Justin Greiner Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

 Changes from SB639  Eligibility Requirements  Default Loan Verification Procedure  New Applications  Supporting Documentation  How to View Database Information  Where to Obtain Program Information 2

 Veterans are required to “reside” in Texas during the time for which the exemption is claimed; *applies to new recipients beginning fall 2011;  Applicants to submit the application and supporting documentation to the school no later than one year after the earlier of the date the school: ◦ provides written notice to the applicant of his/her eligibility, or ◦ receives written notice from the applicant that acknowledges the applicant’s awareness of his/her eligibility;  A veteran’s spouse or child’s guardian, conservator, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker can re-assign unused hours to an eligible child through Legacy on behalf of a veteran who died prior to requesting the transfer of hours; 3

 Clarifies that an eligible child must be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of classes. The eligible child may be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year. Applies to both regular Hazlewood and Legacy (unless granted an extension due to an illness or debilitating condition).  “Grandfathers” recipients who received the exemption prior to fall 2011 from the requirements that the veteran must reside in Texas, and children must be under the age of 26,  Adds new provisions and moves the Combat Exemption from Hazlewood to its own statutory section, ◦ NOTE: There is no funding for FY2012 or FY2013 to reimburse institutions for the Combat Exemption. Institutions may choose to continue to grant this exemption, but it is at the institutions’ expense. 4

 Veterans who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces: ◦ Were Texas residents, ◦ Designated Texas as Home of Record, or ◦ Entered the service in Texas.  Have served at least 181 days of active military duty, as indicated as "net active service" (the sum of 12(c) and 12(d)) on the DD214).  Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  Are not in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas.  Physically reside in Texas *applies to new recipients beginning fall 2011  Current spouse or children/dependents of veterans who, at the time of entry: ◦ Were Texas residents, ◦ Designated Texas as Home of Record, or ◦ Entered the service in Texas.  Have parent or is the current spouse of a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who: ◦ Died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, or ◦ Are missing in action, or ◦ Became 100% disabled for purposes of employability as a result of service-related injury or illness.  Children must be 25 or younger on the 1 st day of the semester *applies to new recipients beginning fall Eligibility for Children and Spouse Eligibility for Veterans

Who:  (Children and spouse only) Are classified as residents of Texas during the term or semester in which they enroll.  Have federal veterans education under CH33 Post 9/11 GI Bill or CH31 Vocational Rehabilitation that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits. (Other federal veterans education benefits that can be used for purposes other than tuition and fees are not relevant).  Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support or formula funding, unless the college's governing board has ruled to let veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses.  Applicants are required to submit the application and supporting documentation to the school no later than one year after the earlier of the date the school: ◦ Provides written notice to the applicant of his/her eligibility, or ◦ Receives written notice from the applicant that acknowledges the applicant’s awareness of his/her eligibility. 6

Eligible veterans may assign unused hours of exemption to an eligible child under certain conditions. To be eligible, the child must:  Be classified as a Texas resident,  Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year,  Be 25 years or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition), and  Make satisfactory academic progress in a degree, certificate, or continuing education program as determined by the institution. A veteran’s spouse or child’s guardian, conservator, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker may re-assign unused hours to an eligible child on behalf of a veteran who died prior to requesting the transfer. * Veterans’ spouses are not eligible to receive a transfer of the veteran’s unused hours. 7

 Veteran may revoke assigned hours at any time.  If Child #1 does not use all available hours, veteran may cancel the assignment to that child and “re-assign” remaining hours to another child. Only one child can be assigned unused hours at a time.  Hours may be transferred to a child who is not yet ‘college-age’.  Once hours have been transferred, veteran loses access to Hazlewood for his/her education (unless assignment of hours is “revoked”).  Veteran may transfer up to 150 hours even if the veteran is eligible to receive CH33 or CH31 benefits. 8

 Hazlewood Exemption rule states that for each term or semester of an academic year in which the veteran, spouse, or child receives a Hazlewood Exemption, the institution shall confirm that the veteran, spouse, or child is not in default on an education loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas.  Applicants who have a loan with THECB; ◦ Applicants who have outstanding state student loans (CAL, HELP, Stafford, BOT) should logon to to register and print their loan status page and submit to the institution.  Applicants who do not have a loan with THECB; ◦ Institution may submit a secure with an attachment listing the students that need to be verified. The students’ data will be bounced against our loan files to confirm whether a loan does or does not exist in the system, and if so, the current status. Each record submitted will return a response that will say “No Loan On File”, “Loan In Good Standing”, or “Defaulted Loan”. To obtain access to a secure , please to request to be 9

 HE-V for veterans ◦ Veterans using the exemption or establishing benefits for a child or spouse must complete this form. The HE-V should be used for returning veterans.  HE-D for dependents ◦ Eligible children and the spouse of an eligible veteran who have never used the exemption must complete both the HE-V and the HE-D. The HE-D should be used for returning children or spouse of the veteran.  Applications can be downloaded online at:

 Appropriate Hazlewood application;  Plus: ◦ DD214 or revised DD215 for the veteran; ◦ DD1300 for surviving dependent of deceased veterans; ◦ Rating Decision Letter for the dependent of a qualified disabled vet; ◦ Federal education benefits letter (CH33, CH31);  This letter is required for all veterans who served on active duty after 9/11/2001. ◦ Death certificate for the qualifying veteran if hours are being transferred though Legacy on the deceased veteran’s behalf; ◦ Tax return, birth certificate, marriage certificate, legal guardianship, adoption papers, etc. to show relationship to qualifying veteran. 11

 DD214 documentation is available through the Military National Archives. This request can be faxed to their office: NPRC Fax Number : NPRC Mailing Address: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO  To obtain a copy of the federal education benefits letter, a veteran can: call , or visit 12

 Students: (link on the Hazlewood page at College For All Texans website): ◦  Schools: ◦ ◦ To obtain a password contact Justin Greiner at ext. 3 13

Web: Phone:Inside Austin Outside Austin