Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Programs Regional Coordinator Revised 09/23/15

Education Benefits Benefit Overview:  Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)  Go Army Ed  State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)  GI Bill  Chapter 1606  Chapter 1607  Chapter 30  Chapter 33  Chapter 31  OJT/Apprenticeship  Free Application for Federal Student Aid  MN GI Bill

Education Benefits Federal Tuition Assistance Go Army Ed  FTA funds tuition, doesn’t cover any fees  New PT and height/weight holds – can take up to 30 days to clear  Pays up to $ per semester credit or $ per quarter credit, with a maximum of $4, or 16 semester credits per fiscal year.  Credit cap for undergraduate is 130 semester credits and 39 semester credits for graduate level courses.  To apply for FTA go to  You may apply up to 60 days prior to course start date.  SOU are now electronic and Soldier will be reminded in GAE if required.  DEADLINE TO APPLY IS TEN DAYS PRIOR TO COURSE START!!!

Education Benefits GoArmyEd Process  Create an Account at o Complete Steps 1-6 o Must have signed SOU o Create Helpdesk ticket for approval  Upload Documents to eFile o SOU (digitally signed, not required to be in efile) o Course Schedule o Billing Statement  Request TA and complete Course Planner (upload Degree Plan/DARS report here) o Input data for each class (must know cost per credit & fee amounts per class) o Submit Help Desk ticket for approval of Course Planner  Print Approval Form o After TA request has been approved, print the authorization form and turn in to the Business Office at your college  School will Enter Grades to GoArmyEd

Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)  Pays up to 100% of tuition at UMN rate, no fees  New: Cap per state fiscal year $17,000 for undergraduate level and $36,000 for graduate level  144 Semester/208 quarter credits, max lifetime benefit  Must submit Obligation Request Form to Unit Administration no more than 45 days after start of semester  Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to Unit Administration within 90 days of course completion  Payment will be made directly to the Soldier Education Benefits

Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) Extended Option  Time limit to use STR may be extended 2 years, plus the amount of time you served on federal active duty or federally funded state active duty.  New: Cap per state fiscal year $17,000 for undergraduate level and $36,000 for graduate level  144 Semester/208 quarter credits, max lifetime benefit  Must submit Obligation Request Form to ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets- no more than 45 days after start of semesterng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-  Must submit Payment Request Form, Grades, and Fee Statement to within 90 days of course completion Education Benefits

Spouse State Tuition Reimbursement Option  Up to 12 semester/17 quarter credits per year not to exceed SM’s lifetime benefit of 144 semester/208 quarter credits  Service Member must have 8 years of qualifying service  Same process applies for requesting and receiving funds through Unit Administration  Open to E-1 through O-5, spouses of officers promoted to the grade of O-6 during the school term are eligible until the end of that term Education Benefits

GI Bill  Each chapter of the GI Bill is limited to a max of 36 months of full time benefits  May receive up to 48 months of benefits if eligible for more than one chapter  May be used for: o College Degrees & Non-College Degrees o On-The-Job Training & Apprenticeships o Flight Training o Licensing & Certification  Break or interval pay is no longer payable on any chapter of the GI Bill  Payments will be calculated based on the dates your term begins and ends  Partial months will be prorated Education Benefits

GI Bill - Qualifying for Two or More Programs 36 months maximum benefit for any one program:  Chapter 1606, 1607, 30 or months total benefit for two or more programs-must have qualifying service Examples: *Soldier uses 30 months of Chapter 1606, then qualifies for Chapter 1607 due to MOB; soldier is eligible for 18 months of CH 1607 benefits – total 48 month between CH 1606 & CH *Soldier uses 36 months of CH 1606, then qualifies for CH 30 due to AGR tour; soldier is eligible for 12 months of CH 30 benefits – total of 48 months between CH 1606 & CH 30. Education Benefits

Chapter Selected Reserve  No delimiting date if gained eligibility on/after 1 Oct 1992 and remain in an active drilling status  Three Main Eligibility Criteria: o 6 Year Contract o High School Diploma or Equivalent o IADT (AIT/OBC) Graduation  Monthly full-time rate is currently $367 per month Education Benefits

Chapter Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)  With 8+ years of service, expires 10 years after ETS  With less than 8 years service, expires at ETS  Payment is based on amount of continuous active duty service  Monthly full-time rate is currently: (as of Oct 1 st 2014) - Continuous Service of at least 90 days: $ Continuous Service of 1 year+: $1, Continuous Service of 2 years+: $1,  Optional $600 Buy-Up; up to $150 extra per month for 36 months Education Benefits

