Veteran Education Benefits October 7, 2014

OVERVIEW Federal Veteran Education Benefits State Veteran Education Benefits Other Veteran Education Benefits Eligibility Determination Documentation Needed Other important items to remember

Federal Chapter Benefit Types Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Chapter 31 Disabled Vocational Rehab Program Chapter 32 Post Vietnam GI Bill Chapter 35 Survivor and Dependent’s Education Assistance Program Chapter 1606 MGIB Selective Reserve GI Bill Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 33 New Post 9/11 GI Bill

Chapter 30 (Federal) Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill (Active-Duty) – For active duty members who enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months and re then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation.

Chapter 31 (Federal) Chapter 31 – Disabled Veteran’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Students work thru their county office and get assigned a voc rehab counselor (Al Hess). Students meet with rehab counselor once a semester. – This benefits pays 100% of tuition, has a book and living stipend.

Chapter 35 (Federal) Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers educational and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Chapter 1606 (Federal) Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corp Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments.

Chapter 1607 (Federal) Chapter Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP). This program provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the President or congress. – May use 1606 initially then gets activated and switches to 1607

Chapter 33 (Federal) Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill for service members who have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after 9/11/01; or individuals discharged with a service- connected disability after 30 days after 9/11. Must have honorable discharge.

Chapter 33 (Federal) Components Things to think about with this benefit: – Made up of three components Basic Housing Allowance Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) goes by school zip code: $ for those at 100%. (% is based on how much active duty the veteran has) Paid to student – Have to be enrolled in MORE THAN 6 credits and at least one of those credits has to be a traditional class (not an online, Adult Degree Saturday, internship or independent study) – If taking all online classes, student will receive up to the national BAH rate of $754.50/mo. Book Stipend Book Stipend ($41.67 per credit-max $1000/yr) Paid to student Tuition Tuition & Fees- paid directly to the school

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill General Info cont… For those who served fewer than 36 months, the % of benefit ranges from 40% - 90%: 90% - 30 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training) 80% - 24 total months (including service on active duty in entry level and skill training) 70% - 18 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training) 60% - 12 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training) 50% - 6 total months (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training) 40% - 90 or more days (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training). Veterans must have an honorable discharge or other qualifying discharge (e.g. hardship, condition interfering with duty, etc.) to be eligible.

Chapter 33 – Transfer to Dependents Criteria… Has at least six years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date of election. Has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by Service Branch or DoD) or statute from committing to four additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute. Is or becomes retirement-eligible and agrees to serve an additional four years of service on or after Aug. 1, A Servicemember is considered to be retirement-eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed (pursuant to section of title 10 U.S.C.). Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the armed forces.

Federal Veteran Benefits Documents Needed: – Application through Ebenefits.va.gov, VA Form – DD-214 Member 4 (shows character of Discharge) – Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from Dept. of VA – Kicker/ Buy Up contracts (If eligible)

Other Federal Veteran Benefits Tuition Assistance – Reserves & Active Duty Eligible reservists may be allotted 16 credits per year at $ per credit Have to put in one “good” year before eligible to use TA Army can use Federal Chapter benefit AND TA – National Guard (combination of federal and state) Eligible National Guard members can use the National Guard Tuition Grant (state) and Tuition Assistance (federal). – NGTG pays for Tuition (minus segregated fees) State benefit

State of Wisconsin Veteran Benefits Wisconsin GI Bill National Guard Tuition Grant (NG TG) Veteran Education Grant (VET ED) WI Veteran Retraining Grant

Wisconsin GI Bill (State) Wisconsin GI Bill may provide a full waiver of tuition and program (segregated) fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to 8 full-time semesters or 128 credits for any credit producing class within any State of WI school. Need to maintain a 2.0 G.P.A. New 5 year residency law The Federal Post 9/11 GI Bill (chap 33), must be used before the WI GI Bill. Exceptions to this will be anyone receiving less that 100% of Chap 33. (60% Chapter % WI GI Bill.)

