1. WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM
Peter Nastasi
Work Study Supervisor
Buffalo RPO
March 28, 2016

2. Presentation Overview
What is the VA Work-Study Program
Who can Participate in VA the Program
How does it benefit my school
How can my school get an approval to participate in the VA Work-Study Program
How are Work-Study students paid
How can I get additional information

3. What is the VA Work-Study Program?
Supplemental program to VA’s education benefits
An additional allowance paid to students for performing VA-related activities
May be that special increment that makes a program of education or training feasible

4. Who Can Participate?
Students must be receiving VA education benefits through Title 38 or Title 10 under one of the following education programs :
Ch30: Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB)
Ch31: Vocational Rehabilitation
Ch32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Ch35: Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
Ch1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve (SR)
Ch1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Ch33: Post-9/11 GI Bill, including Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) and Fry Scholarship recipients
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

5. Student Qualifications
Students must be in receipt of VA education benefits at a minimum of ¾ training time or more.
Students must work at a VA approved work site

6. Work Site Types VA Facilities (VBA, VHA, NCA) Educational Institutions
Department of Defense (DoD), Coast Guard or National Guard Facilities
Other state and local governments that service Veterans

7. How Does the Work-Study Program Benefit My School?
No cost to the school b/c VA pays the student
Students help with VA related activities
Students can assist other Veteran students
Potential to transition to full-time employment
Veterans helping Veterans

8. What Are Site Supervisor Responsibilities?
Provide direct supervision to WS Students
Provide appropriate training
Ensure only approved tasks are performed
Ensure only approved hours are worked and properly reported for payment
Read and understand the Work-Study Allowance Program Supervisor Handbook

9. What Duties Can and Cannot Be Performed?
Must perform work specifically listed in the site’s job description
100% of tasks must be VA and Veteran related
Must work solely at the specific work site listed on the Work-Study time record
Work-Study students CANNOT provide transportation or operate a motorized vehicle

10. *** Any Outreach MUST be on campus. ***
Job Duties…
Approved duties include:
Dissemination of general information regarding veteran benefits and/or services
Preparation, processing, maintaining and organizing veteran-related files
VA outreach in a cooperative supervisory effort with a VA employee who is controlling the work activities.
*** Any Outreach MUST be on campus. ***

11. Maximum Hours of Service
The maximum number of hours of Work-Study service that a student may perform during or between a period of enrollment is limited to 25 times the number of weeks in the applicable enrollment period excluding the period between the enrollments.

12. Maximum Hours of Service (continued)
Students are not limited to the number of hours they may work each day, but are limited by the number of hours approved on their contract
Students are not eligible to receive overtime compensation
Students are covered under Worker’s Compensation laws for the duration of their Work-Study contract, but are not considered employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs

13. Becoming a Work Site location
Complete a Position/Job Description and return it to the Work-Study department for review and approval
We also need to know the number of student you are requesting (send s to increase this number)
Once approved, VA will issue you a site approval letter and you may begin to recruit students
Send all information to

14. How do Students Apply for Work-Study benefits?
Students must complete VA Form , Application for Work-Study Allowance.
It is preferred that worksites submit this on the student behalf
Please ensure the entire form is completed .
This application MUST BE submitted each semester.
Please include a new student position description for new student only. This is not needed for returning students.
the completed application to:
Or fax the completed application to: (716)

15. What Happens After VA Receives the Application?
The application is reviewed for accuracy
If approved, a Work-Study Contract ( ) and a blank Time-Sheet ( ) is ed to the work site supervisor.
The contract will clearly state the time frame and number of approved hours for the student
The contract MUST BE signed by the student and returned to VA
If the application is NOT approved, a detailed denial letter is sent to the student. A courtesy may be sent to the site supervisor.

16. What is the Difference Between a Contract and an Extension?
A contract is an original agreement between the student and VA
An extension is a continuation of the original agreement. Original contracts can be extended multiple times. Students must still submit a application before VA can issue an extension.

17. How are Payments Made?
Students can be paid every 50 hours or every two weeks
Site supervisors review all time records for errors before sending
Site supervisors or fax Work-Study student’s time to VA
Time-Record is reviewed for accuracy by VA Work-Study
VA CANNOT make time record corrections
Time records are processed in order of receipt (2 Weeks)
Students are paid the higher of either the state or federal minimum wage rate. (Tax Free) (No at the end of the year W2)

18. VERY IMPORTANT!!
Work-Study students can only begin working after the contract or extension is approved by the VA
Agreements may not begin earlier than 30 days before term (might be able to work 30 days after)
Hours worked prior to approval, after a contract ends, or are in excess of the approved hours CANNOT be paid

19. More Information?
Refer to the Work-Study Allowance Program Site Supervisor Handbook
GI Bill website:
Contact the Buffalo RPO Work-Study Department Supervisor (Peter Nastasi)

20. How Do I Contact the Buffalo RPO Work-Study Department?
Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4 pm EST Phone: (716) Fax: (716) Mail: Work-Study Department Buffalo Regional Processing Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave Buffalo NY 14202

21. Thank You!
Questions?