GI Bill Basic Training What Every Financial Aid Professional Ought To Know

Introduction Overview of the different GI Bill programs More in depth discussion of the Post 9/11 GI Bill – including changes made by the Post 9/11 GI Bill Improvement Act of 2010 Discussion of possible institutional procedures Questions

Overview Only Ch 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) and Ch. 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) pays directly to the school. All others pay a stipend directly to the student. Can only use one benefit at a time. Maximum of 48 months of benefits under all programs combined. ONLY VA can make determination of benefit eligibility

Ch. 30 – Montgomery GI Bill Eligibility – Served at least 2 years on Active Duty – Paid $1,200 Contribution – Honorably Discharged Entitlement – 36 months Delimiting Date – 10 years from last date of discharge from Active Duty

Ch. 30 – Montgomery GI Bill Payment Rates (effective 10/01/2011) – Less than 3 years of service: Full Time - $1, ¾ Time - $ ½ Time - $ – 3 years or more service: Full Time - $1, ¾ Time - $1, ½ Time - $736.50

Ch – Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve Eligibility – Enlist in the Selected Reserve for at least 6 years. – Completed Initial Active Duty Training – Currently actively drilling with a Reserve Unit and in good standing. Entitlement – 36 months Delimiting Date – Only eligible while actively drilling.

Ch – Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011) – Full Time - $ – ¾ Time - $ – ½ Time - $ – Less than ½ time - $86.25

Ch – Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Eligibility – Member of Reserves called to active duty after 09/11/2001 under Title 10 and served at least 90 consecutive days – Must return from active duty and complete their contract in the Selected Reserves Entitlement – 36 months Delimiting Date – Not fixed – must return to reserve component from which they were called to active duty

Ch – Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011) Training TimeConsecutive service of 90 days but less than one year Consecutive service of 1 year but less than 2 years Consecutive service of 2 years or more Full Time$589.20$883.80$1, ¾ Time$441.90$662.85$ ½ Time$294.60$441.90$589.20

Ch. 35 – Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) Eligibility – Parent or Spouse must have a permanent & total, service-connected disability, have died as the result of a service- connected disability, or died in the line of duty. Entitlement – 45 Months Delimiting Date – Children – generally 10 years from the effective date of rating or date of notification – Spouses – 20 years from effective date of rating.

Ch. 35 – Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011) – Full Time - $ – ¾ Time - $ – ½ Time - $466.00

Ch. 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Eligibility – Must have a service- connected disability rating of at least 10% which causes a demonstrable employment handicap – Must have approval of their Rehab Counselor to pursue study at an IHL – Any discharge other than Dishonorable Entitlement – 48 months Delimiting Date – Up to 12 years from last separation or date service connection of disability is determined.

Ch. 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment School must receive notification of eligibility directly from the Voc. Rehab Counselor. – Indicates approved courses of study and effective dates. VA Pays full tuition & fees directly to the school VA pays for books & supplies required for training Student also receives subsistence allowance while enrolled.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Some significant differences between Post 9/11 GI Bill and other GI Bill Programs – For the first time since the 1 st GI Bill the VA pays tuition & fees directly to the schools – Allows for active duty members of the military to transfer their benefits to dependents – Payments to/for veterans vary depending on the location of the college they are attending – Allows for a tiered benefit based on length of service.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Eligibility – Must have served at least cumulative 90 days of active duty after 09/10/2001; or – Must have served at least 30 consecutive days of active duty after 09/10/2001 and been discharged due to a service-connected disability – Must have been honorably discharged.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Entitlement – 36 months – If veteran transfers from Ch. 30 they only have the number of months remaining for their Ch. 30 benefits. Delimiting Date – 15 years from the dates of last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 days.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit Tiers Post 9/11 ServicePercentage of Max Amount Payable At least 36 months100% At least 30 continuous days on active duty and discharged due to service-connected disability 100% At least 30 months, but less than 36 months90% At least 24 months, but less than 30 months80% At least 18 months, but less than 24 months70% At least 12 months, but less than 18 months60% At least 06 months, but less than 12 months50% At least 90 days, but less than 06 months40%

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition & Fees – Public Schools Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage of: – Net in-state tuition & fees charge Must subtract all tuition- restricted, non-Title IV assistance Out-of-state tuition NOT payable Tuition & Fees – Private/Foreign Schools Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage of the lesser of: – Net tuition & fees charged Must subtract all tuition- restricted, non-Title IV assistance – $17,500.00