Veteran Education Grant (State) Vet Ed Grant Provides a reimbursement grant for tuition and fees following successful course completion (2.0 GPA required) – Can not have a bachelor degree already. – Eligible WI Vets may use VetEd to pursue educational or vocational objectives up to a bachelor’s degree at any UW, Tech College, or approved private institution. – 100% tuition and fees not covered by other grants, scholarships or remissions. – Income limitations – household must be below 50,000 plus 1000 for each dependent in excess of two dependents – Time Restriction- Can use up to 10 year anniversary of leaving active duty. After this point may be able to enroll as a part time student.

National Guard Tuition Grant (State) NG TG is a program that can provide reimbursement to an eligible guard member, upon satisfactory completion of course(s). Reimbursement is based on 100% of the tuition charged (no segregated fees). The grant cannot pay for any room & board, books, fees or continuing education credits (CEUs). The grant program reimburses up to eight semesters at the undergraduate level only.

Retraining Grant RTG is for those who became unemployed, underemployed or received a notice of termination of employment within the period beginning one year (365 days) prior to the date the application is received at WDVA, Madison. Employed for 6 consecutive months with the same employer or similar occupations Employed at least one day within the year prior to the application received at WDVA.

Federal & State Combinations If a student is eligible for the WI GI Bill and the Post 9/11 Chap 33, he/she has to use the chap 33 first before receiving the WI GI Bill. Students are required to provide a Certificate of Eligibility or a rejection notice for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits in order to use the WI GI Bill.

WI GI Bill & Chap 33 (Supplemental Payment) Supplemental Payment: Students who elect to relinquish any other chapter to utilize the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, may be eligible for a supplemental payment. This payment is intended to make up the difference between what a student would have received from their old chapter compared to what the student will receive after enrolling for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. – Students who have exhausted their 36 months of Chapter 30 benefits, will not receive a supplemental payment. – Students will need to provide documentation of kickers or buy up

WI GI Bill & Chap 33 Issues (Exception) – If a student has 12 months or less of Chapter 30 benefit, they can stay with their old chapter until it is exhausted and continue to use the WI GI Bill. Because… – If they exhaust their chapter 30 benefit completely (to the day), they could receive an additional 12 months under Chapter 33

Chapter 33/WI GI Bill – Dropping/Withdrawing. SIGNIFICANT financial consequences may result when adding or dropping classes under VA Education Benefits. may result in students being required to repay the federal VA for courses that were not completed and may require students to repay the supplemental payment granted under the Wisconsin GI Bill. carefully consider the financial consequences of any enrollment changes with federal VA benefits counselors.

State Veteran Benefits Documents Needed: – WI GI Bill: Certificate of Eligibility (WDVA 2031) Application (WDVA 2029) Birth or Marriage Cert (Dependent) – National Guard Tuition Grant (DMA 189-E) – DD-214 Member 4 (shows character of Discharge)

Principles of Excellence Educational institutions participating in the Principles of Excellence program agree to the following guidelines: Provide students with a personalized form covering the total cost of an education program. (Shopping Sheet) Provide educational plans for all military and Veteran education beneficiaries. (Academic Plan) End fraudulent and aggressive recruiting techniques and misrepresentations. Accommodate Service Members and Reservists absent due to service requirements. Designate a point of contact to provide academic and financial advice. Ensure accreditation of all new programs prior to enrolling students. Align institutional refund policies with those under Title IV, which governs the administration of federal student financial aid programs.

8 Keys to Veterans’ Success By affirming support for the 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success, institutions are expressing their commitment to implement the promising practices outlined in the 8 Keys, as follows: 1. Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the campus community to promote well-being and success for veterans. 2. Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus leadership. 3. Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before challenges become overwhelming. 4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space for them (even if limited in size). 5. Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including government agencies, to align and coordinate various services for veterans. 6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans, including demographics, retention, and degree completion. 7. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans. 8. Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans.

Websites Federal – Federal GI Bill: State – Wisconsin National Guard applications: – Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Other – UW System Veteran Info – Joint Services Transcripts Army/Navy/Marines – Transcripts-Air Force – Forms

Veteran Education Benefits October 7, 2014 Questions???