U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA
Education
Benefits
MGIB Benefits Briefing
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Objectives
This presentation will provide:
• A brief overview of VA education benefits
• Broader discussion on Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33),
relative to school specific concerns
• An update to current Chapter 33 payment issues
(Information contained in this briefing was compiled from information
provided by the Dept of Veterans Affairs and 38 CFR Part 21 Subpart P.
Up-to-date information can be found at www.gibill.va.gov)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Buffalo’s Jurisdiction
14 Northeastern States
District of Columbia
Foreign Schools
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Participants in VA Education Programs
by Fiscal Year (in thousands)
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Eligibility &
Program Basics
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Forms for Students
VA 22-1990
VA 22-1990t
VA 22-1995
VA-22-1990E
Application For VA Education Benefits
Application For Tutorial Assistance
Request Change of Program/Place of Training
Application for Transfer of Entitlement Benefits
VA-22-1990R
Application for VRAP Benefits
Chapter 35
VA 22-5490
VA 22-5495
Application For Survivors’ And Dependents’
Educational Assistance (also Fry Scholarship)
Request For Change Of Program/Place
Chapter 31
VA 28-1900
Application For Vocational and Rehabilitation
Benefits
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Current Benefits 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)
• Dependent’s Educational Assistance (Ch 35/DEA)
• VRAP
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
(Chapter 31/VR&E)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Common Ground
• Eligibility is based, in part, on type of military
service and honorable discharge.
• Up to 48 months of benefits.
• Programs of study at training sites must be
approved for VA benefits.
• All degree programs at public and accredited
non-profit schools are ‘deemed approved’ for
VA benefits.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Common Ground
(continued)
• Education Benefits may 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
 Apprenticeship or OJT training
 Foreign schools (degree program only)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Common Ground
(continued)







Correspondence courses
Entrepreneurship courses
Flight Training (private pilot excluded)
Accelerated Pay (High Tech programs)
Reimbursement for National Exams
Tutorial assistance (if needed)
Top-up (active duty only)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Entitlement
The number of months and days of full-time benefits
an individual originally receives or has remaining.
• Maximum of 36 months for MGIB programs / Post 9/11 GI Bill
(CH30 and CH33 entitlement may be extended to end of term).
• DEA (CH35) provides 45 months, VR&E (CH31) 48 months.
• Maximum of 48 months under any combination of programs
(Example: If a claimant used 36 months under MGIB chapter
30, they may use an additional 12 months of CH 33 benefits).
• Entitlement charged based on Training Time (Rate of Pursuit for
CH33) and the actual period the student attended.
• Entitlement was charged for all intervals between terms that
were paid through 8/1/11.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
How Is Entitlement Charged?
Full time = Generally 12 or more undergraduate
credits per standard term
(commonly 4 courses @ 3 credits each )
Term Dates:
Fall
08/25 thru 12/13
Interval
12/14 thru 01/25
Spring
01/26 thru 05/16
Full time training without interval pay
(Interval pay ceased effective 7/31/2011)
MGIB Education
=
=
=
=
3
1
3
7
mos
mos
mos
mos
19
10
21
10
days
days
days
days
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Entitlement Charge cont.
Half time (or 50% ROP) = 6 hrs per standard term
(generally 2 courses @ 3 credits each )
Term Dates:
Fall
08/25 thru 12/13
Interval
12/14 thru 01/25
Spring
01/26 thru 05/16
Half time training, no interval pay
MGIB Education
=
=
=
=
1
0
1
3
mos
mos
mos
mos
24
20
26
20
days
days
days
days
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
‘Delimiting Date’
• The first day after a claimant's period of eligibility
expires. Benefits are not payable on or after the
delimiting date.
• Periods of eligibility vary by program.
• CH1606, CH1607 and CH35 Delimiting Dates may be
extended to the end of the term.
• Delimiting Dates may be extended for a disability that
prevented training.
• Extended for additional active duty of 90 days or more.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Post - 9/11 GI Bill
Eligibility Criteria
And Entitlement
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Changes to the
Post-9/11 GI Bill
As a result of Public Law 111-377 (Jan. 2011), there
were many changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Ch33).
The broad changes affected the way tuition & fees are
paid, eligibility determinations, housing payments, etc.
