1. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 1 Veterans Upward Bound at U.Mass Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 (617) 287-5870 www.veterans-ub.umb.edu Post 9/11 GI Bill, Chapter 33

2. Veterans Benefits Administration U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service Washington, D.C. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates The Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33 of title 38 U.S.C.)

3. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 3 Recent Published DVA CH33 Rules Federal Register, Part III, Department of Veterans Affairs, 38 CFR Part 21, Post 9/11 GI Bill; Final Rule.  Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 60, Tuesday March 31, 2009, Rules and Regulations.  Go to page # 14671, Subpart P – Post 9/11 GI Bill.

4. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 4 Objectives This presentation will provide you with the following:  An overview of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit  An understanding of how this program differs from and impacts other VA education benefits

5. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 55 Post-9/11 GI Bill Effective Date August 1, 2009 Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits can be paid for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments may be made for training pursued before that date.

6. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 6 Eligibility Criteria Individuals who served on active duty after 09/10/01 will be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if the individual —  Served for an aggregate period ranging from 90 days to 36 months, or  Served at least 30 continuous days and was discharged due to a service-connected disability.

7. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 7 Eligibility Criteria Service Requirements (after 9/10/01 an individual must serve an aggregate of) % of Maximum Benefit Payable At least 36 months 100% At least 30 continuous days on active duty (Must be discharged due to service-connected disability) At least 30 months, but less than 36 months 90% At least 24 months, but less than 30 months80% At least 18 months, but less than 24 months70% At least 12 months, but less than 18 months60% At least 06 months, but less than 12 months50% At least 90 days, but less than 06 months40% 100%

8. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 8 Qualifying active duty does not include the following:  Title 32 AGR, NOAA, Public Health Service (PHS); or  ROTC contract period under 10 U.S.C. 2107(b); or  Service Academy Contract Period; or  Service terminated due to an erroneous or defective enlistment; or  Service used for loan repayment; or  Selected Reserve Service used to establish eligibility under 30, 1606, or 1607.* (see slide 16 for Chapter 33 election information) Eligibility Criteria * The inclusion of the reference to Chapter 1606 and the term “Selected Reserve” in this section of the law are undergoing legal review.

9. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 9 Eligibility Criteria In order to retain eligibility, after meeting the service requirements, an individual must—  Continue on active duty; or  Be honorably discharged from Armed Forces; or  Be honorably discharged for further service in a reserve component; or

10. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 10 Eligibility Criteria  Be discharged or released for EPTS (Existed Prior to Service), HDSP (Hardship), or CIWD (Condition Interferes with Duty).  Be honorably discharged and placed on retired list, temporary disability retired list, or transferred to Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve.

11. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 11 Period of Eligibility In general, individuals will remain eligible for benefits for 15 years from the date of last discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 continuous days.

12. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 12 Individuals will generally receive 36 months of benefits. However, individuals are limited to 48 months of combined benefits under VA educational assistance programs. NOTE: Individuals transferring to the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30) will be limited to the amount of remaining Chapter 30 entitlement (NTE 36 months of benefits).Entitlement

13. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 13 Benefit Payments  Tuition and Fees Charged  Monthly Housing Allowance  Stipend for Books and Supplies

14. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 14 Tuition and Fees Charged  Individuals are eligible for the applicable percentage (based on aggregate active duty service) of the lesser of either—  Tuition and Fees charged; or  Highest amount of Tuition and Fees charged for full-time, undergraduate training at a public Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) in the State where student is attending school.

15. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 15 Monthly Housing Allowance  Equivalent to 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 –Active duty and anyone training at ½ time or less, and those pursuing distance learning are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance

16. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 16 Books and Supplies Stipend  Up to a $1,000 per year  Paid proportionally for each quarter, semester, or term attended  Prorated based on the percentage of the maximum benefit payable  Active duty members are not eligible

17. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 17 Yellow Ribbon Program  IHLs may voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to pay established charges not covered under chapter 33  VA will match each additional dollar funded by the school  The combined amounts may not exceed the full cost of the school’s established charges  Only individuals entitled to the 100 percent benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding

18. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates Mass. IHL’s in Yellow Ribbon  Northeastern University  Boston College  Amherst College  Emmanuel College  Harvard University  Merrimack College  Wentworth Institute of Technology  Mt. Ida College  Regis College  Becker College  Quincy College  Suffolk University

19. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 19 Chapter 33 Elections An individual who has met the requirements to establish eligibility under chapter 33 and, as of August 1, 2009 is  Eligible for either chapter 30, 1607, 1606* or;  A member of the Armed Forces and making the basic $1200 contribution toward chapter 30; or  A member of the Armed Forces who previously declined to elect chapter 30 must make an irrevocable election to use benefits under chapter 33. * The inclusion of the reference to Chapter 1606 in this section of the law is undergoing legal review.

20. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 20 Refund of Contributions  A proportional amount of the basic $1200 contribution will be included in the last monthly housing allowance payment when chapter 33 entitlement exhausts.  Individuals who do not exhaust entitlement under chapter 33 will not receive a refund of contributions paid under chapter 30.  Refund of $600 additional contributions is not authorized.

21. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 21 Approved Programs  All programs approved under chapter 30 and offered at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL)  Individuals who were previously eligible for chapter 30, 1607, or 1606 may continue to receive benefits for approved programs not offered by IHLs (i.e. flight, correspondence, APP/OJT, preparatory courses, and national tests)

22. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 22 Transfer of Entitlement  DoD determines eligibility  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 may, by regulation, impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable.

23. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 23References  GI Bill Website (http://www.gibill.va.gov)  Public Law 110-252, Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008

24. Counseling Tips  Maximum of 48 months under combination of VA educational Assistance programs  Assess prior benefit eligibility and usage  Assess CH33 benefit rate (40% - 100%) –Will affect all three types of payment  Assess impact of tuition assistance programs: –Mass. National Guard 100% Tuition & Fee Reimbursement Program –ARNG Federal Tuition Assistance ($4,500/year)

25. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates Counseling Tips  Assess difference between BAH rate and payment rate of previous GI Bill programs (CH30, CH1607, CH1606)  Soldiers enrolled in non-IHL programs cannot use CH33  CH33 may not be the best choice for actively drilling reservists due to value of tuition assistance programs

26. 25 July 2008 with March 2009 updates 26 Questions?