Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bills and State of Texas Hazlewood Act Orientation Presentation

Programs Offered Federal Benefits (GI Bill)  Chapter 33  Chapter 30  Chapter 1606  Chapter 1607  Chapter 35  Chapter 31 State Benefits (Hazlewood)  Hazlewood Exemption  Hazlewood Legacy

Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bills  The University does not determine eligibility  Benefit eligibility information must be provided to the school.  Certificate of Eligibility (Ch. 30, 33, 1606, 1607, 35)  Notice of Basic Eligibility (Ch. 1606)  (Ch. 31)  Apply at  VONAPP  (Ch. 30, 33, 1606, 1607)  (Ch. 35)  (Ch. 31)

Post 9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33  Active Duty Service after 9/10/2001  If you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill and another GI Bill benefits (such as the Montgomery GI Bill) you will be required to make an irrevocable choice to relinquish that benefit if you wish to receive Ch. 33  If, however, you exhaust your other entitlement before applying for Ch. 33, you could receive up to an additional 12 months under that program.  Ch. 33 can be passed on to dependent children and spouse if the veteran meets active service requirements set by Department of Defense (DOD). Process must be started with DOD prior to discharge from Active service.

Post 9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33  Ranges from 40% - 100% based on active service time:  At least 90 days service not including training for minimum benefit.  3 years service = 100%  Benefit Includes:  Monthly stipend: BAH at E-5 /w dependent rate, $ for Austin area  Must be 51% rate of pursuit or more  At least 1 course on campus  Tuition paid directly to the school  Dorm fees and meal plan are not paid to the school; they are the student’s responsibility  $1,000 per year for books: $41.66 per credit hour

Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30  Pre 9/11 GI Bill  Veteran must have contributed $1,200 to the benefit after enlistment, generally $100 per month for first year of service and be otherwise be eligible for education benefits.  If vet contributed to Ch. 30 but relinquished use Ch. 33 instead, $1,200 is refundable when Ch. 33 is completely exhausted.  Must verify monthly  Not transferrable to dependents  Benefit Includes:  Monthly stipend only: $1,648  DOES NOT pay tuition up front

Selected Reserve GI Bill, Chapter 1606  GI Bill for reservist with 6 year service obligation or more who are actively drilling.  Only completed training (Basic & MOS school)  Up to 36 months of benefit  Must provide a NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) signed by unit commander along with VA Certificate of Eligibility.  Must verify monthly Benefit includes:  Monthly Stipend only: $  DOES NOT pay tuition up front  Can no longer use in conjunction with Federal TA

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), Chapter 1607  For Reservists called to active orders in response to war or national emergency.  Must be activated for 90 days or more  Payments on a sliding scale based on amount of consecutive qualifying active service.  Must verify monthly Benefit includes:  Monthly Stipend only:  90 days = $  1 Year = $  2 year = $  DOES NOT pay tuition up front  Can no longer use in conjunction with Federal TA

Dependent Educational Assistance, Chapter 35  GI Bill for dependents (spouse and children) of VA rated 100% disabled, unemployable, or deceased veterans as a result of service-related condition.  Generally 45 months of benefit  Cut off age is eight years after VA determines eligibility  Benefit includes:  Monthly stipend only: $  DOES NOT pay tuition up front

Vocational Rehabilitation, Chapter 31  Benefit for veterans with a minimum disability rating of 20%  Veteran must apply and set up an appointment with Voc Rehab counselor to discuss vocational goals and establish need for the benefit.  Counselors in either San Antonio or Austin:  Austin:  San Antonio:  Not transferrable to dependents  Benefit includes:  Tuition and book amounts paid to school  Monthly stipend: established with counselor  Up to $75 in supplies

Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bills  All course work must be specifically stated on Degree Audit Report (DAR)  Any course not listed or showing as an open elective must have approval from an academic advisor.  Minors must be required for your major, optional minors will not be covered.  Monthly Payment are paid based on rate of pursuit: Rate of PursuitUndergraduateGraduate% of Payment Full Time12 Hours9 Hours100% ¾ Time9-11Hours6-8 Hours~80% ½ Time6-8 Hours4-5 Hours~50% ¼ Time<4 Hours T&F Only

Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bills  All payments made on the first month for the month prior.  Only paid while the student is in class.  Example: January’s monthly stipend will come February 1 st and will be prorated from Jan 20 th to the end of the month.  Monthly Verification for Ch. 30, 1606, and  By phone:  Online: - WAVEwww.gibill.va.gov

State of Texas Hazlewood Act  Tuition Exemption for Veterans who:  Entered service from the state of Texas or had a Home of Record in Texas on DD-214  Served at least 181 days active service other than training.  Received an honorable discharge (or general under honorable conditions).  Resides in the state.  Transferable to dependent child on semester by semester basis.  Spouses only eligible in cases of 100% disability or service-connected death.

State of Texas Hazlewood Act  Each dependent can be eligible but only one student at a time can utilize the benefit per semester, even at different schools unless vet is 100% service- connected disabled or deceased  In cases of 100% disability/deceased each student has his/her own eligibility.  Benefit includes:  150 hours of Tuition and Fee exemption  Does not cover student service fee: ~$90  Does not cover housing or meals  Does not cover books.

State of Texas Hazlewood Act  Student must maintain Academic Progress for Waivers and Exemptions (APWE):  GPA:  2.0 Undergraduate  3.0 Graduate  Not be in excessive hours  Dependent Children eligible until 26 th birthday  Must be 25 on first class day.

State of Texas Hazlewood Act  Documentation needed:  Veteran:  DD-214 Member 4  Hazlewood Exemption Application  Proof of Hazlewood Database Registration  Dependents:  Veteran’s DD-214 Member 4  Hazlewood Exemption Application  Birth Certificate or Tax Info showing dependency  Proof of Hazlewood Database Registration  Verification that the veteran is a current Texas resident  (TX DL, utility bill, etc.)

Registering with the Hazlewood Database

Registering with the database cont.

Our online VA Certification Request process:  Found on our homepage (

Online process continued:  Login using your Net ID and password –Same as your Texas State and TRACS

Online process continued:  Once logged in, click “Add New Request,” and select which applies to you. **Note that “Both” is for students using any chapter of the GI Bill in conjunction with the Hazlewood Exemption

Online process continued:  On the last page of the request, you will have the option to upload various required documents based on your selections.

Online process continued:  You will receive a computer-generated every time the status of your request changes: –From “Submitted” to “In Process” –From “In Process” to “Certified/Complete”  If your request is Incomplete, Pending, Cancelled, or Denied, a short message as to why will be included in the status .

Online process continued:  You may return to the upload page at a later time to upload additional documents by clicking “My Request,” then click “Detail.”

Veterans Affairs Office  JCK 105  (512)  Veterans Benefits Coordinator: Peter Shuler Administrative Assistant: Brittany Munoz, Tonya Stewart

Questions?