0. VA Education Benefits
August 2016

1. VA Education Benefits
Benefits Basics

2. VA Education Benefit Programs
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)/Transfer of Entitlement/ John D. Fry Scholarship
MGIB-Active Duty (Chapter 30)
MGIB-Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Reserve Education Assistance Program (Chapter 1607/REAP) Program was sunset 11/25/15
Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35/DEA)
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Chapter 31/VR&E)

3. VA Education Benefit Programs

4. Common Ground
Eligibility is based, for the most part, on length and type of service and an honorable discharge
Those who entered on duty after August 1, 2011 can’t use the same period of service duty to establish eligibility for more than one benefit
Limited to 48 months of entitlement under any combination of VA Education programs*
Programs of study at schools and training establishments must be approved for VA benefits
These approvals are done by State Approving Agencies (SAA) and concurred with by VA ELRs
*In rare circumstances, ch31 users can exceed 48 months of entitlement based on the nature of their service connected disabilties

5. Education Benefits can be used for:
College courses leading to a degree
Business/technical/vocational courses leading to a certificate or diploma
Tests for a license or certification or National Exams
Apprenticeship or OJT training
Foreign schools (degree program only)
Correspondence courses
Entrepreneurship courses
Flight (need private pilot license first)
Tutorial Assistance (if needed)
Augmenting DoD Tuition Assistance

6. FY 2011 – FY 2015 Trainees/Dollars Paid
Benefit
Education Programs
FY 11 Trainees
Dollars Paid
FY 12 Trainees Dollars Paid
FY 13 Trainees
FY 14 Trainees
FY 15 Trainees
Chapter 30
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)-AD
185,220 / $1.4B
118,549 / $932M
99,755 / $775M
77,389 / $512M
61,403 / $442.2M
Chapter 32
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
112 / $1.3M
76 / $682K
29 / $496K
8 / $359K
4 / $35K
*Chapter 33
Post-9/11 GI Bill
555,329 / $7.7B
646,302 / $8.5B
754,229 / $10.2B
790,408 / $10.8B
790,507 / $11.2B
Chapter 35
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
90,657 / $463M
87,707 / $455M
89,160 / $483M
90,789 / $514M
91,755 / $493.2M
Chapter 1606
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
65,216 / $201M
60,393 / $157M
62,656 / $156M
63,745/ $150M
63,030 / $141.1M
Chapter 1607
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
27,302 / $95M
19,774 / $77M
17, 297 / $70M
13,784/ $56M
9,965 / $40.5M
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
N/A
12,251 / $6.1M
67,918 / $428M
52,288 / $413M
Total
923,836 / $9.8B
945,052 / $10.1B
1,091,044 / $12.1B
1,088,411 / $12.4B
1,016,664 / $12.3B
Note: Dollars may not add due to rounding
As of July 7, 2016, VA issued $65 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments to 1,597,874 individuals since program inception (August 2009). 3

7. VA Education Benefits
Entitlement Basics

8. Chapter 33 Entitlement
In general, individuals remain eligible for Ch33 benefits for 15 years from last date of discharge of at least 90 continuous days (30 days if disability). Service members maintain open-ended eligibility while on duty.
Veterans receive a maximum of 36 months of benefits under CH33, which may extend to the end of a term when exhausted within that term.
Entitlement limited to no more than 48 months of combined benefits under educational assistance programs administered by VA.
NOTE: Individuals transferring to the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) will be limited to the amount of remaining Chapter 30 entitlement, unless none remains.

9. Ch33 Election Issues
Individuals also eligible for Ch30 or Ch1606 benefits for the same period of qualifying active duty may be required to make an irrevocable election to receive Ch33 benefits.
Those who entered on duty after August 1, 2011 can’t use the same period of service duty to establish eligibility for more than one benefit.
Public Law No (Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016,) allows VA to make an alternative election. In the case of an individual who, on or after January 1, 2017, submits an election that is determined clearly against the interests of the individual, or who fails to make an election under this section, the Secretary may make an alternative election on behalf of the individual that the Secretary determines is in the best interests of the individual.
Students also eligible for Chapter 31 are not required to make an irrevocable election, however they can only use one benefit per term. Once payment for one benefit has been received, that term can’t be changed.

10. How Entitlement is Charged at IHLs
Full-time: Generally 12 or more undergraduate credits per standard
term (commonly 4 3 credits each )
Term Dates:
Fall /25 thru 12/13 = 3 mos. 19 days
Interval /14 thru 01/25 = 1 mos. 10 days
Spring 01/26 thru 05/16 = 3 mos. 21 days
Full-time training entitlement charge = 7 mos. 10 days
(Interval pay ceased effective 7/31/2011)
Note: Standard Semester is weeks, Standard Quarter is weeks.
Entitlement charge based on 30 day months, regardless of actual days in month.

11. Transfer of Entitlement (TOE)
VA Education Benefits
Transfer of Entitlement (TOE)
Fry Scholarship

12. Transfer of Entitlement
DoD determines if an individual can transfer entitlement to one or more dependents
Dependents eligible to receive entitlement include spouses and natural, adopted, or step-children.
Transferees use entitlement in the same manner as the veteran. Changes to transferred entitlement can be made at any time by the veteran.
Eligibility percentage levels may change with additional active duty service.
Dependents file VAF E to receive benefits.
Note: The fact that DoD permitted a transfer of entitlement to occur does not guarantee Chapter 33 benefits can be paid.

