AVECO Conference 2016 Education Division St. Louis Regional Processing Office ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ July 21, 2016

Agenda Jurisdiction FY16 Staffing Claims Processing Performance Post-9/11 GI Bill Automation Update REAP Sunset FRY Scholarship Chapter 33 TOE Chapter 30 Top-Up Legislation Introduced in the 114th Congress GI BILL Comparison Tool GI BILL Feedback System Questions ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Current Staffing Level FY16 Staffing Current Staffing Level FY16 Ceiling 331 Current Education Employees 328 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RPO Jurisdiction & Distribution of Students Approximately 25% of National Workload Snapshot of Recipients on the roles as of July 1, 2016 Georgia = 43.9% ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Claims Processing Performance Date Pending Claims Inventory July 1, 2016 15,645 July 1, 2015 14,897 Peak Workload: September 4, 2015 60,870 This represents a -21.9% change in workload from April 2015 to April 2016 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Claims Processing Performance FYTD As of July 1, 2016 FYTD 2016 Performance Targets FYTD 2017 Original Claims Timeliness 19.11 Days 28.0 Days 21.0 Days Supplemental Claims Timeliness 9.37 Days 14.0 Days 9.0 Days Payment Accuracy 98.95% 98.0% RNW Timeliness 3 days 5 days RNW Over 5 days 33 VAIs N/A ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Post-9/11 GI Bill Automation Update Full Automation: Long-Term Solution (LTS) processed the claim entirely (including letter generation) Partial Automation: LTS pre-populates certain information from the VAONCE document (i.e. enrollment certification), but the case requires a Veterans Claims Examiner (VCE) to review and authorize the action Manual: Claims that require a full review by the VCE from start to finish ST. LOUIS RPO Total CH33 Electronic Receipts Full Automation # Full Automation % April 2016 45,799 22,224 48.5% May 2016 55,674 26,393 47.4% June 2016 57,021 25,111 44.0% Decrease due to capacity issues. More claims to automate than LTS can do. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Post-9/11 GI Bill Automation Update There are several factors for which will preclude full automation: VAONCE Remarks listed from School Certifying Official Change of Student Address submitted by School Certifying Official New Facility Code reported Validation Errors (i.e. orphan amendments) Mitigating Circumstances Full Automation: Partial Automation: Manually Processed: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MitC began in LTS in MONTH/YEAR ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Sunset The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016 ended the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) on Nov. 25, 2015, for new school enrollments. Current REAP beneficiaries – Veterans who were attending an educational institution on Nov. 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date, are eligible to continue to receive REAP benefits until Nov. 25, 2019. REAP beneficiaries not attending school – Veterans who applied for REAP but were not attending an educational institution on Nov. 24, 2015, or during the last semester, quarter, or term ending prior to that date are no longer eligible to receive REAP benefits. New REAP applicants – Veterans who have not enrolled in school and applied for REAP benefits prior to Nov. 25, 2015, are no longer eligible for REAP benefits. However, in most cases, those Veterans will be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Fry Scholarship Eligibility Children of an active-duty member of the Armed Forces who has died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, are eligible for this benefit. A child may be married or over age 23 and still be eligible. Effective January 2, 2015, a spouse of an active-duty member of the United States Uniformed Services who has died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, may receive the Fry Scholarship. Eligible children and Spouses: Are entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level May use the benefit until their 33rd birthday (Child) Are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Fry Scholarship Eligibility Spouse A spouse has 15 years from the date of the Service Member's death to utilize benefits. If a spouse remarries, benefits end the date of the remarriage. Are NOW eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program Children and Spouses attending school may receive the following benefits: Full tuition and fees paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students Tuition and fees are capped at $17,500 per academic year for private and foreign schools but may also use the Yellow Ribbon program. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Eligibility A service member (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) can transfer up to 36 months of his or her Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to an eligible dependent. If a service member has used any benefits, he or she can transfer the unused remaining entitlement to a dependent. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Eligibility To transfer education benefits, the service member must meet one of the following criteria: Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces. Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve), and Is not allowed to commit for an additional 4 years, due to policy or by statute (law) and Agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Eligibility Requests to transfer entitlement to spouses or dependents must be made while the individual is in the Armed Forces. The decision to approve or deny such requests is solely within the purview of the Secretary of Defense, and VA determines eligibility for transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits based on information provided by the Department of Defense. If the service member is approved to transfer unused education benefits under the ToE program, benefits can be transferred to: A spouse One or more children or Any combination Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Elections A request for approval to transfer entitlement by a Service member constitutes an irrevocable election to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The transfer request date constitutes the effective date of the election. Although the Service member must acknowledge that an election is being made, the Transfers of Education (TEB) website does not allow the Service member to specify the benefit being relinquished; therefore, in cases where there is eligibility for multiple benefits, further development is needed in order to determine which benefit the Service member wishes to relinquish. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 30 Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU) Elections VA awards Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB – AD) benefits to cover all, or a lesser amount if desired by active duty beneficiary, of the costs of a course not fully covered by Federal Tuition Assistance (TA). In 2014, the Department of Defense (DoD) changed its rules regarding TA. First, DoD now requires GI Bill approval in order to qualify for Federal TA. Second, TA is limited to tuition charges (i.e. not fees) for post- secondary programs, even though such associated fees may be covered by MGIB – AD benefits under TATU. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 30 Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU) SCOs now use VA Form 22-1999 (including the electronic version in VA-ONCE) to certify those classes for students on active duty using the following additional procedures: Only include those classes for which Federal TA is paying for some, but not all, of the tuition and fee charges Only report the remaining “out-of-pocket” charges for tuition and fees, or a lesser amount if desired by the Service member Enter “Top-Up” into the Remarks field This will allow Service members to receive reimbursement for the full out-of-pocket charges. Note: If a Service member also wishes to receive “regular” MGIB – AD benefits for enrollment in classes not supported by TA, these classes must certified on a separate VA Form 22-1999. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 30 Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU) Note: If a Service member also wishes to receive “regular” MGIB – AD benefits for enrollment in classes not supported by TA, these classes must certified on a separate VA Form 22-1999. Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Spouse May start to use the benefit immediately May use the benefit while the service member remains in the Armed Forces, or after the service member’s separation from active duty Effective October 1, 2011 a spouse is eligible for books and supplies while the service member is serving on active duty Is not eligible for the monthly housing allowance while the service member is serving on active duty Period of eligibility is 15 years after the service member’s last qualifying period of service from active duty Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Chapter 33 TOE Child May start to use the benefit only after the individual making the transfer has completed at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces May use the benefit while the eligible individual remains in the Armed Forces, or after the eligible individual’s separation from active duty May not use the benefit until he or she has earned a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or has reached 18 years of age Is entitled to the monthly stipend and books and supplies, even if the eligible individual is on active duty Is not subject to the 15-year limit, but may not use the benefit after reaching 26 years of age Due to Congressional mandate, Veterans Affairs (VA) will only grant REAP eligibility to those enrolled in school before November 25, 2015, or during their school’s last term, quarter, or semester ending prior to that date Many of the REAP beneficiaries not attending school may be eligible to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA will evaluate all applications for REAP received on or after Nov. 25, 2015, to determine eligibility for another program, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and will award benefits under a different program if found eligible.

