A Guide to Post 9/11GI Bill
Educational Benefits
Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Illinois State Approving Agency
Thank you!
• Thank you for serving our nations’ veterans.
• The certifying officials are vital partners in this
process.
• Your activities support the successful
transition back into civilian life for these
individuals.
• If you have any questions, ask your State
Approving Agency and we will help you find
the answer.
Illinois State Approving
Agency (SAA)
The SAA approves the following types of programs:
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Colleges and Universities
Vocational Schools
Business Schools
Professional Schools
Vocational Flight Schools
High Schools
Apprenticeships
On-the-Job Training Programs
Entrepreneurship Courses
The SAA conducts “Outreach” by:
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Conducting Transition Assistance Briefings (TAP)
Through publications and printed materials
Presenting at Veterans’ meetings
Administration of a GI Bill Effectiveness Survey
GI Bill Benefits:
Entitlement
• Eligibility for any one Chapter of the GI Bill limited to
36 months.
• Eligibility for multiple Chapters of the GI Bill limited to
48 months total; maximum of 36 months from one
Chapter. (i.e. 36 months CH30 and 12 months CH
1607)
• 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.
• If the individual has exhausted Chapter 30 benefits
they may be eligible for 12 months of Post 9/11 GI
Bill.
Important Information About
the GI Bill
• The Main Component:
• Education and Training
• Time Considerations:
• Veterans Have 10 years after separation from service to
use their GI Bill Education Benefit under the Montgomery
GI Bill
• Veterans Have 15 years after separation from service to
use their GI Bill Education Benefit under the Post 9/11 GI
Bill
• GI Bill Benefits May Apply to:
• Veterans
• Eligible Dependents (CH 35 and CH33)
• National Guard and Reserve Members
GI Bill Benefits:
Approved Programs
• Education and Job Training Programs:
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Colleges and Universities
Vocational and Trade Schools
Flight Schools
Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training
Licensing and Certification tests
• Post 9/11 GI Bill: Only programs approved under
chapter 30 and offered at a College or University.
• If eligible under previous GI Bills, the student is
“grandfathered” into the above programs.
May not receive GI Bill
Benefits for:
• Courses that don’t lead to an educational,
professional, or vocational objective
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Bartending Courses
Non-accredited independent study classes
Self-improvement courses
Audited courses
• Courses already successfully completed
GI Bill Benefits Overview
“Old GI Bills”
• The Montgomery GI Bill, REAP (CH 1607) and Montgomery GI
Bill SR (CH 1606) are entitlement programs that directly pay
veterans a monthly benefit based on eligibility, rate of training,
and type of training.
• Base Amount of Monthly Benefit for University and College
Training (Full-time -12+ credits/term):
– Chapter 30: $1426
– Chapter 1606: $337
– Chapter 1607:
• 90 days but less than 1 year: $570.40 (40% CH 30)
• 1 year but less than but less than 2 years: $855.60(60% CH 30)
• 2 years or more: $1,140.80 (80% CH30)
• College Funds/Kickers/Enlistment Incentives added to Base
Amount
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Eligibility
Individuals who served on active duty after 09/10/01 will
be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if the individual:
• Served on active duty (Title 10 for Reserve/Guard)
for an aggregate period of at least 90 days.
• Served at least 30 continuous days on active duty
and received a disability discharge.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Eligibility
Service Requirements
(after 9/10/01 serve an aggregate of)
36 months
30 continuous days
% of Maximum
Benefit Payable
100
100
(Must be discharged with a disability)
30 months, but less than 36 months
90
24 months, but less than 30 months
80
18 months, but less than 24 months
70
12 months, but less than 18 months
60
06 months, but less than 12 months
50
90 days, but less than 06 months
40
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Eligibility Period
In general, individuals will remain eligible for benefits for
15 years from:
• Date of last discharge; or
• Release from active duty of at least 90 continuous
days.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Tuition and Fees Charged
• Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage
(based on aggregate active duty service) of the
lesser of—
 Tuition and fees charged; or
 Highest amount of tuition and fees charged for full-time,
undergraduate training at a public university or college in the
State the student is attending. (Determined by the State
Approving Agency)
Current Max Rates in Illinois: $629.75 for tuition per credit
hour/$16,367 fees (These figures are subject to change
each year.)
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Monthly Housing Allowance
• Equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for
an E-5 with dependents
– Amount determined by zip code of the IHL where the student is
enrolled.
– Prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefit
payable.
• Monthly Housing Allowance not paid in following
situations:
– Active duty
– Training at ½ time or less
– Training pursued exclusively via distance learning
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Book Stipend
• Up to $1,000 per year
– Prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefit
payable.
• Paid proportionally for each quarter, semester or term
attended.
• Active duty members are not eligible.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Transfer of Entitlement
• On or after August 1, 2009, DOD may allow an
individual to elect to transfer entitlement to one or
more dependents if he/she —
– Has served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces; and
– Agrees to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces.
– Spouses may use transferred benefits after 6 years of service;
dependent children after 10 years.
• DOD determines eligibility for transferability and may,
by regulation, impose additional eligibility
requirements and limit the number of months
transferable.
• If approved, the recipient becomes a “clone” of the
sponsor.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Transfer of Entitlement
• Application process for Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of
Entitlement (TOE):
1. The eligible person applies for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
This may be done either on-line (www.gibill.va.gov)
or by completing VA Form 22-1990.
