Helen BuddVeterans Certifying EvaluatorUniversity of Michigan-Flint

“Back To School”

VA Education Benefits

Which Benefit?

Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Ch. 30) Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Ch. 1606) REAP (Ch. 1607) Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) Survivors and Dependents Assistance Voc. Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31)

Montgomery GI Bill – Ch. 30 Basic eligibility:

Entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985.

Received a high school diploma or equivalent before the end of your first obligated period of service.

Received an honorable discharge. Continuously served at least two years of a two-year

enlistment or three years of an enlistment of three years or longer.

Participated in the MGIB program (typically $1,200, plus optional buy-up during first 12 months of service).

Time limit: 10 years.

Montgomery GI Bill – Ch. 30 Payment:

Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter, time, etc).

Paid at the END of each month of enrollment. Student must self-verify at the end of each month. Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on

semester or course start and end dates. Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the

school.

Montgomery GI Bill-SR –Ch. 1606 Basic eligibility:

Signed a six-year obligation to serve in the Reserve or National Guard after June 30, 1985.

Completed Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT). Received a high school diploma or equivalent before

completing IADT. Remain in good standing in a drilling SR unit. Benefits generally end the day you separate from

the military.

Montgomery GI Bill-SR –Ch. 1606 Payment:

Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter, time, etc).

Paid at the END of each month of enrollment. Student must self-verify at the end of each month. Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on

semester or course start and end dates. Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the

school.

REAP - Ch. 1607

Basic eligibility: Individuals who served in the Selected Reserve or

IRR and National Guard who are ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress (OEF/OIF).

May be eligible after serving 90 consecutive days on active duty after September 10, 2001.

Can be eligible for 10 years after separating.

REAP – Ch. 1607

Payment: Based on enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter,

time, etc). Full-time rate for college training after 2 consecutive

years of service is 80% of the MGIB-AD rate. Paid at the END of each month of enrollment. Student must self-verify at the end of each month. Amount of $$ each month may differ depending on

semester or course start and end dates. Payment sent directly to the student, NOT to the

school.

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33

Basic eligibility: Individuals who served on active duty after September

10, 2001. May be eligible after serving 90 aggregate days on

active duty after September 10, 2001, and either still on active duty or honorably discharged from active duty.

Includes activated members of the National Guard and Reserves under Title 10 U.S. Code.

Includes National Guard members activated under Title 32 U.S. Code.

Can be eligible for 15 years after separating. Can elect Ch. 33 if eligible for more than one benefit.

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty

after September 10, 2001, of: Percentage of Maximum

Benefit Payable

At least 36 months 100%

At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to serviceconnected disability

100%

At least 30 months < 36 months 90%

At least 24 months < 30 months 80%

At least 18 months < 24 months 70%

At least 12 months < 18 months 60%

At least 6 months < 12 months 50%

At least 90 days < 6 months 40%

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33

Components: Up to 100% of tuition and fees. Eligibility tier dependent

upon total aggregate active duty. Range: 40% - 100% Paid directly to the school.

Basic Allowance for Housing. Based on DoD BAH rate for zip code of school. Must have at least 1 credit on campus and be full-time to

qualify for full amount (according to eligibility tier). Paid directly to student.

Books/Supplies Stipend Max. $1,000 or 24 credit hours per year. Renews each Fall. Paid directly to student.

Post-9/11 GI Bill - Ch. 33

Transfer of Entitlement: Qualified active duty service members may be able

to transfer all or part of Post-9/11 entitlement to dependents.

New four-year commitment is generally required. Service member submits Transfer request to DoD. Once approved, family members must apply to the VA

to use transferred benefits. Benefits can be transferred to more than one person

(no more than 36 months combined). Children's benefit expires on their 26th birthday.

Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance Chapter 35 - Basic Information:

Offers up to 45 months of education benefits to dependents of veterans who are permanently or totally disabled or who died of a service-connected disability.

Children must be between ages of 18 and 26. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry

Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is available for children and spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. 

Use VA form 22-5490 to apply for Ch. 35 OR Fry Scholarship. Must relinquish one or the other.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment – Ch. 31 Chapter 31 - Basic Information:

Have a VA disability rating of 20% or greater, or 10% with a serious employment handicap.

Must have an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge.

If approved, veteran is assigned to a VA Counselor who will determine an appropriate rehabilitation plan.

EducationBenefits

Michele TraverOperations Coordinator - RecordsSchool Certifying OfficialMott Community College

Education Benefits

How to find a school and apply for benefits.Student responsibilities for using education

benefits

WEAMS

Web Enabled Approval Management System

WEAMS is used to store VA and State Approving Agency (SAA) approval information. That information may be entered by VA Central Office (VACO) personnel, Education Liaison Representatives (ELRs), Education Compliance Survey Specialists (ECSSs) and, in some instances, SAAs. The information is viewed by Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) personnel (e.g., Veterans Claims Examiners (VCEs) and Vocational Rehabilitation and Education (VRE) case managers) and public users. VBA personnel use this approval information to determine claimant eligibility to benefits for education and training offered by schools and job training establishments – and is what is reviewed when a certification of enrollment (VA Form 22-1999) is received by VA for processing. - 2013 NAVPA Conference Handout

WEAMS

Provided on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website as a school locator tool.http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/school_locator.asp

WEAMS

What is the Veterans Affairs WEAMS Search?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LOsoO2W4Rk

VONAPP

Veterans On-line Application

The VONAPP website is an official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website that enables service members, veterans and their beneficiaries, and other designated individuals to apply for benefits using the Internet.https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vonapp

VONAPP

Veterans can access VONAPP through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp at clicking on the “Apply online” link

Student Responsibilities

Apply for benefits Register and utilize eBenefits Verify Enrollment Visit school Veteran’s Services Office

Present your letter of eligibility Choose a program of study Register for classes Turn in your schedule for certification Notify personnel of changes to your schedule or benefits

One school’s process may differ from another school’s process. ALWAYS consult with the Veteran’s Services Office or Certifying Official!

Vocational Rehabilitation &

EmploymentJohn Riskovich, MSW

VA VR&E Counselor