; and (v) for which any payment made under an income contingent repayment plan under subsection (d)(1)(D), or an income-based repayment plan under paragraph (1)(E) or (2)(A)(ii) of subsection (d), on the joint consolidation loan shall be treated as if such payment were made on such separate consolidation loan. (B) Application for separate direct consolidation loans (i) Joint application Except as provided in clause (ii), to receive separate consolidation loans under subparagraph (A), both individual borrowers in a married couple (or previously married couple) shall jointly apply under such subparagraph. (ii) Separate application An individual borrower in a married couple (or previously married couple) may apply for a separate consolidation loan under subparagraph (A) separately and without regard to whether or when the other individual borrower in the married couple (or previously married couple) applies under such subparagraph, in a case in which— (I) the individual borrower has experienced from the other individual borrower— (aa) domestic violence (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 13925(a) )); (bb) economic abuse (including behaviors that control such borrower’s ability to acquire, use, and maintain access to money, credit, or the joint financial obligations of both borrowers); or (cc) other exceptional circumstances, as determined by the Secretary; and (II) the Secretary determines that authorizing each individual borrower to apply separately under subparagraph (A) would be in the best fiscal interests of the Federal Government, including by reducing the risk of delinquency or default. (C) Borrower eligibility Notwithstanding section 428C(a)(3)(A), the Secretary shall award a consolidation loan under this part to each borrower who— (i) applies for such loan under subparagraph (A)