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Fees are defined as mandatory charges (other than tuition, room & board) that are applied by the institution for pursuit of an approved degree program. Application Fee is NOT covered by the VA Special Study Abroad fees can only be paid if the study abroad experience is required for their degree program.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Monthly Housing Stipend – Equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents for the zip code of the school. – Cannot be active duty or enrolled half-time or less. – If a student is enrolled in all on-line courses they are eligible for ½ of the national average amount.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Monthly Housing Stipend (Cont’d) – Effective 08/01/2011 housing stipend is pro- rated based on enrollment level. – Rate determined by rate of pursuit rounded to nears multiple of 10. Books & Supplies Stipend – Students can receive up to $1,000 per year. – $41.67 per credit hour for up to 24 credit hours.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program – School may contract with the VA to pay all or part of unmet charges (above $17,500 for private schools, out- of-state charges for public schools.) – VA will match school’s contributions toward the unmet charges up to 50% – Issued on a first-come, first-served basis to those eligible. – Schools determine the number of slots available and may limit contribution amounts by education level.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program Eligibility – Must be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level – Must have unmet charges – Must maintain satisfactory progress – Sgt. Fry Scholarship Recipients are not eligible – Cannot be active duty or the spouse of active duty member

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill The Yellow Ribbon Program is always tied to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. After a student is no longer eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, they are no longer eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement – Ch. 33 allows active members of the armed forces to transfer benefits to a spouse or child. Spouses may use the benefits after member has served 6 years and receive the benefits according to the status of the service member Children may use the benefits after member has served 10 years and receive the benefits at the veteran rate.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement – Service Member must apply to their branch of service to transfer benefits to dependents. – After transfer is approved, the dependent then must apply for benefits through the VA. – Dependents receive the benefit at the same benefit tier the service member would receive.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Gunnery Sargeant John David Fry Scholarship – For children of active duty member of the Armed Forces who has died in the line of duty on or after 09/11/2001. – Entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. – Have 15 years from their 18 th birthday to use the benefit. – Cannot use benefits before their 18 th birthday or until they have completed high school. – Are NOT eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Other changes from PL , the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2011 – Break Pay is no longer payable under any GI Bill – Allows those eligible for Ch. 33, but using VR&E to choose the Post 9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance instead of the Ch. 31 subsistence allowance. – Allows student on active duty (or their spouses) to receive a books & supplies stipend.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Other Changes from PL , the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 – Active Duty & their spouses now subject to the applicable caps prorated by their benefit tier. – Expands eligibility to include “Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training…” This provision not payable till 10/01/2011, but retroactive to 08/01/2009.

Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI B Other Changes from PL , the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 – Effective 10/01/2011, expands benefits to cover Non- College degree programs, OJT/Apprenticeship, Flight Programs and Correspondence training. – Effective 10/02/2011, Monthly Housing Stipend now payable to those enrolled solely in distance learning. The full-time rate for an individual eligible at 100% is $ for school year. (One-half national average BAH.)

Institutional Procedures STUDENT MUST INFORM US THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GI BILL BENEFITS – The VA does not inform us of those who have applied for benefits. Requirements are more strictly enforced for Post 9/11 GI Bill than for other Chapters. Highly recommend SCO sets up online VA – “Right Now Web” account.

SLU Procedures - General Student must provide documentation of GI Bill Eligibility – DD-214 / NOBE – Application for Benefits – Certificate of Prior Eligibility or prior Award Letter Students cannot be certified until they have actually registered for classes (VA does allow certifying for entire year)

SLU Procedure - General School Certifying Official (SCO) Verifies Student’s Enrollment SCO Runs Degree Audit to verify all courses apply to degree program SCO Certifies Enrollment to the VA SCO must notify VA of any changes in enrollment within 30 days of the change.

SLU Procedures – Voc. Rehab. After SCO certifies enrollment to the VA, Student Accounts & the bookstore are notified of student’s eligibility for Voc. Rehab. Student Accounts invoices the VA for the tuition & fees charged and applies Third Party Payment to the student’s account. No Refunds are issued until payment is received from the VA.

SLU Procedures – Post 9/11 Enrollment is submitted to VA initially with $0 Tuition & Fees reported. SCO must verify net tuition & fees charged and after add/drop period reports these to the VA. SCO calculates the payments expected from the VA and, if necessary, the Yellow Ribbon Program amount SCO sends notification to Student Accounts of expected VA payments.

SLU Procedures – Post 9/11 Student Accounts applies amounts as Third Party Payments to the student’s account. Refunds are not made to the student until the VA pays the funds – This may result in apparent balance on the student’s account. Only tuition & fees are paid to the school. The monthly housing stipend and the books & supplies stipend are issued directly to the student.

SLU Procedures – Yellow Ribbon Yellow Ribbon is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. – Those eligible are required to complete an online application that is available for a set period of time before each semester begins. – Student must be accepted before they will be considered – Student must show proof of eligibility before Yellow Ribbon will be awarded.

SLU Procedures – Yellow Ribbon SLU has contracted to fund a maximum of 50 students during any given year. Currently this total number is available to any student, at any level, from any school except the Medical School SLU Currently pays 50% of remaining charges up to a maximum of $10,000. Contract is renewed each year so this could change in the future.

Wrap - Up Remember payments made to students are paid in arrears (with the exception of the Books & Supplies Stipend.) Tuition Assistance & GI Bill are two very different things and are administered very differently. Only the VA can tell a student if they are eligible for the GI Bill. GI Bill Website:

Questions? Jennifer Matteson Saint Louis University (314)