The final regulations and processing procedures have
not yet been published. Information presented at this
time is subject to change. Updated information can
be found on the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Active Duty Service Requirements
After 9/10/01 an individual must serve:
% of Maximum
Benefit Payable
At least 36 months
100
At least 30 continuous days on active duty and
discharged due to service-connected disability
100
At least 30 months but less than 36 months
90
At least 24 months but less than 30 months
80
At least 18 months but less than 24 months
70
At least 12 months but less than 18 months
60
At least 6 months but less than 12 months
50
At least 90 days but less than 6 months
40
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Ch33 Entitlement
• In general, individuals remain eligible for benefits for
15 years from date of last discharge of at least 90
continuous days (30 days if disability). Active duty
members maintain eligibility while on active duty.
• Veterans receive a maximum of 36 months of
benefits under CH33. (may extend to end of 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.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Transfer of
Entitlement (TOE)
Fry Scholarship
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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 22-1990E to receive benefits.
Note: The fact that DoD permitted a transfer of entitlement to occur does
not guarantee Chapter 33 benefits can be paid.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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 receive benefits like as a
veteran.
• Entitlement not subject to the veteran’s 15 year delimiting date,
but may not be used after reaching age 26.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
John D. Fry Scholarship
• Eligibility for children of an active duty member killed in the
line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
• 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)
• Also eligible for Ch35 benefits, must elect one of the two
• Dependents must file VA Form 22-5490 to receive benefits.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Yellow Ribbon Program
• IHLs may voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to allow
the two parties to provide matching funds to cover a portion of
the established charges above the annual cap for private
schools or to cover the out-of-state portion of tuition.
• Only veterans and their dependents 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.
• Effective this year, Yellow Ribbon contracts are open ended and
remain in effect until school wishes to modify or terminate.
Check website (www.gibill.va.gov) for information.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Post - 9/11 GI Bill
Payments & Changes
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Benefit Payments
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Net Tuition and Fees Charged
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
Books and Supplies Stipend
Kickers (also known as College Fund)
Licensing and Certifications Test, National Exams
Work Study
Tutorial Assistance
Refund of $1,200 MGIB Contribution
(All payments are subject to Eligibility Level Percentages.)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Charges Defined
Established Tuition Charges• The actual tuition charge that similarly
circumstanced non-veterans enrolled the
program of education are required to pay.
Fees• Any mandatory charges (other than tuition, room, &
board) applied for pursuit of an approved program
* Study Abroad Fees are not payable under Ch33 unless the courses are
required for the degree program. Travel costs are never payable.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Tuition & Fees Changes
Effective Aug. 1, 2011 for Veterans & Their
Transferees:
Simplified tuition and fees rates for those attending
public schools; creates a national annual maximum
rate for those enrolled in private schools *
• Pays all public school net in-state tuition and fees;
• Private school reimbursable costs are capped
annually (Aug. 1st to July 31st); Training at less than
half-time not counted toward cap
• Yellow Ribbon Program remains for out-of-state
charges and costs that exceed the private school cap.
* Payments made based on Net Charges & subject to proration based
on Eligibility Tier (i.e. 40% - 100%)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Tuition & Fees Changes
‘Net Charges’:
VA was previously considered ‘First Payer’ for tuition
and fees reporting purposes. Effective August 1, 2011,
schools must report the net cost of tuition and 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
• Title IV Funds (Pell Grants and Federal Loans) are
excluded from net charge assessments.
* Effective July 2009, no VA education benefits can be considered when
calculating EFC or as an outside resouce for Financial Aid purposes
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2011-2012 Tuition & Fees Cap
Eligibility Tier
Max T&F Payable/Year
100%
$17,500
90%
$15,750
80%
$14,000
70%
$12,250
60%
$10,500
50%
$ 8,750
40%
$ 7,000
In general, VA will pay the lesser of the net T&Fs or the
individual’s annual cap rate for all Ch33 students
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2012-2013 Tuition & Fees Cap
Eligibility Tier
Max T&F Payable/Year
100%
$18,077.50
90%
$16,269.75
80%
$14,462.00
70%
$12,654.25
60%
$10,846.50
50%
$ 9,038.75
40%
$ 7,231.00
In general, VA will pay the lesser of the net T&Fs or the
individual’s annual cap rate for all Ch33 students
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Reporting Tuition and Fees
• For each enrollment period, report actual net cost for tuition and
fees to VA:
• Tuiton and Fees
School Veteran Tuition Waiver
Private Tuition Scholarship
NYS VTA
NYS TAP
Net Tuition and Fees
= $5,000.00
= ($500.00)
= ($500.00)
=
Waiver*
=
Waiver*
= $4,000.00
Report report $4,000.00 to VA as the T&Fs for this term. If the
student received any Title IV funds or assistance not specifically
designated for the payment of tuition and fees – No need to deduct
from the amount reported to VA.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Restoring GI Bill
Fairness Act
“Grandfather”
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act
“Grandfathering” Eligibility
• The new legislation authorizes VA to pay more than $17,500 (or the
appropriately reduced amount based on the student’s eligibility
percentage) in tuition and fees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for certain
students attending private colleges and universities
• To qualify for the increased payment (also referred to as the
“grandfathered” tuition and fee amount), students must have been
enrolled in the same college or university since January 4, 2011, and
have been enrolled in a program for which the combined amount of
tuition and fees for full-time attendance during the 2010-2011
academic year (Aug. 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011) exceeded $17,500.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act
“Grandfathering” Eligibility
• Eligible students will receive the “grandfathered” rate for tuition and
fees for all terms that begin before August 1, 2014, as long as they
are continuously enrolled at the same institution. If they transfer to
a different institution, even if it’s located in the same state, they will
no longer qualify for the “grandfathered” rate.
