160 likes | 368 Views
VA Benefits From VONAPP to Shopping Sheet. Guiding Our Veteran Students Through Their Education Benefits and Financial Aid Options. Melody DeFlorio Associate Director, CGCS Student Financial Planning, Norwich University
E N D
VA Benefits From VONAPP to Shopping Sheet Guiding Our Veteran Students Through Their Education Benefits and Financial Aid Options
Melody DeFlorio Associate Director, CGCS Student Financial Planning, Norwich University Melissa Chinea, Education Liaison Representative, Atlanta Regional Processing Office/San Juan Outreach Office MAJ Joyce Rivers, Veterans Affairs Liaison, Norwich University Meet Our Panelists
VA Education Benefits Available • Application Process • Using Financial Aid with VA Benefits • Q&A Agenda
What Benefits Are Available? • The Post 9-11 GI Bill • Montgomery GI Bill • REAP • VEAP • DEA • TA ‘Top-Up’ Current payment/rate tables an be viewed at: www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL
Which Benefit is Best? • Determine eligibility – student may be eligible for multiple benefits • Chapter 1606 MGIB-SR smallest • Chapter 30 pays directly to student • Chapter 33 pays directly to school except for BAH • Check timing and expirations • Stretching benefits the farthest • Work with school VA officials to weigh pros and cons of each Current payment/rate tables an be viewed at: www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL
What will students need? • Create an account with VONAPP • Latest DD214 or DD214 for each period of active duty • DD2384-1 (NOBE) • SSN • Bank routing/Direct deposit accounts • Send documentation to VA Regional Processing Office • Application approval process can be long – plan ahead
VA Benefit Application Process Student completes Veterans On- Line Application (VONAPP) Eligibility is determined and a certificate of eligibility (COE) is sent to the student The student sends a copy of the COE to the school’s certifying official Certifying official confirms student’s enrollment status and reports through the VAONCE system Financial aid office confirms eligibility and determines student’s final award package with the benefits included
Transferring Military Benefits Portal • Allows beneficiaries to review education benefits • Has useful Q&A including information on how to transfer benefits • Log in using CAC Card, DFAS MyPay PIN, or DS Log-on credentials www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect
Putting It All Together Combining VA Benefits with Federal Aid
MYTHS “I won’t qualify for financial aid because of my benefits” “I make too much money to qualify for financial aid” “I am too old” “I have poor credit and won’t qualify” “We can’t afford private school” “State schools and community colleges are too large; I will get lost in the shuffle”
FACTS • Students benefits are not ‘counted against’ them when determining their or their dependent’s eligibility • The VA is considered the ‘last payer’; the VA will pay for tuition/fee charges only after all applicable aid has been applied • Basic Allowance for Housing is the only part of the benefit that is removed from the cost of attendance when calculating eligibility – this is different from the Post 9/11 Monthly Housing Allowance • Individuals enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance of 50% of the national average
Example: Joe Sergeant– Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student Tuition Room & Board Fees Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $1,000 $2,000 $1,200 $1,000 Tuition Scholarship Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 80% $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 $? $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 $11,200 Total: $47,000 Total: $34,900 VA says it will give Joe 80% of cost of national average (up to $17,500) after his scholarship has been applied: $14,000 x $80% = $11,200 $30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000
Takeaways • Check state resources • Research benefit options • Apply early • Do the FAFSA • VA is the last payer – what you see is not always what you get • Lots of resources available
Resources Find Regional Offices: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/regional_processing Norwich VA Office P: 802-485-2754 vaoffice@norwich.edu Norwich Student Financial Planning P: 802-485-2019 mdeflori@norwich.edu