VETERAN BENEFITS HOW THEY WORK AND WHAT’S NEW FOR THIS YEAR
description
Transcript of VETERAN BENEFITS HOW THEY WORK AND WHAT’S NEW FOR THIS YEAR
VETERAN BENEFITSHOW THEY WORK AND WHAT’S NEW FOR THIS YEAR
• Presented by:– Cathy Kedski– Director of Financial Aid– Veteran Certifying
Official– Massachusetts Maritime
AcademyNHASFAA 10/28/11
AGENDA
• GI Bill– Different chapters
• Post 9/11 – Chapter 33• Other federal programs• Resources• Questions and Answers
MILITARY EDUCATION BENEFITS
– GI BILL
– Other Federal Programs• Tuition Assistance• Kickers• Buy Up• MYCAA• FRY Scholarship
GI BILL COMPARISIONSCHAPTER 33 30 35 1606 1607
ELIGIBILITY Served on active duty for at least 90 aggregate days after 9/10/11
2 yrs. active duty, 3 yrs. active duty, or 2 yrs. active duty plus 4 yrs. reserves
Dependent of veteran whose death or permanent and total disability result of service
Completion of initial active duty for training. Must be active reservist with 6 yr. obligation
90 days or more active duty support of contingency operation or full time National Guard duty responding to national emergency
ENTITLEMENT 48 months max. under 2 or more programs
36 months. May extend to end of term if expires during term. Note: kicker’s do not extend.
36 months. May extend to end of term if expires during term. Note: kicker’s do not extend.
45 months. No extensions except for child in special restorative training.
36 months. No extensions.
36 months. No extensions.
DELIMITING DATE
15 yrs. from last discharge or separation
10 yrs. from last discharge or separation. May extend for later period of active duty or disability that prevents completion of program.
Child: 8 yrs.Spouse: 10 yrs.
Eligibility rules are complex. Claimant should work closely with VA to determine total time allowed.
On the day you leave the selected reserve
10 yrs. from the separation date if separated after completing service contract and discharge isn’t dishonorable.
CHAPTER 33
Education and Training Covered by Benefit• Effective August 1, 2009– Degree granting institution of higher learning and
approved for Chapter 30.– Includes Undergraduate, Graduate and
Professional Degrees– Includes non-degree programs approved at the
IHL
CHAPTER 33Education and Training Covered by Benefit
• Effective October 1, 2011– Non-College Degree (NCD) schools• Pays actual net cost for in state tuition and fees at
public NCD institutions. Pays actual net cost for in state tuition and fees or $17,500, whichever is less at private NCD institutions. Also pays $83/month for books/supplies.
– On-the-job Training (OTJ) and Apprenticeships• Pays monthly benefit amount prorated based on time
in program and up to $83/month for books/supplies
CHAPTER 33Education and Training Covered by Benefit
• Effective October 1, 2011– Flight Programs• Pays actual net costs for in state tuition and fees
assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less– Correspondence courses• Pays actual net costs for in state tuition and fees
assessed by the school or $8,500, whichever is less
Chapter 33Service Requirements % of Maximum Benefit PayableAt least 36 months 100
At least 30 consecutive days on active duty (must be discharged due to service related disability)
100
At least 30 months, but less than 36 months 90
At least 24 months, but less than 30 months 80
At least 18 months, but less than 24 months 70
At least 12 months, but less than 18 months 60
At least 6 months, but less than 12 months 50
At least 90 days, but less than 6 months 40
CHAPTER 33
• Receive a percentage of the Chapter 33 benefit for tuition and fees, based on prior chart (paid directly to school)
• Receive monthly housing allowance (paid directly to student)
• Receive book stipend (paid directly to student at start of semester)
CHAPTER 33TUITION AND FEES COVERED
• Effective August 1, 2009– Limited to highest per credit hour tuition and maximum
fees charged by public institution for undergraduate training in state where student is enrolled.
STATE TUITION PER CREDIT MAXIMUM FEES
NH $1003.75 $5197.00
MA $340.00 $20793.50
RI $376.00 $5187.00
VT $512.00 $5106.00
ME $345.00 $5500.00
CHAPTER 33• Effective August 1, 2011– Public Schools
• Net cost for in-state tuition and fees after application of any waiver, scholarship, aid or assistance (not loans) provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for tuition and/or fees.
– Private Schools• The lesser of: actual net cost for tuition and fees after application
of any waiver, scholarship, aid or assistance (not loans) provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for tuition and/or fees OR $17,500 for the academic year.
• an exception to this exists for students enrolled in private schools in AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC or TX. In these cases the VA will pay the higher of the actual tuition & fees or the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition & fees.
