WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM Peter Nastasi Work Study Supervisor Buffalo RPO October 7, 2016

Presentation Overview What is the VA Work-Study Program Who can Participate in VA the Program How does it benefit my school How can my school get an approval to participate in the VA Work-Study Program How are Work-Study students paid How can I get additional information

What is the VA Work-Study Program? Supplemental program to VA’s education benefits 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) Ch31: Vocational Rehabilitation Ch32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Ch35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Ch1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve (SR) Ch1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 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)

Student Qualifications Students must be in receipt of VA education benefits at a minimum of ¾ training time or more. Students must work at a VA approved work site

Work Site Types VA Facilities (VBA, VHA, NCA) Educational Institutions Department of Defense (DoD), Coast Guard or National Guard Facilities Other state and local governments that service Veterans

How Does the Work-Study Program Benefit My School? No cost to the school b/c VA pays the student Students help with VA related activities Students can assist other Veteran students Potential to transition to full-time employment Veterans helping Veterans

What Are Site Supervisor Responsibilities? Provide direct supervision to WS Students 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

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

*** Any Outreach MUST be on campus. *** Job Duties… Approved 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. *** Any Outreach MUST be on campus. ***

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 (continued) 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

Becoming a Work Site location Complete a Position/Job Description and return it to the Work-Study department for review and approval We also need to know the number of student you are requesting (send emails to increase this number) Once approved, VA will issue you a site approval letter and you may begin to recruit students Send all information to WORKSTUDY.VBABUFF@va.gov

How do Students Apply for Work-Study benefits? Student must complete VA Form 22-8691, 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. Email the completed application to: WORKSTUDY.VBABUFF@va.gov Or fax the completed application to: (716) 551-3241

What Happens After VA Receives the Application? The application is reviewed for accuracy If approved, a Work-Study contract (22-8692) is initiated, and the contract (22-8692) and Time-Record (22-8690) is emailed to the work site. The contract will clearly state the time frame and number of approved hours The contract MUST BE signed by the student and returned to VA If the application is NOT approved, a detailed denial letter is sent to the student. A courtesy email may be sent to the site supervisor

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

How are Payments Made? Students can be paid every 50 hours or every two weeks Site supervisors review all time records for errors Site supervisors email or fax Work-Study student’s time to VA Time record is reviewed for accuracy by VA Work-Study VA CANNOT make time record corrections Time records are processed in order of receipt (2 Weeks) Students are paid the higher of either the state or federal minimum wage rate. (Tax Free)

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 (might be able to work 30 days after) Hours worked prior to approval, after a contract ends, or are in excess of the approved hours CANNOT be paid

More Information? Refer to the Work-Study Allowance Program Site Supervisor Handbook GI Bill website: www.gibill.va.gov Contact the Buffalo RPO Work-Study Department Supervisor (Peter Nastasi) 716-857-3155 peter.nastasi@va.gov

How Do I Contact the Buffalo RPO Work-Study Department? Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4 pm EST Phone: (716) 857-3155 ***Note: This line is for SITE SUPERVISORS ONLY*** Fax: (716) 551-3241 Email: WORKSTUDY.VBABUFF@va.go Mail: Work-Study Department Buffalo Regional Processing Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave Buffalo NY 14202

Thank You! Questions?