Legislation Introduced in the 114th Congress H.R. 3016, the “Veterans Employment, Education, and Healthcare Improvement Act.” [Bill passed by the House on February 9, 2016] and Senate Omnibus Bill Clarifies eligibility for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship Allows Fry Scholarship recipients to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program Clarifies criteria used to approve courses Requires VA to provide info on Veteran entitlement to schools Clarifies definition of covered individual from Choice Act to include Transferal of Active Duty Modifies characterization of certain service for Reservists so time spent receiving medical care is creditable Modifies benefits transferred to family member under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill* Caps certain flight training and other programs of education* To date, the future advisory from EDU Service is currently in a “draft” status.

GI Bill® Comparison Tool Comparison Tool was launched on February 4, 2014, in response to Executive Order 13607 to implement and promote “Principles of Excellence.” As of May 9, 2016, it had over 2,833,070 unique page views to over 1 million users. Recently added functionality: On November 11, 2015, VA released a complete redesign of the Comparison Tool featuring: Student outcome measures Mobile/tablet compatibility The Comparison Tool is updated to include the use of a caution flags: Accreditation probation Flight Programs – Suspended for 85/15 violation Future releases will include: School Ratings School Certifying Official Contact Information ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GI Bill® Feedback System On January 30, 2014, VA launched the Feedback System to intake student complaints concerning non-compliant POE schools Total complaints as of April 30, 2016: 6,086 Of these: Principals of Excellence (POE) complaints: 3,984 (65%) Pending: 70 Active: 242 Non-POE complaints: 2,102 (35%) Risk-based reviews conducted as of April 30, 2016: 116 8 withdrawals GI Bill Feedback System Observations: Communication ̶ Issues between school staff and students Financial issues – Timeliness of certification submission Transfer of credits – General lack of understanding by students Refund issues – Administration with multiple types of financial aid (Title IV & VA) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions