SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions;
• Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments

A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026 at 91 FR 1758. The comment period ended March 16, 2026. AmeriCorps received one public comment that addressed several aspects of the information collection, summarized as follows:

• Comment: The burden hour estimates should be increased for each of the forms for the individual to provide details about their loan and loan servicer or calculate accrued interest. Response: AmeriCorps did not adjust the burden hour estimates in response to this comment because these information collections do not require the member to provide the detailed information. The loan servicer, who will readily have the information available as a matter of business, provides the detailed information.
• Comment: Individuals may submit multiple forbearance or voucher forms within a single award period, so there should be a per-individual annual burden estimate to account for that, and first-time and repeat-user burden should be disaggregated. Response: AmeriCorps is not adjusting its estimates in response to this comment because the burden estimate is an estimate of one annual submission per individual for each form. While some individuals do submit multiple forms in a year, others submit only once every few years. AmeriCorps has averaged the time burden to account for both first-time and repeat users.
• Comment: AmeriCorps should conduct a structured usability study with individuals of various demographics. Response: AmeriCorps has calculated and refined its estimates over years of public consultation and outreach, which have captured the range of respondents' experiences in responding to this information collection.
• Comment: Individuals' financial costs are not captured. Response: This comment appears to be based on a misunderstanding that individuals must themselves obtain documents from loan servicers to provide to AmeriCorps.
• Comment: Student loan servicer burden was excluded. Response: The time burden estimate does consider loan servicer burden, including time to review instructions, process payments, and perform any recordkeeping beyond their normal course of business.
• Comment: Combine the three forms into one with single unified OMB coverage. Response: The three forms cannot be combined without significanly increasing burden because each form serves a distinct purpose. The ( printed page 14829) voucher form is used to disburse education award funds from the Trust, the forbearance request form allows a member to obtain forbearance on their loan while they are serving in an AmeriCorps program, and the interest form allows AmeriCorps to pay the interest accrued during a member's national service if their loans were in forbearance during that time.
• Comment: Integrate MyAmeriCorps with the Federal Student Aid (FSA) and NSLDS. Response: AmeriCorps already uses the current information collection to facilitate payments to the FSA network. The NSLDS does not contain information AmeriCorps needs on state-issued student loans.
• Comment: The forms handle personal financial information and AmeriCorps has not disclosed the security architecture for handling this data. Response: The information collection is covered by the System of Records Notice CNCS-04-CPO-MMF-Member Management Files (MMF) at 85 FR 3896.
• Comment: Small businesses employers that hire AmeriCorps alumni face indirect impacts, in that delays in obtaining [members'] education awards affects [employers'] ability to reduce employer tuition assistance obligations. Response: AmeriCorps has not identified any correlation between small business employers that hire AmeriCorps alumni and this information collection, nor with the subset of employers that offer tuition assistance.
• Comment: Both individuals and loan servicers must maintain records under this information collection. Response: The records are maintained in the MyAmeriCorps portal.

The remaining comments were substantively redundant or beyond the scope of this information collection.

Information Collection Abstracts

1. Title of Collection: Voucher and Payment Request Form.

OMB Control Number: 3045-0014.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals (AmeriCorps members and alumni who request payment on qualified student loans) and businesses (qualified student loan servicers).

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 34,385.

Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,865.

Abstract: The National Service Trust AmeriCorps Voucher and Payment Form/National Service Trust AmeriCorps—Manual Payment Request Form is used to repay qualified student loans and to pay for the cost of attending eligible post-secondary educational institutions and approved School-to-Work programs. Prior to making the payments, AmeriCorps will review information from the forms and compare it to information taken from the AmeriCorps members' education award account(s) to ensure that the payments meet the requirements of the law. This information collection is not required to be considered for obtaining grant funding support. The currently approved information collection is due to expire on March 31, 2026.

2. Title of Collection: Forbearance Request of National Service Form.

OMB Control Number: 3045-0030.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals (AmeriCorps members and alumni who wish to request forbearance on qualified student loans) and businesses (qualified student loan servicers).

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 13,182.

Frequency: One or more per education award.

Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,197.

Abstract: The National Service Trust AmeriCorps Forbearance Request for National Service Form is used to certify that AmeriCorps members are eligible for forbearance based on their enrollment in a national service position. AmeriCorps members use the form, or its electronic equivalent, to request forbearance for their loan. This information collection is not required to be considered for obtaining grant funding support. The currently approved information collection is due to expire on March 31, 2026.

3. Title of Collection: Interest Accrual Form.

OMB Control Number: 3045-0053.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals (AmeriCorps members and alumni who wish to request forbearance on qualified student loans) and businesses (qualified student loan servicers).

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 320.

Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 27.

Abstract: The National Service Trust Interest Payment Form is used by AmeriCorps members to request payment of accrued interest on qualified student loans and to authorize the release of loan information to the National Service Trust. Schools and lenders verify eligibility for the payments and both parties verify certain legal requirements. AmeriCorps uses the information from the form to ensure that the accrued interest payment is allowable under law. AmeriCorps seeks to renew the currently approved information collection, which is due to expire on March 31, 2026.

AmeriCorps seeks to renew these current information collections, which will be used in the same manner as the existing approved information collections. AmeriCorps also seeks to continue using the current information collections until the renewals are approved by OMB.

91 FR 14828