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GI Bill Basic Training. What Every Financial Aid Professional Ought To Know . Introduction. Overview of the different GI Bill programs More in depth discussion of the Post 9/11 GI Bill – including changes made by the Post 9/11 GI Bill Improvement Act of 2010
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GI Bill Basic Training What Every Financial Aid Professional Ought To Know
Introduction • Overview of the different GI Bill programs • More in depth discussion of the Post 9/11 GI Bill – including changes made by the Post 9/11 GI Bill Improvement Act of 2010 • Discussion of possible institutional procedures • Questions
Overview • Only Ch 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) and Ch. 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) pays directly to the school. All others pay a stipend directly to the student. • Can only use one benefit at a time. • Maximum of 48 months of benefits under all programs combined. • ONLY VA can make determination of benefit eligibility
Ch. 30 – Montgomery GI Bill Entitlement 36 months Delimiting Date 10 years from last date of discharge from Active Duty • Eligibility • Served at least 2 years on Active Duty • Paid $1,200 Contribution • Honorably Discharged
Ch. 30 – Montgomery GI Bill • Payment Rates (effective 10/01/2011) • Less than 3 years of service: • Full Time - $1,196.00 • ¾ Time - $897.00 • ½ Time - $598.00 • 3 years or more service: • Full Time - $1,473.00 • ¾ Time - $1,104.75 • ½ Time - $736.50
Ch. 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve • Eligibility • Enlist in the Selected Reserve for at least 6 years. • Completed Initial Active Duty Training • Currently actively drilling with a Reserve Unit and in good standing. • Entitlement • 36 months • Delimiting Date • Only eligible while actively drilling.
Ch. 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve • Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011) • Full Time - $345.00 • ¾ Time - $258.00 • ½ Time - $171.00 • Less than ½ time - $86.25
Ch. 1607 – Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) • Eligibility • Member of Reserves called to active duty after 09/11/2001 under Title 10 and served at least 90 consecutive days • Must return from active duty and complete their contract in the Selected Reserves • Entitlement • 36 months • Delimiting Date • Not fixed – must return to reserve component from which they were called to active duty
Ch. 1607 – Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) • Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011)
Ch. 35 – Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) • Eligibility • Parent or Spouse must have a permanent & total, service-connected disability, have died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty. • Entitlement • 45 Months • Delimiting Date • Children – generally 10 years from the effective date of rating or date of notification • Spouses – 20 years from effective date of rating.
Ch. 35 – Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) • Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011) • Full Time - $936.00 • ¾ Time - $702.00 • ½ Time - $466.00
Ch. 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment • Eligibility • Must have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% which causes a demonstrable employment handicap • Must have approval of their Rehab Counselor to pursue study at an IHL • Any discharge other than Dishonorable • Entitlement • 48 months • Delimiting Date • Up to 12 years from last separation or date service connection of disability is determined.
Ch. 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment • School must receive notification of eligibility directly from the Voc. Rehab Counselor. • Indicates approved courses of study and effective dates. • VA Pays full tuition & fees directly to the school • VA pays for books & supplies required for training • Student also receives subsistence allowance while enrolled.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Some significant differences between Post 9/11 GI Bill and other GI Bill Programs • For the first time since the 1st GI Bill the VA pays tuition & fees directly to the schools • Allows for active duty members of the military to transfer their benefits to dependents • Payments to/for veterans vary depending on the location of the college they are attending • Allows for a tiered benefit based on length of service.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Eligibility • Must have served at least cumulative 90 days of active duty after 09/10/2001; or • Must have served at least 30 consecutive days of active duty after 09/10/2001 and been discharged due to a service-connected disability • Must have been honorably discharged.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Entitlement • 36 months • If veteran transfers from Ch. 30 they only have the number of months remaining for their Ch. 30 benefits. • Delimiting Date • 15 years from the dates of last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 days.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Benefit Tiers
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition & Fees – Public Schools Tuition & Fees – Private/Foreign Schools Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage of the lesser of: Net tuition & fees charged Must subtract all tuition-restricted, non-Title IV assistance $17,500.00 • Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage of: • Net in-state tuition & fees charge • Must subtract all tuition-restricted, non-Title IV assistance • Out-of-state tuition NOT payable
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Fees are defined as mandatory charges (other than tuition, room & board) that are applied by the institution for pursuit of an approved degree program. • Application Fee is NOT covered by the VA • Special Study Abroad fees can only be paid if the study abroad experience is required for their degree program.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Monthly Housing Stipend • Equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents for the zip code of the school. • Cannot be active duty or enrolled half-time or less. • If a student is enrolled in all on-line courses they are eligible for ½ of the national average amount.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Monthly Housing Stipend (Cont’d) • Effective 08/01/2011 housing stipend is pro-rated based on enrollment level. • Rate determined by rate of pursuit rounded to nears multiple of 10. • Books & Supplies Stipend • Students can receive up to $1,000 per year. • $41.67 per credit hour for up to 24 credit hours.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Yellow Ribbon Program • School may contract with the VA to pay all or part of unmet charges (above $17,500 for private schools, out-of-state charges for public schools.) • VA will match school’s contributions toward the unmet charges up to 50% • Issued on a first-come, first-served basis to those eligible. • Schools determine the number of slots available and may limit contribution amounts by education level.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Yellow Ribbon Program Eligibility • Must be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level • Must have unmet charges • Must maintain satisfactory progress • Sgt. Fry Scholarship Recipients are not eligible • Cannot be active duty or the spouse of active duty member
