Sections 1 and 2: where to send it and help
The mailing address and fax number of U.S. Department of Education, TPD Servicing, and the phone number and website for help with the form.
TPD Discharge
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Application
- Agency
- Federal Student Aid
- Revision
- OMB No. 1845-0065, exp. 02/28/2027
- Fillable fields
- 45
- Pages
- 19
- Official source
- Federal Student Aid form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge Application
The Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge Application is the U.S. Department of Education form for asking that federal student loans, a TEACH Grant service obligation, or both be discharged based on a total and permanent disability. It covers loans made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the Federal Perkins Loan Program.
The form says a TPD discharge means the remaining loan balance does not have to be repaid, and that for a Direct PLUS or Federal PLUS loan with an endorser, the endorser's obligation is canceled too. A discharged TEACH Grant service obligation means the teaching service no longer has to be completed.
The form names three sources of documentation: the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Social Security Administration (SSA), or certain licensed or certified medical professionals, who complete Section 6. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.
What's on the TPD Discharge Application
Section 3: applicant information
Social Security number, date of birth, name, address, primary and alternate phone numbers and email, with a box to check if any of it has changed.
Section 4: disability information
Two Yes or No questions, one about a VA determination and one about SSA benefits. Each answer says which documents to attach and which pages to send.
Section 5: request and certification
The request for discharge, an authorization for medical providers to share records with the Department, the statements the applicant certifies, and the signature of the applicant or a representative.
Section 6: medical professional certification
Items 1 to 11 ask about the impairment, whether it is expected to result in death or last at least 60 months, the diagnosis and its severity, and functional limits. The professional then adds license details and signs.
Sections 7 to 10: information pages
Pages 10 to 19 explain the application process, VA and SSA documentation, the review, the post-discharge monitoring period and the Privacy Act and paperwork notices. The form says to omit them when mailing or faxing.
How to apply with the TPD Discharge Application
- 1
Tell the Department you plan to apply
The form says to contact the TPD servicer as soon as you plan to apply. Loan holders are then told to stop requiring loan payments for up to 120 days while the application is completed.
- 2
Fill in Sections 3 and 4
Enter the applicant information and answer Questions 1 and 2. Each answer on the form says which documentation to attach and which pages to send.
- 3
Add documentation or Section 6
With a Yes answer, attach the VA determination or the SSA notice of award, BPQY or other documentation. With two No answers, an authorized medical professional completes and signs Section 6.
- 4
Sign Section 5
The applicant or a representative signs and dates Section 5. The form says an application based on a Section 6 certification is submitted within 90 days of the medical professional's signature.
- 5
Send the right pages
Send pages 3 and 4 with VA or SSA documentation, or pages 3 through 9 with a Section 6 certification, to the address or fax number in Section 1.
- 6
Watch for the notice
The form says the Department sends a notice confirming it received the application, explaining the review process and stating that loan payments are not required during the review.
Why fill Form TPD Discharge on indox
You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.
- Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
- Free to fill and free to download, with no account
- The official blank straight from the Federal Student Aid, not a copy someone retyped
- Works on a phone, tablet or computer
Where to send it and what happens next
Mailing address
U.S. Department of Education, TPD Servicing, P.O. Box 300010, Greenville, TX 75403.
Fax and phone
Fax: 540-212-2415. For help with the form, the form gives 1-888-303-7818 and StudentAid.gov/disabilitydischarge.
Taxes
The form says loan amounts discharged due to TPD are not considered taxable income by the IRS for federal tax purposes, and that some states may consider them income for state tax purposes.
Post-discharge monitoring
The form says a discharge based on SSA documentation or a Section 6 certification starts a 3-year monitoring period. A new Direct Loan or TEACH Grant during that period reinstates the discharged obligation.
If the application is denied
The form says a re-evaluation can be requested with additional documentation within 12 months of the denial notice. After 12 months, a new application is needed.
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Who uses the TPD discharge application?
The form describes three ways to document a total and permanent disability. The two questions in Section 4 show which one an application uses.
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Questions about Form TPD Discharge
Does a veteran need a doctor to complete Section 6?
The form says a veteran who answers Yes to Question 1 attaches the VA determination, completes Section 5 and does not need an authorized medical professional to complete Section 6.
Who can complete the medical certification in Section 6?
The form lists a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy legally authorized to practice in a state, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant licensed by a state, or a certified psychologist at the independent practice level licensed to practice in the United States.
What SSA documents does the form ask for?
A copy of the most recent SSA notice of award or Benefits Planning Query (BPQY), or other documentation showing one of the conditions under Question 2. The form says a BPQY can be requested from SSA with form SSA-2459, at 1-800-772-1213 or at www.ssa.gov.
Which pages of the form are sent back?
Pages 3 and 4 with VA or SSA documentation, or pages 3 through 9 when a medical professional completes Section 6. The form says to omit pages 10 to 19.
Are loan payments required while the application is reviewed?
The form says that after you tell the Department you plan to apply, loan holders stop requiring payments for up to 120 days, and that the receipt notice explains payments are not required during the review.
Is a TPD discharge taxed?
The form says TPD discharge amounts are not considered taxable income by the IRS for federal tax purposes, that some states may consider them income, and suggests checking with a state tax office or a tax professional.
Can someone else apply for me?
An applicant can name a representative, such as a family member, attorney or legal aid society, with the separate Applicant Representative Designation: Total and Permanent Disability form. The form says to contact the TPD servicer to get it.