RESTORING GI BILL FAIRNESS ACT OF 2011
• Signed into law on August 3, 2011• The provisions of the bill are retroactive• Applicable to training beginning on or after
August 1, 2011.• Authorizes VA to pay more than $17,500 in
tuition and fees for certain students attending private colleges and universities in seven states - Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
RESTORING GI BILL FAIRNESS ACT OF 2011
• Students must have been enrolled in the same college or university since January 4, 2011, and have been enrolled in a program for which the combined amount of tuition and fees for full-time attendance during the 2010-2011 academic year exceeded $17,500.
• VA will pay a percentage (based on eligibility tier) of the greater of $17,500, or the amount student would have been paid during the 2010-2011 academic year (based on the tuition and fee in-State Maximums)
CHAPTER 33
HOUSING ALLOWANCE• Paid directly to student at beginning of each
month for the previous month• Pro-rated based on length of service• Based on BAH for an E-5 with dependents and
the zip code of your school– https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm
• Active duty personnel are not eligible
CHAPTER 33
HOUSING ALLOWANCE – DISTANCE LEARNING• Effective August 1, 2009– Exclusive DL, no housing allowance– Both DL and in resident at least 50% housing
allowance is granted• Effective October 1, 2011– Exclusive DL, housing allowance = 50%– Using a National Average BAH of $1,347
CHAPTER 33BOOK AND SUPPLIES STIPEND
$41.67 per credit (up to 24 credits)• Effective August 1, 2009– Lump sum payment each quarter/semester/term– Paid directly to student– Pro-rated by length of service– Active duty personnel not eligible
• Effective October 1, 2011– Active duty enrolled in degree program now eligible
CHAPTER 33
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM• Allows schools to enter into agreement with VA to fund the
tuition and fee costs that exceed basic tuition and fee amount payable by VA.
• Deadline to apply for participation was May for the current year.
• VA will match each dollar the school contributes up to 50% of the difference between basic T&F already covered by VA
• Only individuals entitled to 100% benefit level may receive Yellow Ribbon funding.
CHAPTER 33
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM• School determines amount and number of
students eligible for yellow ribbon.• Award to students on a first come-first served
basis• Award to students in subsequent years
provided student is maintaining satisfactory progress, conduct and attendance
CHAPTER 33
KICKERS• Effective August 1, 2009– Students eligible for kicker under chapter 30 or
1606 may receive under Chapter 33.– Paid as lump sum when student enrollment is
certified.• Effective October 1, 2011– Kickers are paid on monthly basis rather than
lump sum.
CHAPTER 33
TRANSFER OF ENTITLEMENT• Member of Armed Forces is able to transfer
Chapter 33 benefits to children or spouse– Must serve 6 years and reenlist for 4 more years
or have at least 10 years of service– Must transfer benefits while still active duty– Can be done on the Transfer of Entitlement
website: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/
CHAPTER 33
TRANSFER OF ENTITLEMENT• Step 1: service member transfers the
entitlement• Step 2: transferee (child or spouse) must apply• School certifies student the same as any other
Chapter 33 recipient• Students receive Housing Allowance, spouses of
active duty servicemembers do not
OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS
• DOD TUITION ASSISTANCE– Available through each branch of service– Per semester credit hour cap = $250– Fiscal year cap per service person = $4,500– Student driven web based enrollment system– Conflicts with Chapter 33 (TA must pay first)
OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS
• KICKERS– Monetary monthly entitlement outlined in
enlistment or reenlistment contract to be used in conjunction with GI Bill
– Paid directly to student– Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607• Can be used if opting for chapter 33
OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS
• BUY UP– Similar to ‘kicker’ but is a benefit that is paid into
by serviceperson for later compensation– Serviceperson contributes up to $600 over time to
increase monthly GI Bill payments up to $150– Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607• Can be used if opting for Chapter 33
OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS• MYCAA
– Military Spouse Career Advancement Account• Provides financial support to spouses of Active Duty and Activated Reserve soldiers
that wish to earn an associates degree, or seeking certification and licensure tests.
• FRY SCHOLARSHIP– Children of an active duty member of the Armed Forces who died in the
line of duty after 9/10/11– Is essentially Post 9/11 benefits at 100% level excluding eligibility for Yellow
Ribbon Program– To apply: VA Form 22-5490 “Dependents’ Application for VA Education
Benefits” is available by going to VA’s website, http://www.gibill.va.gov and clicking on “Apply for Benefits”. Paper versions of the form may also be printed. A parent or guardian must sign the application if the child is under age 18.
REFERENCES
• GI BILL WEB-SITE– www.gibill.va.gov
• Education Liaison Representative (New Hampshire)– Servicing Regional Processing Office (RPO): Buffalo, NY
Education Liaison Representative (ELR): Frank Soares ELR Location: Togus Regional OfficeE-mail: [email protected]: (207) 623-8411 X 5094 Fax: (207) 621-7398
– Other states: https://www.gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/elr.html
REFERENCES
– National Call Center• 1-888-442-4551
– School Resources• http://www.gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/
– VAONCE• https://vaonce.vba.va.gov/vaonce_student/default.asp• http://www.gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/va-once-faq/index.html