• School certifying officials will need to submit an enrollment
certification or amended enrollment certification to VA with remarks
stating “Student eligible for restored rates” to verify that the
student was enrolled in that school since January 4, 2011 and that
the tuition and fees for full-time attendance in that program
exceeded $17,500 during the 2010-2011 academic year.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011
Tuition & Fees Rates
State
Max Tuition
Max Fees
•New Hampshire
$1003.75/credit
$ 5,197.00
•New York
$1010.00/credit
$12,293.00
•Pennsylvania
$ 934.00/credit
$ 6,110.00
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Monthly Housing
Allowance (MHA)
Books & Supplies
Stipend
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Monthly Housing Allowance
(MHA)
• Rate is equivalent to Basic Allowance for
Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents
• Locality rate determined by zip code of the
facility code of the IHL where the student is
enrolled (www.gibill.va.gov).
• Payment is prorated based on the student’s
Eligibility Tier. (i.e. 40% to 100%)
• Effective 8/1/11, MHA will be prorated based
on ROP, rounded to the nearest 10th.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Books & Supplies Stipend
• Maximum payment of $1,000 per year
– $41.67 per credit hour (at the 100% rate)
– Up to 24 credits in a single academic year
– Lump sum payment (each quarter, semester or
term attended) based on the number of credits
originally certified for.
• Prorated based on the Eligibility Percentage Level.
• Active duty members (and TOE spouses of active
duty members) are eligible effective 10/1/11)
Note: Benefit payments are paid directly to the student.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Miscellaneous Payments
• VA Work-Study
– Eligible individuals pursuing training at ROP of at least
75% may receive work-study allowance. (3/4 TT)
– Must perform veteran related work
– Hourly wage is higher of state or federal minimum
wage. (Non-taxable income.)
• Tutorial Assistance
− Must be training at ROP of at least 50%
− Amount payable can’t exceed $100/month.
− $1,200 lifetime maximum, no entitlement charge.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Rate of Pursuit (ROP)
&
Equivalent Credit
Hours (ECH)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Rate of Pursuit (ROP)
•
The measure of training time obtained by dividing the number of credit hours
(or clock hour equivalent) a student is enrolled in by the number of credit hours
(or clock hour equivalent) considered to be full-time at the school (or what is
considered Graduate Full-Time). The resulting percentage (rounded to the
nearest hundredth) will be the individual’s Rate of Pursuit.
•
Rate of Pursuit will determine the entitlement charged for an award period and
will determine if the Monthly Housing Allowance will be paid (must be training at
Rate of Pursuit greater than 50%).
•
Greater than 50% ROP would normally be 7 or more credits taken during a
standard semester (15-19 weeks) or standard quarter (10-13 weeks).