Chapter 30 - Active Duty  Expires 10 years after discharge from active duty  Generally earned by serving 36 months continuous Title 10 service  Guard/Reservists who have served at least 20 months of 24-month Title 10 orders MAY be eligible  AGRs may be eligible  $1,200 buy-in and optional $600 Buy-Up; up to $150 per month for 36 months  Monthly full-time rate is currently: Less than 3 years $1,395.00/3+ years $1, Education Benefits

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Expires 15 years from date of separation from active duty  Requires minimum of 90 days aggregate active duty service on or after September 11, 2001; or 30 continuous days of active duty service and discharged due to service-connected disability (includes AGR)  Pays eligible percentage of $21, annually at private colleges for Tuition and Fees  Pays eligible percentage of Tuition and Fees at public colleges, with no cap Education Benefits

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Pays eligible percentage of Monthly Housing Allowance based on E-5 with dependents using school zip code  Housing allowance for students enrolled solely in distance learning is payable based on eligible percentage of $  Service Members on active duty, including AGR, are not eligible for monthly housing allowance  Pays eligible percentage of Books and Supplies up to $1,000 per academic year  Service Members on active duty, including AGR, may receive eligible percentage of books and supplies stipend Education Benefits

Chapter 33 - Post 9/11 GI Bill  Eligible percentage is determined by amount of aggregate Title 10 service after September 10, 2001 At least 36 months 100 % At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service connected 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 % Education Benefits

Transfer option for Chapter 33  Transfer option is ONLY available to Service Members who are currently serving  Served 6 years and agree to serve an additional 4 years (AD or SELRES) on date of election  Transfer may only be made to dependents enrolled in DEERS  Payment rates based on Service Member’s eligible percentage  Expiration Date: Spouse 15 years after last active duty separation; Children until age 26 (transfer must be submitted prior to age 23)  Spouse is not eligible for monthly housing allowance when Service Member is on active duty Education Benefits

Kicker - Enlistment Contract Incentive  A Kicker is an enlistment or re-enlistment incentive  If eligible, a Kicker is used in conjunction with Chapter (CH) 1606, 1607, 30, or 33  Maximum benefit is up to $150 per month for 36 months  If you have a kicker and decide to apply for CH 33, always relinquish CH 1606 or CH 30, if eligible. If you relinquish CH 1607, your kicker will not transfer. Education Benefits

Chapter 31 – Federal VA Vocational Rehabilitation  Veteran with at least VA 20% (10% with severe employment handicap) disability rating may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services – possibly including retraining  If eligible for retraining, you may receive: o Monthly subsistence allowance o Tuition o Fees o Books o Supplies o Equipment o If needed, special services

On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training  On-the-job training (OJT) is training employees receive while performing a job and earning wages.  6 months to 2 years o Examples: Police Officer, Highway Patrol Officer, Jailer, Mechanic  Apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction  2 years to 5 years o Examples: Machinist, Ironworker, Electrician, Carpenter, Plumber, Power Line Worker Education Benefits

On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training  Chapter 33 (Post 9/11)  100% of eligible housing allowance for the first 6 months of training  Percentage of eligible housing allowance is reduced by 20% every 6 months  Once reduced to 20%, will continue for remainder of training  Up to $83 per month for books and supplies  Chapter 30, 1606, 1607  75% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the first 6 months of training  55% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the second 6 months of training  35% of the full-time GI Bill rate for the remainder of the training program Education Benefits

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  Complete application online at:  If FAFSA reports income is too high for Grants eligibility, request a “Special Circumstances Evaluation” from your Campus Financial Aid Office Education Benefits

Minnesota GI Bill Eligibility:  Honorably discharged veteran (as defined by MN Statute )  Dependent eligible to receive Ch 35 or Ch 33 (if Vet has died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of service)  MN resident (as defined by MN Statute 136A.101, subd. 8)  Attending a MN institution or approved OJT program in MN  Maximum benefit: o $1K/semester (full-time), $1K/year OJT o $3K/fiscal year o $10K lifetime Process:  To apply, contact a Regional Coordinator  “Last Dollar In:” Cost of attendance minus Aid and Benefits Education Benefits

Questions? Contact a Regional Coordinator