of hours that must be devoted to rehabilitation or because of the nature of the rehabilitation. (h) The institution may not include the deferment periods described in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section and the period described in paragraph (i) of this section in determining the 10- year repayment period. (i) The borrower need not pay principal and interest does not accrue until six months after completion of any period during which the borrower is in deferment under paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1845-0019) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087dd) [59 FR 61410, Nov. 30, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 61815, Dec. 1, 1995; 62 FR 50848, Sept. 26, 1997; 64 FR 57531, Oct. 25, 1999; 64 FR 58311, Oct. 28, 1999; 67 FR 67076, Nov. 1, 2002]