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • The Yellow Ribbon Program is always tied to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. After a student is no longer eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, they are no longer eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Transfer of Entitlement • Ch. 33 allows active members of the armed forces to transfer benefits to a spouse or child. • Spouses may use the benefits after member has served 6 years and receive the benefits according to the status of the service member • Children may use the benefits after member has served 10 years and receive the benefits at the veteran rate.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Transfer of Entitlement • Service Member must apply to their branch of service to transfer benefits to dependents. • After transfer is approved, the dependent then must apply for benefits through the VA. • Dependents receive the benefit at the same benefit tier the service member would receive.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Gunnery Sargeant John David Fry Scholarship • For children of active duty member of the Armed Forces who has died in the line of duty on or after 09/11/2001. • Entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. • Have 15 years from their 18th birthday to use the benefit. • Cannot use benefits before their 18th birthday or until they have completed high school. • Are NOT eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Other changes from PL 111-377, the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2011 • Break Pay is no longer payable under any GI Bill • Allows those eligible for Ch. 33, but using VR&E to choose the Post 9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance instead of the Ch. 31 subsistence allowance. • Allows student on active duty (or their spouses) to receive a books & supplies stipend.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill • Other Changes from PL 111-377, the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 • Active Duty & their spouses now subject to the applicable caps prorated by their benefit tier. • Expands eligibility to include “Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training…” • This provision not payable till 10/01/2011, but retroactive to 08/01/2009.
Ch. 33 – Post 9/11 GI B • Other Changes from PL 111-377, the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 • Effective 10/01/2011, expands benefits to cover Non-College degree programs, OJT/Apprenticeship, Flight Programs and Correspondence training. • Effective 10/02/2011, Monthly Housing Stipend now payable to those enrolled solely in distance learning. • The full-time rate for an individual eligible at 100% is $673.50 for 2011-12 school year. (One-half national average BAH.)
Institutional Procedures • STUDENT MUST INFORM US THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GI BILL BENEFITS – The VA does not inform us of those who have applied for benefits. • Requirements are more strictly enforced for Post 9/11 GI Bill than for other Chapters. • Highly recommend SCO sets up online VA – “Right Now Web” account.
SLU Procedures - General • Student must provide documentation of GI Bill Eligibility • DD-214 / NOBE • Application for Benefits • Certificate of Prior Eligibility or prior Award Letter • Students cannot be certified until they have actually registered for classes (VA does allow certifying for entire year)
SLU Procedure - General • School Certifying Official (SCO) Verifies Student’s Enrollment • SCO Runs Degree Audit to verify all courses apply to degree program • SCO Certifies Enrollment to the VA • SCO must notify VA of any changes in enrollment within 30 days of the change.
SLU Procedures – Voc. Rehab. • After SCO certifies enrollment to the VA, Student Accounts & the bookstore are notified of student’s eligibility for Voc. Rehab. • Student Accounts invoices the VA for the tuition & fees charged and applies Third Party Payment to the student’s account. • No Refunds are issued until payment is received from the VA.
SLU Procedures – Post 9/11 • Enrollment is submitted to VA initially with $0 Tuition & Fees reported. • SCO must verify net tuition & fees charged and after add/drop period reports these to the VA. • SCO calculates the payments expected from the VA and, if necessary, the Yellow Ribbon Program amount • SCO sends notification to Student Accounts of expected VA payments.
SLU Procedures – Post 9/11 • Student Accounts applies amounts as Third Party Payments to the student’s account. • Refunds are not made to the student until the VA pays the funds – This may result in apparent balance on the student’s account. • Only tuition & fees are paid to the school. The monthly housing stipend and the books & supplies stipend are issued directly to the student.
SLU Procedures – Yellow Ribbon • Yellow Ribbon is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. • Those eligible are required to complete an online application that is available for a set period of time before each semester begins. • Student must be accepted before they will be considered • Student must show proof of eligibility before Yellow Ribbon will be awarded.
SLU Procedures – Yellow Ribbon • SLU has contracted to fund a maximum of 50 students during any given year. • Currently this total number is available to any student, at any level, from any school except the Medical School • SLU Currently pays 50% of remaining charges up to a maximum of $10,000. • Contract is renewed each year so this could change in the future.
Wrap - Up • Remember payments made to students are paid in arrears (with the exception of the Books & Supplies Stipend.) • Tuition Assistance & GI Bill are two very different things and are administered very differently. • Only the VA can tell a student if they are eligible for the GI Bill. • GI Bill Website: www.gibill.va.gov
Questions? Jennifer Matteson Saint Louis University (314) 977-2259 jmattes2@slu.edu