13. Transfer of Entitlement
SPOUSES
Spouses receive benefits in the same manner as the transferor (can’t receive housing payments if transferor is on active duty)
Period of eligibility is the same as the veteran; 15 years from latest release from active duty
Transferred MGIB entitlement cannot be treated as marital property, is not subject to division in divorce or civil proceeding
CHILDREN
Child must have completed high school (or the equivalent) or reached 18 years of age. Child always receives benefits like a veteran.
Entitlement not subject to the veteran’s 15 year delimiting date, but may not be used after reaching age 26.

14. John D. Fry Scholarship
Eligibility for children and spouses of an active duty member killed in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
Spouses initially not included, but became eligible as of January 1, PL extends the period of eligibility for some spouses through Dec. 31, 2021.
Will receive tuition & fees payments, monthly housing allowance and the books & supplies stipend at the 100% rate. (No Yellow Ribbon)
All dependents receive 36 months of entitlement (not divided up from veteran’s entitlement like TOE)
Will also be eligible for Ch35 benefits, must elect one of the two
Dependents must file VA Form to receive benefits.

15. Enrollment Reporting Concerns
VA Education Benefits
Enrollment Reporting Concerns

16. “Zero Tuition”
If net tuition and fees are unknown, you may wish to submit the term dates and actual credit hours, but report $0.00 as charges
This allows the student to receive timely housing and books & supplies stipend payments while the school can avoid debt due to amended charges
Permits fin aid to be resolved prior to reporting charges to VA
No correlation to school’s refund policy re drop/add period
MUST submit an amended cert, effective the First Day of the Term to ensure accurate payment when net T&Fs are reported! (Don’t include T&Fs along with an adjustment made after the first day of the term.)

17. 85% - 15% Ratio SCO must monitor enrollment numbers of veterans
Verification of the 85% enrollment limitation must be performed
Schools must provide documents verifying that the provisions of the 85 – 15 % ratio are met for each approved course (generally, this is a statement of total school/campus enrollment v. VA student enrollment) (38 CFR § )
GUIDANCE
Monitor enrollment
Waiver of reporting requirements for schools with fewer than 35% VA students

18. Post - 9/11 GI Bill Payments
VA Education Benefits
Post - 9/11 GI Bill Payments

19. Ch33 Active Duty Requirements
The Post 9/11 GI Bill has eligibility tiers based length of qualifying active duty service after September 10, 2001.

20. Post-9/11 GI Bill Payments
Net Tuition and Fees Charged
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
Books and Supplies Stipend
Kickers (also known as College Fund)
Licensing and Certifications Tests, National Exams
Work Study
Tutorial Assistance
Refund of $1,200 MGIB Contribution
(All payments are subject to Eligibility Level Percentages.)

21. Tuition and Fees
Effective Aug. 1, 2011: Changed tuition & fees rates for those attending public schools; Created a national annual maximum rate for those enrolled in private or foreign schools *
Pays all public school net in-state tuition and fees;
Private and foreign school reimbursable costs are
capped annually (Aug. 1st to July 31st);
The Yellow Ribbon Program remains for out-of-state charges and costs that exceed the private school cap at participating schools.
* All T&F payments are subject to proration based on Eligibility Tier (i.e. 40% - 100%)

22. Net Charges
VA was initially considered ‘First Payer’ for Ch33 tuition & fees reporting purposes. Effective August 1, 2011, schools must report the net cost of tuition & fees after deducting:
Any waiver of, or reduction in Tuition and Fees; and
Any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer based aid that is provided directly to the school towards tuition and fees for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees”*
Title IV Funds (Pell Grants and Federal Loans) are excluded from net charge assessments.
* TAP and VTA benefits are tuition-specific, but NYS was granted a waiver, excluding those funds from consideration when the T&Fs are reported to VA

23. Eligibility Tier Max T&F Payable/Year
Tuition & Fees Cap
Eligibility Tier Max T&F Payable/Year
100% $22,805.34
90% $20,524.81
80% $18,244.27
70% $15,963.74
60% $13,683.20
50% $11,402.67
40% $ 9,122.14
In general, VA will pay the lesser of the net T&Fs or the individual’s annual cap rate for all Ch33 students

24. Yellow Ribbon Program
Only individuals entitled to the 100 percent benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding.
VA will match each additional dollar that an institution contributes toward an eligible student’s established charges, not to exceed 50% of unmet allowable charges above the annual cap at private schools or to cover out of state charges at public schools.
Funds used by the institution as Yellow Ribbon contributions become part of the veterans education benefit and cannot be included as estimated financial assistance (EFA).
The following are NOT eligible for Yellow Ribbon:
Active duty personnel and their spouses
Fry Scholarship recipients

25. VA Tuition and Fees Payments
With CH33, payment of benefits is made by a CCD+ Payment Format. This includes an 80 character addenda record where the student identifying information is passed.
National Automated Clearing House Association, (NACHA), General Operating Rules apply: Bank must provide receiver all payment related info contained within the addenda.
VA recommends those having difficulties retrieving the addend record contact a representative from the ACH department at your bank, as customer service may not have the information needed.

