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: francis.soares@va.govPhone: (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