Approved State Ability to Benefit Process

On January 18,2022, the Department convened a negotiated rulemaking committee, the Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility Committee, to consider proposed regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, (HEA). Through the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), docket number ED-2022-OPE-0062, the Secretary proposed new regulations to promote transparency, competence, stability, and effective outcomes for students in the provision of postsecondary education. The Department amends, under the authority of section 484 of the HEA, regulations covering approved State processes under ATB. These regulations make improvements in the areas of Ability to Benefit (ATB). These final regulations are a result of negotiated rulemaking in 2022 and add new requirements to the current regulations. This request is for a continuation to the collection designated 1845-0176 by OMB, during the NPRM stage of this information collection filing, maintaining the burden due to the final regulation for State Ability-to-Benefit process.

The latest form for Approved State Ability to Benefit Process expires 2026-10-31 and can be found here.