26. EFT Payment Details

27. Ch33 Vet Rep Listing
Ch33 Vet Rep Listing is automatically sent out weekly, details all Tuition & Fees Payments and Yellow Ribbon Payments made during the reporting period.
Non-Ch33 Vet Rep Listing is available monthly upon request, reflects students paid previous month by benefit & training time.
Contact your Education Liaison Representative (ELR) to request the Non-Ch33 Listing or to report receipt problems of either report.

28. Annual Reporting Fees
Active student data is collected each January for the previous calendar year, representative of all students in receipt of VA benefits during that period. Payment issued later that spring.
Sent by EFT (Mailed from Treasury to generic address of the school if no EFT.)
Sent with corresponding letter and student listing
$6.00 per standard enrollment certification of each student.
$12.00 per advance pay enrollment certification (advance pay not available for Chapter 33)
By law, funds must be used to support veteran certification and programs. Usage will be reviewed during compliance survey.

29. Chapter 33 Debt Vet Debt Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
Books and Supplies Stipend
Kickers (also known as College Fund)
Tuition and Fees Charged to Vet
School Debt
Tuition and Fees Charged to School

30. VA Education Benefits
VA-Once Tips

31. User Accounts Page
Designate persons, such as work-study students, to access VA-ONCE.
Add user: Click Add, then complete the new user info at bottom of screen. Login name must be at least 8 characters and serve as a way to identify the assistant.
‘Delete’ includes viewing, editing, & deleting certifications, (not records).
‘Edit’ includes viewing and editing student certs, (not recs).
By choosing ‘Neither’, the user will have read-only permission. You must click the Save button. This will generate the user’s password. The user can change this password. Be sure to delete the account when the user leaves school or is no longer assisting.
This page is used to designate individuals, such as work-study students, to access VA-ONCE. To add a user: Click Add and then complete the new user information at the bottom of the screen. The login name should be 8 characters in length and serve as a way to identify the assistant.
Delete includes viewing, editing, and deleting student certifications not records.
Edit includes viewing and editing student certifications not records.
By choosing Neither, the user will have read-only permission. Again you must click the Save button. This will generate the password for the user. The user will change this password the same way we did earlier. You should always delete the user account when the user leaves the college or is no longer assisting you.

32. Recent Changes

33. Public Law
Education Service is currently in the process of implementing 13 of the 15 sections of the law that affect Education benefits
Two sections have been fully implemented
Section 401: Clarification of eligibility for Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
Section 412: Modification of reductions in reporting fee multipliers for payments by VA to educational institutions
The remaining 13 sections in the law still are under review and at various stages of implementation. There are a variety of effective dates for the remaining provisions.

34. Public Law

35. Public Law 114-315 §3693. Compliance surveys
(a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct an annual compliance survey of educational institutions and training establishments offering one or more courses approved for the enrollment of eligible veterans or persons if at least 20 such veterans or persons are enrolled in any such course. The Secretary shall-
(A) design the compliance surveys to ensure that such institutions or establishments, as the case may be, and approved courses are in compliance with all applicable provisions of chapters 30 through 36 of this title;
(B) survey each such educational institution and training establishment not less than once during every 2-year period;

36. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
VA Education Benefits
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

37. VR&E (Chapter 31)
For veterans with service connected disabilities rated 20% or more (certain disabilities qualifying at 10%)
Usually 48 months of entitlement, can extend based on nature of disability
Voc Rehab Counselor works closely with veteran and a testing process determines eligibility
If eligible, veterans receives full tuition, fees, books, & approved supplies.
Veteran receives monthly subsistence or Ch33 housing if Ch33 eligible (no tiers - always 100% rate)
Ch31 uses separate payment and processing systems than used for other Education benefits.

38. VA Education Benefits
Work Study

39. VA Work-Study Work-Study Services may be utilized at:
Students are eligible if in receipt of VA education benefits and attending school at ¾ training time or greater during an enrollment period
Work-Study Services may be utilized at:
a) Educational Institutions
b) VA Regional Offices 
c) VA Medical Centers
d) Veteran Centers
e) State & local VA offices

40. VA Work-Study Eligible Students:
To apply, complete VA Form (Application for Work-Study Allowance)
application to
Or fax to
To Become an Approved Work Site:
Send your request for approval via or fax as indicated above

41. Contact Information
For Students:
Toll free: for Education Questions
Toll free: for other VA questions
Submit a Question via
For School VA Certifying Officials (only):
Local Education Liaison Representative (ELR)
Certification, regulatory requirements, VAONCE assistance
Hardship cases (i.e. certified student has no payment or communication from VA and has exhausted other contact resources)
  National Hotline for School Certifying Officials
General questions on student eligibility, claim status, payment status
Allow a passage of time before making an inquiry re: a 1999
Schools may establish account/make inquiry direct to the Buffalo RPO via “Submit A Question”.

42. Questions?