•
Example:
– Student is taking 7 credits for a standard semester
– ROP = 7 / 12 = .58 or 58%
•
For Non-Standard term (or summer session), VA will calculate Equivalent Credit
Hours (ECH) and use that to determine Rate of Pursuit.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
ECH Calculation
•
To determine the Equivalent Credit Hours of a non-standard term:
–
–
•
# semester credits taken multiplied by 18 divided by number of weeks
# quarter credits taken multiplied by 12 divided by number of weeks
(round up partial weeks if 4 days or more)
Example:
Non-standard term dates: June 1, 2010 to July 27, 2010 @ 3 credits
− Calculate term length – 57 days / 7 = 8 weeks and 1 day = 8 weeks
− Calculate ECH (sem school) - (3 cr x 18) / 8 = 6.75 ECH
− Calculate ROP – 6.75 ECH / 12 (normal FT measurement) = .56 or 56%
MONTHLY HOUSING IS PAID at the 60% level
____________________________________________________________________
Non-standard term dates: June 1, 2010 to July 27, 2010 @ 3 credits
− Calculate term length – 57 days / 7 = 8 weeks and 1 day = 8 weeks
− Calculate ECH (qtr school) - (3 cr x 12) / 8 = 4.5 ECH
− Calculate ROP – 4.5 ECH / 12 (normal FT measurement) = .38 or 38%
NO MONTHLY HOUSING IS PAID
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reporting to VA:
Enrollment, Changes,
Probation & Graduation
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
“Zero Tuition”
• If net tuition and fees are unknown, schools may report
the term dates, actual credit hours, and enter $0.00 for
these charges
• This permits the students to receive timely housing and
books & supplies stipend payments
• Also allows for financial aid to be resolved prior to
submitting cert
• MUST submit amended cert, effective FDOT to ensure
accurate payment when net T&Fs are reported
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mini or Summer Terms
Summer Session A: 05/15/2012 to 06/16/2012 @ 3 cr.
Summer Session B: 06/18/2012 to 07/20/2012 @ 3 cr.
Summer Session C: 06/18/2012 to 08/15/2012 @ 3 cr.
Tuition & Fees are billed for the entire summer session. Tuition
for the summer term is $5400. ($600 per hour) Fees are $500.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Begin
05/15/2012
06/18/2012
06/18/2012
End
06/16/2012
07/20/2012
08/15/2012
Crs.
3
3
3
Tuition
$1800.00
$1800.00
$1800.00
Fees
$166.67
$166.67
$166.66
By certifying as above, VA will issue payments that accurately
reflect the cost of each term. (Critical for changes of status.)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reporting
Reductions and Terminations
The Certifying Official must notify the VA within 30 days of
discovery if one of the following occurs:
• If the net charges change.
• If the trainee withdraws from training.
• If the trainee does not progress satisfactorily according
to approved standards and practices of your facility.
• When the trainee changes credit or clock hours of
training, even during drop/add.
• If the trainee receives non-punitive grades.
• When the trainee graduates.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Debts & Enrollment Change
• If a student attends a portion of the term, but
doesn’t complete it as certified, schools should follow
their established refund policy
• For reductions, refunds should be given directly to
the student. The fact the school refunded money has
no bearing on the VA payment. VA will pay for the
time attended. (Even during Drop/Add)
• Refunds for partial attendance should be returned to
VA in accordance with VA policy. (*handout available)
• The student is responsible for any debts incurred to
VA as the result of a change in enrollment within a
term.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Financial Aid
Concerns
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
FAFSA & Veterans
• Veterans less familiar with Financial Aid process. If
military path is chosen in high school, they likely
don’t participate in traditional college preparation
• 1 day of active duty (Title 10) satisfies the definition
of veteran.
• If veteran status is not confirmed by VA data match,
ask student to provide copy of DD214, then do a
dependency override.
• Eligibility criteria for Ch33 different from VTA
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Financial Aid Issues
• Effective July 2009, VA education benefits can’t be
considered when calculating EFC or COA for Federal
Financial Aid purposes. This includes T&Fs payments,
monthly housing payments, etc.
• Ch33 payments to schools are not tuition specific funds
and can be refunded to the student when appropriate.
• If qualifying tuition specific funds are received after net
T&Fs have been reported to VA, you must inform the
School Certifying Official (SCO) at your school.
• The SCO must then report an amended certification to
VA. The amount in question will become school debt if
VA payment has been made.
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Vet Friendly Ideas
•
•
•
•
•
•
Waived application fees
Priority registration
Deferred tuition payments
Automatic established residency for veterans
Veteran organizations on campus
Remember that some gave all and all gave
some
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Available
Resources
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
WWW.GIBILL.VA.GOV
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Education & Training
Assistance…
Visit the official VA education benefits
site at: www.gibill.va.gov
Call VA at:
NEW!
1-888-GI BILL-1
(1-888-442-4551)
Certifying Official Line*
1-855-225-1159
*must be designated SCO & provide facility code
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
School Certifying Official
Handbook
VA-Once Flip Book
(Find both in School Section at
www.gibill.va.gov)
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
‘Submit a Question’
Search database of over 400 FAQs,
special school section.
Need more information?
Establish a secure account to ask specific
questions. (One student per inquiry.)
Quick turn around time
24 hr system availability
Written responses
Question and Answer History
MGIB Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
MGIB Education