2. The applicant applies through the Department of
Defense for authorization to make the transfer.
There is a web portal on the VA’s GI Bill website to
make this request.
3. If approved, the recipient applies for the Post 9/11
GI Bill either on-line or by completing VA Form 221990e.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Transfer of Entitlement
• Delimiting Date for Spouses
– 15 Year Delimiting Date for Veteran
– Earlier Date set by Veteran
– Revocation by Veteran
• Delimiting Date for Dependent Children
– 26th Birthday of Dependent Child; or
– Earlier Date set by Veteran;
– Revocation by Veteran;
• Veteran and Dependents both responsible for
overpaid benefits
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Yellow Ribbon Program
• Only individuals entitled to the 100 percent benefit
rate (based on service requirements) may receive
this funding.
• Universities and Colleges may voluntarily enter into
an agreement with VA to pay tuition and fees
charged that are not covered under chapter 33.
• VA will match each additional dollar funded by the
school.
• The school contribution MUST appear on the student
account statement.
• The combined amounts may not exceed the full cost
of the school’s tuition and fees charged.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Yellow Ribbon Program
• The list of schools participating in this program can
be found on www.gibill.va.gov.
• This process requires an annual renewal of your
school’s participation.
• The VA will send out these applications to the
schools in the late March or April timeframes. They
are often not sent to the certifying officials but to the
school administration.
• The school has control over the types of programs
this program applies to, the amounts covered and the
number of students the school will “admit” into this
program.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Overpayment of Benefits
• An individual who does not complete all courses in the certified
period of enrollment will be charged an overpayment equal to
the amount of ALL educational assistance paid for that period of
enrollment.
• Tuition and Fee payments paid to the school on behalf of the
veteran will be charged to the veteran.
• Overpayments made in error to the schools are still considered
the veterans’ responsibility.
• Schools will follow their established student refund policy.
• Veterans may (or may not) receive a refund from the
school!
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Return of Funds
Tuition and Fee payments should be returned
to VA by the institution if:
– 1.) The student died during the term and would
have been due a refund.
– 2.) The student never attended.
– 3.) The institution received a payment for an
individual that is not a student.
– 4.) The institution received a duplicate payment for
a student.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Return of Funds
Institutions may return tuition and fee payments to VA
by:
a) Returning the electronically received Automated
Clearinghouse (ACH) payment using ACH return code R31.
b) Returning the government-issued paper check to the:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Financial Management Service
P.O. Box 51318
Philadelphia, PA 19115-6316
c) Sending a school-generated check to the Agent Cashier of
the Regional Processing Office of jurisdiction. The check must
include student’s full name and social security number.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Important Updates
• Visit www.gibill.va.gov frequently for
important “real-time” updates.
• The US DVA had announced that starting the
week of January 25 2010, they began
sending out letters to those who received the
$3,000 advance for the Fall Term.
• The VA has indicated that those individuals
who had not contacted the VA regarding this
overpayment began to get $750 per month
deducted from their BAH payments starting
with the April,1 payment.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Important Updates
• The average processing time for claims was
reported by the VA to be 10-12 weeks for
initial claims.
• The goal is to process claims in 24 days.
• BAH payments was adjusted in July 2010.
The Chicago area BAH rate dropped from
$1742 to $1689 per month.
• The VA has announced that they began to
apply the 2010 BAH rates on September 1,
2010.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
BAH Rate Update
2009 BAH
2010 BAH
Increase/ Decrease
Champaign Urbana
1045
1188
143
Rock Island
929
939
10
Peoria
1029
1104
75
Great Lakes
1141
1281
140
Scott AFB
1056
1131
75
Chicago
1742
1689
-53
Springfield/Decatur
922
972
50
Joliet Army Depot
1228
1275
47
Rockford
965
1056
91
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Legislative Updates
• The main piece of legislation in Congress that
address the Post 9/11 GI Bill;
– S 3447 The Post 9/11 GI Bill Veterans Education
Assistance Act. Also known as “GI Bill 2.0”
• Some of the proposed changes include;
– Adding Apprenticeship, OJT and Vocational (NCD) programs
to the Post 9-11 GI Bill.
– Authorize Title32 AGR personnel to have Post 9-11
eligibility.
– Allow disabled veterans to receive BAH for on-line
education.
– Streamline tuition payments to fully cover costs at all public
schools and establish a baseline for all private and graduate
schools.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits:
Legislative Updates
• There are other pieces of legislation to
upgrade the Post 9-11 GI Bill.
• Some of the key points include;
– Increase the reporting fees paid to schools.
(HR3579)
– Allow automatic transfer of GI Bill benefits to a
spouse if the service member dies on active duty.
(HR6372)
– Include Non-College Degree programs in the Post
9/11 GI Bill. (HR3813)
– Visit: http://thomas.loc.gov for updates on these
and other pieces of legislation.
Questions and Contact Info
Ask to speak to a:
Veterans Education and Training Specialist
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Illinois State Approving Agency
Springfield Office (217) 782-7838
Chicago Office (312) 814-2460
Springfield Fax (217) 524-8394
Chicago Fax (312) 814-2764
Outside of Illinois visit:
The National Association of State Approving Agencies
http://www.nasaa-vetseducation.org for contacts in your state.