St Louis University-GI Bill Basic Training

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 Chapter 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

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill

• Eligibility – Served at least 2 years on

Active Duty

– Paid $1,200 Contribution

– Honorably Discharged

• Entitlement – 36 months

• Delimiting Date – 10 years from last date of

discharge from Active Duty

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill

• Payment Rates (effective 10/01/2012) 3 years or more service:

• Full Time -$1,564.00

• ¾ Time - $1,173.00

• ½ Time - $782.00**

• ¼ Time or less - $391.00**

Less than 3 years of service:

• Full Time - $1,564.00

• ¾ Time - $1,173.00

• ½ Time - $728.00

• Less than ½ time but more than ¼ time - $635.00**

• ¼ time or less - $317.50**

** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve

• Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2012)

– Full Time - $356.00

– ¾ Time - $266.00

– ½ Time - $176.00

– Less than ½ time - $89.00

Chapter 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

Chapter 1607 – Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)

Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2011)

Training Time Consecutive service of 90 days but less

than one year

Consecutive service of 1 year but less

than 2 years

Consecutive service of 2 years or more

Full Time $625.60 $938.40 $1,251.20

¾ Time $469.20 $703.80 $938.40

½ Time $312.80 $469.20 $625.60

Less than 1/2 time More than 1/4 time

$312.80** $469.20** $625.60**

1/4 time or less $156.40** $234.60** $312.80**

** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 35 – Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)

• Payment Rates (Effective 10/01/2012) – Full Time - $987.00

– ¾ Time - $740.00

– ½ Time - $491.00

– Less than ½ time & more than ¼ time - $491.00**

– ¼ Time or less - $246.75**

** Tuition and Fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount

Chapter 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.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 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.


• 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.


• Entitlement

– 36 months

– If veteran transfers from Chapter30 they only have the number of months remaining for their Chapter30 benefits.

• Delimiting Date

– 15 years from the dates of last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 days.


• Benefit Tiers

Post 9/11 Service Percentage of Max

Amount 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 90 days, but less than 06 months 40%

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition & Fees – Public Schools

• 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

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

– $18,077.50


• 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.


• 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.


• Monthly Housing Stipend (Cont’d)

– Effective 08/01/2012 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.


• Yellow Ribbon Program

– School may contract with the VA to pay all or part of unmet charges (above $ 18,077.50 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.


• 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


• 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.


• Transfer of Entitlement

– Chapter 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.


• 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.


• Gunnery Sergeant 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.


• 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 Chapter 33, but using VR&E to choose the Post 9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance.

– Allows student on active duty (or their spouses) to receive a books & supplies stipend.


• 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.

Chapter 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 $684.00 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 School Certifying Official (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

http://www.gibill.va.gov/

Questions?

Jennifer Matteson

Saint Louis University

(314) 977-2259

[email protected]