Fill Out False Certification Discharge Application Online

What the ability to benefit discharge covers

Schools that admit students without a high school diploma or its equivalent must first establish that those students have the ability to benefit from the program, usually through an approved entrance exam or by having the student complete a set amount of college level coursework. When a school skips that step, administers the test improperly, or falsifies the results, the loan it certified can qualify for a false certification discharge.

The form itself notes that only loans made on or after January 1, 1986 are eligible for this type of discharge. Both student borrowers and parent PLUS borrowers can apply. A parent applying for a PLUS loan discharge answers the questions as they apply to the student the loan was borrowed for.

Who qualifies

The core requirement is that you, or the student in the case of a PLUS loan, did not have a high school diploma or a GED before enrolling. The application asks directly about this, and answering that you already held a diploma or GED means you are not eligible for this particular discharge.

The rest of Section 2 gathers the evidence: when and where you first registered for classes, whether the school gave an entrance exam, whether anything about the test seemed improper, whether you completed a remedial or developmental program, and whether you have already received any refund or payment connected to the loans. Answer every item, and use the Don't Know option where the form offers it rather than guessing.

How to fill out the application

The application runs five pages, with two pages of questions and the rest devoted to terms, instructions, and notices. Work through it in order:

• Section 1 asks for your identifying details, including your SSN, name, address, and phone numbers. Check the box at the top if any of your information has changed since you last reported it.
• Item 1 sets your path through the form. Student borrowers skip ahead, while parent PLUS borrowers first identify the student the loan was for.
• Items 4 through 10 cover the school: when you first attended or registered, the school's name and address, and the program you were enrolled in when you received the loans.
• Items 11 through 13 are the eligibility core: whether you had a diploma or GED before enrolling, whether you earned a GED later, and whether you completed qualifying coursework before receiving the loans.
• Items 14 through 25 dig into the entrance exam and any remedial program, including dates, test names, scores, and anything that appeared improper, plus a witness who can support your account.
• Items 26 through 32 report any refunds or payments already received from the school or a third party such as a state tuition recovery program.
• Sign and date Section 3. Your signature certifies the answers under penalty of perjury and assigns any refund rights on the discharged amount to the U.S. Department of Education.

Where to send it and what happens next

Return the completed application to the address shown in Section 7 of the form. If no address is printed there, send it to your loan holder, which for Direct Loans is the Department of Education through your loan servicer. Attach any documentation that supports your answers and keep copies of everything you submit.

By signing, you agree to provide testimony, a sworn statement, or additional documentation if the Department requests it, and to cooperate with any related enforcement action. An application can be denied, or a granted discharge revoked, if requested support is not provided or contradicts the application.