Post 9/11 GI Bill Charles Rowe Bureau Chief State Approving Agency Post 9/11 GI Bill November 2015

Post 9/11 GI Bill Basic Eligibility Signed into law June 30, 2008 Effective August 1, 2009 Benefit level tied to length of service Full 36 months for 3 years service Prorated benefits for 90 days to 36 months Programs other than college level excluded

Post 9/11 GI Bill Highest in state undergraduate tuition and fees Monthly housing allowance (zip code of school) Annual book & supplies stipend ($41.67 per credit hour) Tuition and fee payments made to institutions Monthly housing allowance depends on credits attempted (must be enrolled at more than 51% example: “rate of pursuit” is determined by dividing number of credit hours by number of credit hours that is considered full time e.g., 7 credits divided by 12 credits = 58%) Distance education programs

Post 9/11 GI Bill Institutions report number of credits, tuition and fee charges VA will pay the tuition and fee charges at the billed rate VA used New Jersey $ rate, if tuition exceeds in state maximum (out of state, graduate and privates) If Yellow Ribbon agreement signed:

Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program Tuition and fees above in state maximum Institutions may enter into annual agreement with Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Only for those entitled to the full 36 months DVA matches the amount waived up to 50% NEW Schools only submit changes from previous MOU

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program Example 1 Full time student: Big State University charges a flat tuition rate of $20,000 per semester. A student is taking 18 credit hours. The highest in state tuition rate is $ per credit hour. $ X 18 credits is $8,436. This is the tuition payment made by DVA to College

Yellow Ribbon-Example $20,000 minus the sum paid to college ($8,436) =$11,564 is the unmet remainder eligible for yellow ribbon. If the college agrees to the 50% level of matching funds, then $5,782 is the colleges’ share and the VA share is the same $5,782.

Yellow Ribbon-Example Example 2 Part time student: A part time student at Small State University is taking 8 credits per semester. The tuition rate is $700 per credit hour. $700 X 8 is $5,600. $ X 8 credits is $3,749. The difference is $1,851 in unmet charges. If the college has agreed to the 50% level then their share of the Yellow Ribbon Program is $925 and the VA the same $925.

Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement Secretary of Defense authorizes transfers of entitlement Completed 6 years of active duty and agrees to serve at least 4 more years Eligible dependents: spouse, one or more of the individual’s children or a combination May transfer entitlement only while serving as a member of armed forces when transfer is executed

Post 9/11 GI Bill $48.7 billion paid in benefits to 1.3 million veterans and other eligible persons since % increase since inception of Post 9/11 GI Bill in 2009

Post 9/11 GI Bill Legislative Changes PL Signed into law January 4, 2011 Pays all in-state public school costs Actual net cost paid after application of waivers, scholarships, aid (except Pell), or assistance other than loans Cap of $21,084 (FY15-16) applies to private schools and non-residents Yellow Ribbon still applies above the cap Prorates housing allowance to training time. If rate of pursuit is.54 will receive 50% of BAH

Post 9/11 GI Bill Legislative Changes PL Pays housing for distance education programs Half the National average $783 multiplied by rate of pursuit and rounded to nearest multiple of 10 Expands benefits to Non-college degree programs, On the job and apprenticeship training, correspondence, and Flight Interval pay or break pay ended

Post 9/11 GI Bill Legislative Changes PL Multiple licensing and certification tests allowed and including SAT, GRE, LSAT etc. National guard qualifying service under Title 32 not only Title 10

Tuition and Fee Payments VA makes one Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit for Tuition and Fees and one for the Yellow Ribbon Program, if applicable, directly into school financial account for each student Payments made after receipt of enrollment certifications from schools’ certifying official NEW Enrollment in ACH or to change information-Contact ELR authorized by CELO only VA provides monthly Vet Rep List

Tuition and Fee Payments Direct deposit payments includes addenda field with student identifying information VA file number (social security), student name and term dates for payment Schools should request addenda from Financial Institutions Institutions are required by the National Automated Clearing House Association to release the addenda information if requested

Refund of Tuition and Fees Schools return Tuition and fee payments if: Student does not attend Student dies during school year VA sends duplicate tuition & fee payments Refunds due to changes in enrollment by student are reported to VA by certifying official (Wait to hear from VA after reporting) Refund to student after term has started using school refund policy VA issued clarification December 18, 2012 regarding debt collection, disputes or

Waivers of Tuition NJ P.L “Any member of the NJ National Guard shall be permitted to attend regularly scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free…”

PL Section 702 Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 Requires VA to disapprove programs of education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill  and Montgomery GI Bill  – Active Duty at public institutions of higher learning if the school charges qualifying Veterans and dependents tuition and fees in excess of the rate for resident students for terms beginning after July 1, 2015

PL Section 702 Governor Christie sign Assembly Bill 3967 “New Jersey Tuition Equality for America’s Military Act” on March 23, 2015 to comply with Federal Law Details regarding enforcement not published yet