Department of Veterans Affairs Work-Study Allowance Program

Presentation Overview What is the VA Work-Study Allowance Program How does it benefit my school How can my school get approval to use Work-Study students Who can use the benefit, how are they qualified, and how do they apply How are Work-Study students paid How can I get additional information

What is the VA Work-Study Allowance Program? VA education benefit An additional allowance paid to students for performing VA-related activities May be that special increment that makes a program of education or training feasible

Who Can Participate? Students must be receiving VA education benefits through Title 38 or Title 10 under one of the following education programs : Ch30: Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) Ch30: Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) Ch31: Vocational Rehabilitation Ch31: Vocational Rehabilitation Ch32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Ch32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Ch35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Ch35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Ch1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve (SR) Ch1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve (SR) Ch1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Ch1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Ch33: Post-9/11 GI Bill, including Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) and Fry Scholarship recipients Ch33: Post-9/11 GI Bill, including Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) and Fry Scholarship recipients GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Work Site Types VA Facilities Educational Institutions Department of Defense (DoD), Coast Guard or National Guard Facilities Other Non-VA Facilities

Educational Institutions Limitation of duties include: Dissemination of general information regarding veteran benefits and/or services Preparation, processing, maintaining and organizing veteran-related files VA outreach in a cooperative supervisory effort with a VA employee who is controlling the work activities.

VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) Programs The VSOC program aims to help student Veterans and their qualified dependents succeed and thrive through a coordinated delivery of on-campus benefits assistance and counseling leading to completion of their education and preparing them to enter the labor market in viable careers. The VSOC program aims to help student Veterans and their qualified dependents succeed and thrive through a coordinated delivery of on-campus benefits assistance and counseling leading to completion of their education and preparing them to enter the labor market in viable careers. VSOC Counselors are provided to each VSOC approved school. VSOC Counselors are provided to each VSOC approved school. Program provides assistance such as outreach, transition and adjustment counseling, mentoring/tutoring, etc. More information may be found at: More information may be found at:

How Does the Work-Study Program Benefit My School? No cost to the school No cost to the school Students help with VA related activities Students help with VA related activities Students assist Veteran students with benefits and Students assist Veteran students with benefits andservices Potential to transition to full-time employment Potential to transition to full-time employment Veterans helping veterans Veterans helping veterans

How Can You Request to Become an Approved Work-Site? Contact the VA Work-Study Department: Contact the VA Work-Study Department: via at via at via telephone at via telephone at Request a copy of the Site Supervisor Handbook and an Application/Position Description form Complete the Application/Position Description form and return it to the Work- Study department for review and approval Once approved, you may begin to recruit students

What Are Site Supervisor Responsibilities? Provide direct supervision Provide appropriate training Ensure only approved tasks are performed Ensure only approved hours are worked and properly reported for payment Read and understand the Work-Study Allowance Program Supervisor Handbook

Student Qualifications Students must be in receipt of education Students must be in receipt of education benefits at a minimum of ¾ training time benefits at a minimum of ¾ training time If Ch33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), student must If Ch33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), student must be in receipt of education benefits at a be in receipt of education benefits at a at 75% rate of pursuit at 75% rate of pursuit Students must work at a VA approved Students must work at a VA approved work site work site

Student Selection Process Not every student is selected for the Work-Study program Not every student is selected for the Work-Study program Service-connected disabilities have priority Service-connected disabilities have priority Financial need Financial need Availability of transportation Availability of transportation Motivation Motivation Work assignments don’t conflict with disability Work assignments don’t conflict with disability

What Duties Can and Cannot Be Performed? Must perform work specifically listed in the Must perform work specifically listed in the site’s job description site’s job description Only tasks that require 100% performance of VA-related activities of VA-related activities Must work solely at the specific work site Must work solely at the specific work site listed on the Work-Study time record listed on the Work-Study time record Work-Study students CANNOT provide transportation or operate a motorized transportation or operate a motorized vehicle vehicle

How do Students Apply for Work-Study? Student must complete VA Form , Application for Work-Study Allowance; NOTE: please ensure field 11, “Work Site Preference” has been completed Please send only the completed application; no other documents are necessary the completed application to: Or fax the completed application without a cover sheet to: (918) or -7785

Maximum Hours of Service The maximum number of hours of Work- Study service that a student may perform during or between a period of enrollment is limited to 25 times the number of weeks in the applicable enrollment period excluding the period between the enrollments.

Maximum Hours of Service (cont.) Students are not limited to the number of hours they may work each day, but are limited by the number of hours approved on their contract Students are not eligible to receive overtime compensation Students are covered under Worker’s Compensation laws for the duration of their Work-Study contract, but are not considered employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs

What Happens After VA Receives the Application? The application is reviewed for accuracy If approved, a Work-Study contract is initiated, and the contract, time record and work site letter is ed to the work site; the contract will clearly state the time frame and number of approved hours; after the contract is signed by the student, the site supervisor is required to return a copy of the signed contract to the VA If not approved, a detailed denial letter is sent to the student; a courtesy may be sent to the site supervisor

What is the Difference between a Contract and an Extension? A contract is an original agreement between A contract is an original agreement between the student and VA the student and VA An extension is a continuation of the An extension is a continuation of the original agreement for up to one year from original agreement for up to one year from the beginning of the original contract; can the beginning of the original contract; can be extended multiple times be extended multiple times

VERY IMPORTANT!! Work-Study students can only begin working after the contract or extension is approved by the VA Agreements may not begin earlier than 30 days before term, or end more than 30 days after term Hours worked prior to approval, after a contract ends, or are in excess of the approved hours CANNOT be paid

How Are Payments Made? Students are paid every 50 hours or once a month, whichever is lesser Site supervisors review time record for errors in math or date, they ensure the time record is initialed/signed and hours are kept cumulative Site supervisors or fax Work-Study student’s time record to VA Time record is reviewed for accuracy by VA Work-Study Dept VA CANNOT make time record corrections Time records are processed in order of receipt Students are paid the higher of either the state or federal minimum wage rate

Work-Study Issues What to do if you are having issues with a Work-Study student? Look for a resolution Request the student be relocated to another approved work site Terminate the Work-Study contract What if the student provided inaccurate information on his time record? Work with the student to correct the time record Notify the Work-Study department if further assistance is needed

How Do I Get More Information? Work-Study Allowance Program Site Supervisor Handbook GI Bill website: Contact the Muskogee RPO Work-Study Department

How Do I Contact Muskogee? Monday - Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CST Phone: (918) ***SITE SUPERVISORS ONLY*** Fax: (918) or (918) Mail: Work-Study Department Muskogee Regional Processing Office Muskogee Regional Processing Office 125 South Main 125 South Main Muskogee OK Muskogee OK 74401

THANK YOU!! ANY QUESTIONS?